What's the best method for cleaning/polishing/etc the windshield? It's beginning to get little pits and scratches in it. Ditto on the headlight covers although they appear to be a different material.
My windshield looks like crap. I have a friend that has a little business on the side polishing headlights. I've been meaning to have him give a go on my windshield, has anyone else tried this? I figured nothing from nothing equals nothing.
PLEDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup: it works wonders! i put in on my vfr :wheel: . use what ever to take the bugs off, then pledge your little heart out and vouala! shiny B) , smooth and with a hint of lemon, or orange, or pine, or whatever sent you get. You can even use it on all your plastics and your visor on your helmet. The tank i really think it won't work as well because its metal. but
[image: View Post]Fidget, on Sep 12 2007, 10:43 PM, said:
I like "Plexus" plastic cleaner and polish. It's about $5 for a can. Quick and easy for both the screen and the light lens.
Wow. My local Honda stealership really put the markup on a can of Plexus. $10.25 is what I paid for my last can. I'm suspecting that Plexus is alot like Pledge furniture polish anyhow. It has a hint of that polish smell, and same foamy-waxy consitency when sprayed onto the plastic before wiping off. Gotta admit, Plexus works good on reducing the cobweb effects on plastic. I might try Pledge when my can of Plexus runs out.
:+1: I use Meguiars plastic cleaner (white bottle) to rub out the yellowing that occurs on my car's headlights. Works great if you're looking for more of a cleaner than quick buff & shine like Plexus.
+1 on the Meguiar's and Plexus! (and the Hondabrite)
(The Meguiar's cleaner/polish got a TON of scratches out of my husband's V-Strom's screen.)
My two pennies are that you regularly clean your screen with one of these products. I'm talking after every or every other ride. Be sure to use a clean 100% cotton cloth or a microfiber towel. I clean my shield, along with the nose of the bike, after nearly every single ride. It's a lot easier to clean it a little at a time... especially when the bugs are 'fresh' and not baked on (you don't have to scrub as hard).
After using Plexus for years (and years), I'm switching to Pledge. Plexus is good, but not that good considering what it costs.
My windscreen is - despite my best efforts - pretty much fubar. It got brake fluid splashed on it, and has a series of small impact marks from a rock or summat hitting it. I *did* improve it heaps by taking it off and sitting it on a balled-up old bedspread for support, polishing it with an electric buffer and Meguiars (I think) "Swirl Remover" and then "Plastic Polish" (Or the other way round - whichever one is finer was used lastest). I followed that up with lots of hand rubbing with Plexus, and then windscreen rubbing with Plexus, by hand. :P
Some people have success with using toothpaste as a scratch remover on screens. Personally I would do this, but if I were to try I'd use CRELM toothpaste, suitably described halfway down this page: http://www.ibras.dk/...n/episode24.htm
I have used Plexus alone, but currently I am happy with adding Zymol Cleaner Wax. The Zymol stuff does improve my screen's appearance in between Plexus quick clean ups.
Novus and a really good wax for me. I did a set of taillights on my truck and they are so new again. Probably a no-no, but I even sanded away all the DOT marking stamped into them and they are so SMOOV now!
Got my order of Plexus in today. Very impressed!!!!! Much better than Meguiar's PlastX. The only problem is the stuff is hard to find or either I looked in the wrong places. After looking at Pep Boys, Advance Auto, Eckerds, etc, I ordered it from AutoGeek.net.
Plain white toothpaste is one of the best and cheapest methods for polishing plexiglass. Got the tip from an F-16 crew chief. Works good on all kinds of stuff that scratches easy.. gas mask lenses, headlights, etc...
But if you really want it to look like new, or have some deep scratches that the polish just can't touch; you have to break out the sandpaper!
A few strokes with 1000 grit will level those gouges right out. Work your way up to 2000-2400 as if you were wet-sanding the last stage on a clear-coat paint job and you will be amazed. Just make sure you have plenty of clean terrycloth for the final two-step with the Meguiar's or you will only introduce new scratches on the surface you had just fixed .
I actually polished the road-rash out of a friend's CBR600 windscreen with this technique. Not a trace left.
I know this is a dusty, crusty old thread... but since it's been bumped already... my 2 cents:
- the autobody tech in me just has to say that for a pitted screen, 2500 grit sandpaper and buffing compound applied with a buffer are the best way to get rid of surface irregularities. The creams, waxes, pastes and sprays are all just cover ups and temporary - like makeup. Mechanical removal is the only way to get a real finish back.
- for spiderweb cracking and hazing, if it's deep, do the buff then follow up with a few passes from a heat gun. You'll actually melt the surface of the screen to a depth and fuse it back into being smooth and clear. (military uses that trick too)
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