Can plastic glossy finish be restored?

[WiVR]

I recently bought a couple lower fairing legs as I was told the finish was shiny. Actually the paint finish is dull with a more "satin" like finish compared to the high gloss on the other pieces of my bike. Color is good, just not shiny at all.

 

Has anyone had any luck bringing back the shine with wax or spray gloss clear coat? I really don't want to take them to a body shop.

 

 

Thanks

[skydoc_17]

You need to be very careful trying to spray polyurethane clear coat on the painted surfaces of our VR's. I have seen paint bubble off as you apply the clearcoat. With that being said, I have had good luck with a product called Kit. (sold at wally mart) It is a plastic polish but does a good job on bringing a shine to painted surfaces. It is in a yellow bottle in the Automotive Section.

Earl

[WiVR]

Thanks Earl- I'll give it a try.

[dynodon]

you need to try a gentle polish or glaze first, something with a little abrasive in it. pretty much any wax that says "cleaner/wax" has some abrasive and will help remove scratches and bring back a shine, but a dedicated glaze is better.

 

Stop by an auto body shop supply store and buy a small bottle of 3M or Meguiars glaze, made for a final shine/buff. use it by hand with a thick sponge or cloth folded over several times.

 

work in small areas, and keep working out farther and moving. If you can get the shine back to your satisfaction in a few minutes working a small area, you should be OK, but if the shine won't come back, or most of the scratches are deep enough to feel with your fingernail, then your only solution may be to take it to a body shop and have them sand, re-paint if necessary, and re-clearcoat. On small parts already off the vehicle, it should cost very little.

 

If you want to try clearcoating the part yourself, make sure you have a shine first, because any small scratches will show through perfectly! You may have a shine on top, but you will see all the scratches below the surface. If you get it wrong, you can always remove the finish and start over or you are still left with paying a body shop, it is unlikely that you will hurt the part itself.

[timgray]

3m polishing compound and some glaze. Then end with a good wax.

 

do NOT use a power buffer, only your hands, the paint on these bikes is really REALLY thin.

[Yammer Dan]

3m polishing compound and some glaze. Then end with a good wax.

 

do NOT use a power buffer, only your hands, the paint on these bikes is really REALLY thin.

 

I got a question along the same lines but on a cage. Paint feels rough and has water spots showing in it. I have a buffer. Was thinking a cleaner wax with the power buffer?

[Jus Monkeyin Around]

try a little rubbing compound, don't let power buffer on to long will come out.

[dynodon]

If the surface is rough, use detail clay first. Most parts stores have it, I like the Mothers brand clay (yellow). Follow the instructions. Works like a charm on the rough stuff, then use a glaze or polish (cleaner/wax will work in a pinch) by hand if possible. I find that a buffer is more work than it is worth, and it is very easy to harm the finish, plus they almost always put little specks on everything within a 100 yards!

 

I am talking about the low speed random orbital types, don't even THINK about using a high speed buffer unless you are a pro at it already.

[timgray]

You CAN find a Velcro sanding disk for a drill, and then buy a high speed buffer head that will Velcro to the drill pad.

 

use a had drill on LOW and it will go faster. but you can still burn through edges and ridges.