Author Topic: Cleaning plastic lenses  (Read 3242 times)

Offline Oz390

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Cleaning plastic lenses
« on: January 20, 2012, 10:43:05 PM »
Probably known, but new to me. 

Had some '68 front side marker lights I am restoring.  The old lenses were white-ish and grubby.  Soaked them in a strong caustic soda/lye solution overnight and they came out looking almost new.... no buffing to wear down letters, and a very good result, to me....

Going to try it on a pair of Cal Special taillamp lenses that are pretty grubby, with the "waffle" pattern on the backside almost impossible to clean with mechanical methods...
8R03S : 76A I 2A 15M 72 5 U
8R01S : 65A B 2A 28M 72 7 5 - Factory GT
8R01C : 65A M 2A 01E 72 2 W - Cal Special
8F01X : 65A I 2A 2G 20E 24 1 U - EXP500 repli-bute

Offline C5ZZKGT

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Re: Cleaning plastic lenses
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2012, 08:31:23 AM »
Interesting.....can you tell us more about your procedure and exactly what you used? where can caustic soda and lye be purchased today?

Offline J_Speegle

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Re: Cleaning plastic lenses
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2012, 06:21:08 PM »
Interesting.....can you tell us more about your procedure and exactly what you used? where can caustic soda and lye be purchased today?

I did a web search and came up with some HD drain cleaner from Home Depot. Have not set up a bucket yet to experiment with it as of yet Will see if I can find the name of the stuff and post the make up of the concentration
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)

Offline 69RavenConv

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Re: Cleaning plastic lenses
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2012, 10:37:37 PM »
Soaked them in a strong caustic soda/lye solution overnight and they came out looking almost new.... no buffing to wear down letters, and a very good result, to me....

Yes, please elaborate. I'm sure there are many of us who would prefer to rejuvenate our old lenses rather than replace with reproductions.
Phil
'69 Convertible - Dearborn June 4, 1969 - Raven Black & Red - 302-2V

Offline hkopp

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Re: Cleaning plastic lenses
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2012, 10:05:53 PM »
has anyone found more info on the product available for this cleaning method?  i am restoring a set this week and came across this tonight in a search, would LOVE to use something to clean my lenses as described.  Also...what do most do to obtain the correct color of 69 front signal enclosures without sending out for dipping?
1956 Ford F100
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1965 Mustang 347, 5 spd, 1st car!
1967 Camaro SS350 all #'s
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1969 Mach 1 428SCJ-R #'s
1969 Mach 1 428CJ-Q Auto
1969 Mustang Grande, 650hp, 2nd car!
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Offline J_Speegle

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Re: Cleaning plastic lenses
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2012, 10:42:21 PM »
has anyone found more info on the product available for this cleaning method?  i am restoring a set this week and came across this tonight in a search, would LOVE to use something to clean my lenses as described.  Also...what do most do to obtain the correct color of 69 front signal enclosures without sending out for dipping?

Will address the second half since I've not found a chemical treatment that helps the irregular surface plastics

As for faking zinc dischromate on a large surface I have yet to see anything that does a good job. Have used the spray can Eastwood produces for tocuhing up spots or on small screw heads but I have not found a shortcut acceptable to me and other judges
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)

Offline 69RavenConv

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Re: Cleaning plastic lenses
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2013, 12:41:56 PM »
Interesting.....can you tell us more about your procedure and exactly what you used? where can caustic soda and lye be purchased today?

Bumping an old thread because I'm wondering if anyone has learned any more about this method. I have some discolored OEM lenses and was thinking of trying some drain cleaner on them as they are unusable now anyway.
Phil
'69 Convertible - Dearborn June 4, 1969 - Raven Black & Red - 302-2V

Offline Stangly

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Re: Cleaning plastic lenses
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2013, 02:23:11 PM »
I did some snooping on the internet and a caustic lye is made up of sodium hydroxide.  This is the common ingredient in most drain cleaner.  I bought a basic granular drain opener and Lowes, the product is 100% sodium hydroxide as is nasty stuff.  I'm not a chemist so please read the warning labels on the product you purchase.  I soaked some parking light lenses in the solution overnight and they came out great.
69 Sports Roof 302 2V (numbers matching)
Dearborn (June build date) Acapulco Blue
68 Coupe J-Code
San Jose (June build date) Sea Foam Green
2001 V6 Laser Red
2015 GT Deep Impact Blue