this probably belongs in the garage, but i figured i'd post it here for now (i don't actually expect much in the way of replies)...anyway, is there any treatment that anyone swears by that reduces or eliminates clouding or cracking of clear plastic exposed continuously to UV?

something like car wax, but that can be used on clear plastic

5/30/2008 3:35:19 PM

to prevent clouding or fix clouding?

cause I've seen an instructional on how to refinish your headlight lenses to be perfectly clear again.

5/30/2008 3:36:49 PM

prevent...i just bought a scooter and it's going to be out where there is absolutely NO shade 3-4 days of the week...the previous owner took very good care of it (it's a 2003), but some of the ones i looked at had cloudy/cracked gauge covers (this one is perfectly clear at the moment)...i'm going to wash it and apply some wax to the body (again, it's going to be sitting out in the sunlight several days a week all summer) to prevent damage to the finish, but i didn't know what to do about the gauge cover

5/30/2008 3:39:35 PM

I wonder if you could just get a UV blocking film to apply or something. Not sure on the prevention side of it.

5/30/2008 3:45:17 PM

A UV blocking film, such as high quality automotive tint would be your best bet.
The UV rays break down the plastic and cause the haze. Film comes in as high as 80% transfer.

Another option would be to throw a towel over the guages/ whatever plastic when it is parked.

Deterioration usually takes a couple of years, so you could just repair/ replace later on.

[Edited on May 30, 2008 at 4:04 PM. Reason : .]

5/30/2008 4:04:12 PM

There are probably a lot of things at AutoZone.

Mother's has some polish and protectant for things like that.

5/30/2008 4:25:56 PM

thanks for the suggestions...i hadn't stopped by anywhere yet, just curious as to whether people had a favorite brand/product or any other suggestions

5/30/2008 4:44:25 PM

well how do you refinish them?

5/30/2008 5:02:36 PM

Meguiars PlastX
http://www.meguiars.com/?clear-plastic-care/PlastX-Clear-Plastic-Cleaner-Polish

or Mother's PowerPlastic

5/30/2008 5:26:20 PM

Quote :

"well how do you refinish them?"

clean/prep surface.
take a mother powerball and apply some product to it.
use your power drill on full speed and go along at a slow pace.
wipe and you're done.

you have to do it quite often b/c you're removing any and all protection (even the hazy stuff) on your headlights. they will age much faster now. if you own a domestic, then it doesn't matter b/c your headlights haze up after you buy the car anyway.

[Edited on May 30, 2008 at 7:24 PM. Reason : you have to do it quite often b/c you're removing any and all protection]

5/30/2008 7:23:29 PM

plastix or plastx, however you spell it

5/30/2008 7:31:37 PM

I have used plastX on some very cloudy/yellowed headlight covers, and it made a noticeable difference. One application didn't completely get rid of it, but I definitely could see more light output. Unfortunately before I got a chance to do a second application, the car was totaled.

This does not, of course, help you prevent fading, but hey, now you know how to fix it if you are unable to prevent it.

5/30/2008 8:14:06 PM