Is there any way of getting rid of scratches and haziness in the plexiglass dial covers? Is the only solution replacing them? Thanks Dan

Clarification...please..With the broad term of plexiglass are we referring to a flat sheet of ~1/8 or possibly as thin as 1/16 in dimensions . Or ? is the unit more likely molded into some curved contour and merely in the .020-.050 inch thickness category. As well, is there any brittleness or yellow discoloration involved on the original ?

If the latter size category, you might just look into "do-it-yourself".With thin sheet plastic from a hobby shops supply for forming model airplane canopies.

Example:
http://hometown.aol.com/EB062559/DIALCOVERS.html

73's de Edd

:Is there any way of getting rid of scratches and haziness in the plexiglass dial covers? Is the only solution replacing them? Thanks Dan

You may possibly be able to polish scratches out with 'Jeweler's Rouge', available at hobby shops

Daniel,
I doubt that they are plexiglas. If it is an antique, I suspect it is a product called celluloid, used frequently for those type of applications, although I don't know what the chemistry was. Some time ago I found a product at an automotive supply store to do the same job on auto gauge faces, but they were probably acrylic. I suspect it was a polymer, but worked quite well on my old Dodge truck. The haziness may be through the entire thickness of the material, and impossible to remove.

marv

:Is there any way of getting rid of scratches and haziness in the plexiglass dial covers? Is the only solution replacing them? Thanks Dan

The old plastic dial covers more apt to break down and discolor all way thru material. The scratches are beginnings of cracks. It all depends on the exposure. I don't know why some hold up better than others. But if they don't start cracking they still seem to discolor. Or that's what I've seen for what it's worth. Just think of all the dials made from some type of plastic and not turned for 40 years, you got that darken streak. That's time for a reproduction...unless you don't use that part of the dial. Ha!

:Daniel,
:I doubt that they are plexiglas. If it is an antique, I suspect it is a product called celluloid, used frequently for those type of applications, although I don't know what the chemistry was. Some time ago I found a product at an automotive supply store to do the same job on auto gauge faces, but they were probably acrylic. I suspect it was a polymer, but worked quite well on my old Dodge truck. The haziness may be through the entire thickness of the material, and impossible to remove.
:
:marv
:
::Is there any way of getting rid of scratches and haziness in the plexiglass dial covers? Is the only solution replacing them? Thanks Dan