Plastic surfaces require delicate, careful handling. The slightest mechanical stress can lead to surface damage, scratches and chips. When cutting plastic parts, it is rarely possible to maintain smooth, even edges without burrs or roughness. Therefore, polishing plastic is a necessary procedure to ensure the visual quality of the surface and maintain its smoothness. Excessive pressure should not be applied to plastic surfaces when sanding, and the abrasive should be carefully selected to obtain the desired quality.
Abrasive materials and pastes for polishing plastic from 3M will allow you to find a compromise between the complexity of the polishing process and the final result. A wide selection of professional solutions presented in the catalog of the Lenta-Plus online store allows for high-quality processing of almost all types of plastic!
Popular and effective means
First, let's get acquainted with popular brands of matte polishes.
Manufacturers offer products in the form of aerosols, creams and liquids. Headlight polishing varnish is often sold in cans.
If the main thing for you is the quality of the product and high results of use, then pay attention to products from the following manufacturers.
Runway
The products from this company have a good restorative effect. A kind of film is created on top of the plastic, preventing light mechanical damage and repelling moisture and dust. The composition is also suitable for treating wood and vinyl surfaces.
The polish contains natural wax, which gives a special shine and has a water-repellent protective effect.
Sapfire Royal Blue
Easily cleans plastic surfaces and leaves a thin, invisible film after treatment that protects against abrasions. The main purpose of the product is to protect car panels.
The composition of each Sapfire polish is carefully thought out. The company is alien to the practice of producing car cosmetics using a universal “recipe”.
Kangaroo
This product is widely popular due to its versatility. The composition is suitable for processing natural leather, rubber, plastic, and in each individual case the surface acquires its original appearance. An indisputable advantage is the pleasant smell. Kangaroo is used not only to “refresh” car interiors, but also to treat scuffs on leather belts, jackets and bags. They are actively used for “restoring” furniture and plastic inserts on household appliances.
An effective and easy-to-use polish suitable for cars with any body color.
Hi-gear dashboard cleaner
Since the product is offered in aerosol form, it is easy to polish any surface. The substance is applied quickly and evenly. After hardening, a thin polymer film remains on the surface, which protects from light mechanical stress, as well as from fading under ultraviolet rays. This polish will easily remove minor scratches from your car.
Penetrating into the pores and texture of the material, the composition deeply cleanses of impurities and renews the dashboard, plastic and rubber parts of the car interior.
Toothpaste as a polishing compound
Of course, using a hygiene product that is familiar to everyone will not give stunning results when polishing a plastic surface, but it can bring it into relative order. It doesn’t matter what you end up choosing - tooth powder or toothpaste, it is important to carefully treat the plastic optics with them on the outside and inside. This product attracts car enthusiasts, first of all, due to its low cost and ease of use. This is a kind of “first aid” for headlights, since the effect does not last long - about a month.
Tooth powder and paste contain abrasive particles. As a result of thoroughly rubbing them into the surface for 10-15 minutes, the desired result is achieved. Residues are washed off with cool water and the headlight is wiped dry.
The simplicity and speed of performing work with toothpaste and obtaining good results make it one of the most popular means at hand as a polishing compound. But do not forget that you can only polish a plastic surface with it. Glass may fade after some time and it is better to choose the GOI composition for it.
Products with gloss
Sonax
After treatment with this polish, the plastic becomes not only clean and rich in color, but also with an amazing shine. Thanks to the protective film that remains after processing, the surface retains its decent appearance for a long time.
Using SONAX car cosmetics you can give your car a high degree of shine.
"Horse"
The product contains expensive wax, which easily eliminates minor defects and is easy to use.
Horse polish, when applied to the body, can withstand numerous car washes.
Grass Polyrole Shine
Proponents of this product note that after its use, the original appearance of surfaces is preserved for a long time; in addition, it prevents dust from settling. Well, versatility is a bonus: leather, plastic and rubber surfaces can be treated with this polish.
Professional glossy polish for processing dashboards, unpainted bumpers, tires, for cleaning and polishing plastic, leather, wood, vinyl, and rubber products.
Plastic polishing technology and methods
The main difference in polishing different types of plastic is the hardness and flexibility of the materials. For example, acrylic enamel can withstand intense impact, which could lead to melting and deformation of many types of plastics. Clear types of plastics are more vulnerable to UV damage than ABS and polypropylene. This forces an individual approach to the choice of abrasive materials and processing technology.
Polishing is carried out in several ways:
- Sanding with medium-grain abrasive pastes for plastic. This involves removing the top layer with scratches and defects. Forms virtually a new smooth surface of the product. Suitable for plastics that are homogeneous in composition and resistant to intensive, harsh processing. For the greatest efficiency and speed up work, grinding machines and polishing wheels are used.
- Treatment with “soft” non-abrasive pastes. It has a more gentle effect on plastic, eliminating deep damage to the surface and defects. But a deep scratch will not lend itself to such treatment. Usually done manually or using low-speed grinders.
- Processing using a method without the use of special pastes using sanding sheets manually. Mainly used for correcting sanding results and finishing small or hard-to-reach surfaces.
Polishing plastic or surfaces painted with polymers is carried out in 2 steps: removing a thin layer to smooth out scratches and restorative finishing to add gloss. A combination of both methods is considered optimal.
It should be remembered that it is not recommended to carry out polishing work on plastic “dry”. The impact of a grinding wheel with an abrasive on the surface of the plastic leads to overheating, the formation of excess waste, and clogging of the wheel. It is not recommended to use water for this - because of this, contact of the abrasive with the surface is lost and the processing efficiency is reduced. A wide range of abrasive products for polishing 3M plastic will help solve all the problems of processing surfaces of all types and complexity at every stage. Patented solutions will save you money on buying new equipment or applying a new coating!
What is polish
A standard polish is a chemical composition based on silicone, and accompanying substances are fluorine-containing polymers, artificial wax, moisturizers, as well as fragrances and binders. The physical state can be different: aerosol, paste, cream. But, in fairness, it is worth noting that aerosols are in great demand (probably due to ease of use).
Please note that polishes are intended specifically for polishing previously cleaned (clean) surfaces.
The polish can easily be called a restorer of plastic surfaces. In addition, they contain substances that guarantee an antistatic effect, so dust does not stick to plastic surfaces. Well, a pleasant aroma guarantees a refreshing atmosphere in the car interior.
It is interior plastic polishes that dealers use when selling cars in order to create a more presentable appearance.
The process of applying polish for black or light plastic is quite common. Using an aerosol can, the product is applied to the surface and left for a certain time, 2-3 minutes is enough. After this, rub the product with a soft cloth (not lint!) until the desired result is obtained: blackening or shine. However, in some cases the method of application may differ, so always read the instructions for use carefully.
Restoring the appearance is possible in most cases using plastic polish.
Depending on the place of application, there are three types of polishes:
- For the salon. Use on all plastic surfaces inside your vehicle, including the dashboard, doors and any plastic inserts.
- For external surfaces: headlights, mirrors, bumpers.
- Universal products: equally effective both inside and outside the car.
In addition, there are products for plastic and matte surfaces. If you prefer gloss, then keep in mind that an inconspicuous film forms on the plastic surface, which adds shine. The silicone components contained in the composition will reliably protect the surface from repeated scratches. With this product, even unattractive plastic parts look very impressive. Well, matte surfaces, on the contrary, remove any shine.
Polish for car plastic differs depending on the scope of use, the final result and the structure of the composition.
An important point: high-quality polish cannot be cheap. After all, it contains expensive components that provide quick and long-term effects. Before purchasing a product, carefully read its composition.
The structure of the polish is purely a matter of taste; the driver must independently imagine the end result and choose a matte or glossy car polish.
