Scratches in big Plexiglass window

[Filbert V.]

I'm sure those big plastic windows on our rigs are a mutual problem. I went online to find "how to's" on polishing plexiglass, but got even more confused! Is there something to buy at say Wal-Mart or some auto supply stores that do a good job at clearing up foggy and scratched plexiglass windows? It would be nice to be able to see forever on a clear day!
Thanks!

[Con]

Cut-polish with Brasso and a flannel cloth. Wash after with warm water and liquid soap.
Apply a good grade wax. If first treatment doesn't it , do it again. Do NOT use any cutting compound coarser that Brasso.
Believe me,it works.

[Donna D.]

Filbert, a search found a good topic, which also has links to a legacy topic that discusses polish and orbital machines for taking the scratches out of plexiglass:
Cleaning Plexiglass

[Filbert V.]

Cut-polish with Brasso and a flannel cloth. Wash after with warm water and liquid soap.
Apply a good grade wax. If first treatment doesn't it , do it again. Do NOT use any cutting compound coarser that Brasso.
Believe me,it works.

What do you mean by "cut-polish"???
And by wax, do you mean just car wax like Turtle or similar? Thanks...

[Kurt & Ann K.]

Filbert,
If you are near an airport, find out what is used on aircraft plexiglas. Not only can they recommend products, but also the correct method for keeping it clean.

Kurt & Ann K

[Darwin Maring]

BJ's sells Nu Finish Scratch Doctor for removing scratches from Clear Coat on cars. I use it on our vehicle and it works great. Is a very fine abrasive and should work ok on the plexiglass.

If you were to go to your small regional airport you could purchase a plexiglass cleaner / polish. All small airplanes have Plexiglass windows and are polished with this stuff.

You could use toothpaste. It is a fine abrasive.

Silver polish would b better than brasso because, Silver polish is finer. Brasso just might remove to much if you r not careful.

[Con]

Aw come on guys. Brasso works fine. I used to do this stuff professionally so I know what I am talking about. The attached pic is only a sample of some of the stuff we used to to. These are made from scraps left over from some very expensive projects. 2"and 3" Plexiglass sheet at that time was $45 and $70 a square foot. Probably double that now. We could not afford any screw ups. We tried lots of products before we settled on Brasso and a good grade Carnauba wax. Both are inexpensive and will give just as good results as the aircraft stuff at probably 3 times the price.



Last summer my sister-in-law asked me how she could get rid of the haze and scratches on the windshield of her golf cart. I told her my method which she followed and she was astounded at the end result. I also do that with the Plexi windows on our Boler.

[Doug Mager]

Con, you have non-related email Buddy....

[gillian s]

after some research, i found airplane pilots use mcguire's, took a bit of tracking down, think i found it at an autozone, pepboys kind of place. i used it on my boler's foggy and scratched windows and was extremely happy; all scratches disappeared and fog, (which was thick), vanished, leaving the windows crystal clear!

[Doug Mager]

IMHO, ALL the McGuires line of automotive car products are super

[Maggie]

Well this might get a lot of laughs but the best thing to use on plexiglas is good old pledge! I work for a place that did emission testing and had to look under cars with a plastic mirror and they would get dirty and scratched so we used pledge and it worked great.. Something that almost everyone has. worth a try I use it all the time on mine. Maggie

[Jim Sherwood]

I'm sure those big plastic windows on our rigs are a mutual problem. I went online to find "how to's" on polishing plexiglass, but got even more confused! Is there something to buy at say Wal-Mart or some auto supply stores that do a good job at clearing up foggy and scratched plexiglass windows? It would be nice to be able to see forever on a clear day!
Thanks!

On the airplane I use Meguiar's Mirror Glaze Plastic Cleaner first if it needs it, than finish up and maintain with their Plastic Polish.

Clean with soap and water first to remove any grit, dry with cotton towling, [b]no paper towels.

Drive to any airport and check with the FBO (Fixed Base Operator), they probably have it to sell.

To do today, clean the front window on the Scamp.

[Doug Mager]

...........and yet this A.M. on "two guys garage" ( a repete) they tooted the benifits of toothpaste and rubbing, which I had tried with N O success!!

[Con]

But just think Doug, you don't have to worry about your window getting cavities!!!

[Doug Mager]

Well I tried the tooth paste effort a few years ago on my wife's 96 Escort and ended up going to LordCo and with my 'preferred customer' discount, replaced BOTH headlights in about 20 minutes

[Rob S.]

Tooth paste does work but it is actually not aggressive enough for scratches in plastic. It works well for silver and silver plate. You need to use the good old paste type not the gels.

[Kurt in BC]

how about gel coat polish paste...or is it too course?