Somehow managed to scratch...

Jordo! · 03-01-2012, 12:15 AM

... the lens on my RPM gauge lens

D'OH!

I have some plastic polish for fine scratches, but I'm reluctant to try it because it needs to have an optical quality buff... not sure that any plastic polish can reliably accomplish this.

I don't want to trade a barely noticeable scratch for a very noticeable "smudge".

Live with it, or is there a reasonably safe and easy fix?

nmjaxx9 · 03-02-2012, 04:12 PM

I have to ask how did you manage to scratch your lens? LOL

But I think you should be fine with using a plastic cleaner and buffing it out, something like Plastx. I had a few of these scratches on my altimas speedometer gauge lens from my keys (don't ask lol), and used some of this on it: Meguiar's PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish - 10 oz | Detailed Image just applied some and took a mf towel and wiped it clean then used a hand buffer to smooth it out.

Jordo! · 03-02-2012, 06:40 PM

I saw that and was reluctant to try, but they do claim optical quality for instrument gauges...

Did it work well -- lens was clear afterwords?

I wiped a smudge with a tiny slip of paper (didn't have any cloth handy) -- flat, not balled up or anything, and somehow that left a scratch.

Apparently on the Z, paper > plastic

christian370z · 03-02-2012, 08:04 PM

The best way to remove a deeper scratch from plastic is just how you would remove a deeper scratch from paint. You start by using a more aggressive polish (I have used Meguiar's Ultimate Compound for this purpose on gauges) followed by a fine polish to restore as much clarity as possible as it will remove any slight marring/haze left over from a more aggressive polish (I have used Menzerna po85rd, but an OTC option is Meguiar's Swirl-X).

Use a foam polishing pad and repeat any steps until you are happy. Try to only use a microfiber cloth on the gauges in the future to avoid this from happening again.

Edit: plasti-x is a good option but may not be aggressive enough to remove the scratch completely.

nmjaxx9 · 03-02-2012, 08:22 PM

Yeah the scratch was almost completely not noticeable after, only if you really squinted, and or looked very closely in the day time you could see it, but from a distance, you couldn't even tell it was there.

03-01-2012, 12:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 418	Somehow managed to scratch... ... the lens on my RPM gauge lens D'OH! I have some plastic polish for fine scratches, but I'm reluctant to try it because it needs to have an optical quality buff... not sure that any plastic polish can reliably accomplish this. I don't want to trade a barely noticeable scratch for a very noticeable "smudge". Live with it, or is there a reasonably safe and easy fix? __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

03-02-2012, 06:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 418	I saw that and was reluctant to try, but they do claim optical quality for instrument gauges... Did it work well -- lens was clear afterwords? I wiped a smudge with a tiny slip of paper (didn't have any cloth handy) -- flat, not balled up or anything, and somehow that left a scratch. Apparently on the Z, paper > plastic __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

03-02-2012, 08:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
christian370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 3,900 Drives: 2010 370Z/Saab 900se Rep Power: 432	The best way to remove a deeper scratch from plastic is just how you would remove a deeper scratch from paint. You start by using a more aggressive polish (I have used Meguiar's Ultimate Compound for this purpose on gauges) followed by a fine polish to restore as much clarity as possible as it will remove any slight marring/haze left over from a more aggressive polish (I have used Menzerna po85rd, but an OTC option is Meguiar's Swirl-X). Use a foam polishing pad and repeat any steps until you are happy. Try to only use a microfiber cloth on the gauges in the future to avoid this from happening again. Edit: plasti-x is a good option but may not be aggressive enough to remove the scratch completely. __________________ -320whp / 259wftlbs- SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

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03-02-2012, 04:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
nmjaxx9 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Middletown, Ct Posts: 5,853 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 26	I have to ask how did you manage to scratch your lens? LOL But I think you should be fine with using a plastic cleaner and buffing it out, something like Plastx. I had a few of these scratches on my altimas speedometer gauge lens from my keys (don't ask lol), and used some of this on it: Meguiar's PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish - 10 oz \| Detailed Image just applied some and took a mf towel and wiped it clean then used a hand buffer to smooth it out.

03-02-2012, 08:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
nmjaxx9 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Middletown, Ct Posts: 5,853 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 26	Yeah the scratch was almost completely not noticeable after, only if you really squinted, and or looked very closely in the day time you could see it, but from a distance, you couldn't even tell it was there.