over time plastic parts such as rear light lenses can fade and start to look aged,
breathing a breath of fresh life into them is pretty simple and straight forward,
and best of all cheap !!

items required:-
few sheets of 800 grit wet & dry
few sheets of 1200 grit wet & dry
two cloths
& some t-cut

use the 800 wet and dry to flat the lens,
*tip-  add some washing up liquid to the rubbing down water, this keeps the wet & dry paper from clogging and helps lubricate the paper*
as you do this whats left of the shiney (of sorts) surface will become uniformly flat and dull,
raised lettering which identifies the lens can also be sanded flat to remove and clean the look of the lens up,
as you sand occasionally wipe the surface to view your progress,
if you see a flat dull surface which has 'spots that are still shiney' keep flatting until the surface is entirely dull,

once you have the surface dull using the 800 grit wet & dry paper
there will be some surface scratching to the lens -
in the immortal words of hitchikers guide = 'don't panic'
as the 1200 grt wet & dry will remove this,
use the 1200 grit paper until you have removed all the minute scratches
once you have the minute scratches done your ready to rock with the T-Cut
circular motions using t-cut at first you will notice a resistance between cloth and surface this will reduce as the surface gets it's new shiney finish
you might find once you gloss buff the t-cut residue off that some scratches are still visible
this is nothing to worry about
simply back-step to the 1200 grit paper and refinish that area again
you will eventually be left with a nice shiney lens that's the colour it was originally intended

this method is also handy for removing and scratches that may be on the surface
EG - got slightly scratched at some pint as keys got caught on it

so, you've read the instructions and are probably now wondering if this can possibly work
the answer is Yes....

one rear light from a Suzuki gsx1100efe showing old & faded condition from umpteen years of aging
alongside manufacturers raised lettering
BEFORE PIC:-


and after doing the above process:-


process also works for indicator lenses, plastic headlight lenses etc etc etc
final last tip:-
apply some car wax to finish 

Brilliant 

I have some old rear lights and will give this a go 

Thanks

Peter

Works a treat on plastic head lamps 

that's the spirit peter 
give it a go, all you have to loose is a couple of dabs of t-cut and half ounce of effort 
if you run into any problems just ask bud,
here to help if I can

coming soon - ally polishing 
who knows,
we might see a reduction in powder coating if I write it up correctly 

Ooooooooh   

I have got a fan guard that needs some welding and then a good shine up.... And maybe
at some point my inlet manifold's too 

So I will await your post 

Peter

I'm interested in the ally polishing as I have a T4 fan cowl on the back of mine 

no problems folks,
i'll get it finished and posted up today

i'll also include aftercare info which will reduce work to keep that shine and keep it looking good,
and for those who might be thinking
theres no use as my ally is exposed to damp so it will loose its shine and be a nightmare to keep on top of.....
think again 
if my polishing can stand up to this abuse,
and take nowt more than a wash with soapy water after spending winter outside exposed to it all
so can yours 


and after the wash down, without any autosol / refinishing to the polishing

very interesting and the reults are impressive, got some old lights here somewhere so will have a play.

Loving this stuff!!! 

(though whether it will allow Tony, Clem and me to give up the autosol..... we have yet to see!    )

Am dying to see what Tony Price has to say about all this.... 

Quote from: AndyRobinson on April 28, 2013, 10:43:19 AM
Loving this stuff!!! 

(though whether it will allow Tony, Clem and me to give up the autosol..... we have yet to see!    )

autosol is often frowned upon as a suitable way of keeping things shiney
as it is quite course which in turn can induce swirling to the surface
top tip when using autosol is to have a scrap piece of ally sheet metal handy,
apply autosol to a rag, and use it firstly on the scrap piece until the 'Grittyness' that can be initially felt has stopped
your ready to roll on your polished piece after that as it will then be far less abrasive and wont leave swirls

using autosol in this manner is real top bombing regards getting that ultra mirror finish that you need

Quoteusing autosol in this manner is real top bombing regards getting that ultra mirror finish that you need

I think Tony will need a change of clothes after all this 

Quote from: Peter on April 28, 2013, 10:56:58 AM

Quoteusing autosol in this manner is real top bombing regards getting that ultra mirror finish that you need

I think Tony will need a change of clothes after all this 

clothes ?
you mean he doesn't polish in the nude
heck, it must just be me with that fetish then 

 

brilliant tip matey 
definitely one to remember.