Clouding Instrument Gauges

[Vintageman]

I have found that Rain-X works well at improving cloudy Plexiglas Instrument gauges. Previously, I would soak them in clear light oil (so I could at least see). Over time this helped some. Then one day,kind of randomly, I used the Rain-X product typically for windshields. At first it peeled the Plexiglas. I was nervous and began to sort of buff applying a bit more Rain-X. After a bit is smoothened and cleared up nicely. So I find if I use Rain-X and on very clean cloth rag and buff it until dry, it works very well . I wish I was able to get at the other side. Oh well, I can read my gauges very easily now.

I tried other lens clearing product not luck... this Rain-X worked very well. What have others done here?

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Mequiars Plast-X, it will clean up any plexiglass, clear acrylic sheet, helmet visors etc to a like new appearance. It cuts, polishes and oils the surface in one shot. If its really bad you can sand with 2000 grit first to level out the surface before using it. The plastic headlamps on cars come back like new as well with this product.

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G12310" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Craig380]

Oddly, I tried RainX and it clouded them up worse than before! Maybe a different formulation in the UK.

I used a mildly abrasive car body polish on mine to get rid of the worst scratches / clouding, followed by some 'Liquid Diamond' sealing polish, again for car paintwork. They look pretty good, and an extra coat of the Liquid Diamond every few months keeps them that way.

[jkevinlilly]

Coyote did a really nice job of polishing out all the dullness on a set of gauges a couple years ago, and making them look new again. Drop him a line, he can tell you how it is done.

Kevin

[jbswear]

I used the headlamp polishing kit from Advance Auto to clean up mine. It was really quick, easy, and the results are great.

First sanding pad:



Second:



First polishing pad:



Second polishing pad:




Finished!

[Barry S.]

Wet sand with progressively finer sand paper and then polish work wonders.

[jbswear]

Wet sand with progressively finer sand paper and then polish work wonders.

That's basically what the kit I bought was--finer and finer grits of abrasive. It was just idiot proof and designed for attaching to a 3/8" power drill.

[markj]

Wet sand with progressively finer sand paper and then polish work wonders.

+1 Did mine about 5 years back and they still look like new.

[wvc]

Hi all, new to the forum, glad i found it.

For restoring hazed / clouded plastic lens, try a MicroMesh kit. We used them all the time on airplane plexiglass windows. Its a sandpaper kit with progressively finer papers, all the way down to a 12,000 grit. If done properly, clear plastics will come out looking like new.

[jbswear]

Hi all, new to the forum, glad i found it.

For restoring hazed / clouded plastic lens, try a MicroMesh kit. We used them all the time on airplane plexiglass windows. Its a sandpaper kit with progressively finer papers, all the way down to a 12,000 grit. If done properly, clear plastics will come out looking like new.

Yup. I use the stuff on pens I make, especially the acrylic pens. Polishes them great.