I often can make my own nice new dial lenses out of 20-mil polycarbonate sheets. I trace/draw the temptlate on masonite and cut it out with a scroll-saw leaving a "collar" around the outside. Put it in the oven with a piece of the plastic over it... when it melts I force the outer collar down over the edge to get sharp edges... works great.

But I can only do this if the template is easy to make.. round or square rectangle etc.
.. but if it's got weird bends and no lip or extra lips I'm stumped.

I had two such lenses here for radios I'm currently restoring. The larger one is bent at right angles and is from the Crosley 66TC and the other is a half-moon weird one for a Zenith consoletone 6d-614.

Both were very yellowed and old. Especially the Zenith.

I looked around on-line for tips about removing that cowardly-yellow... found one that says to soak it in diluted bleach.
So last night I tried it with rather pleasing success.

(I used 80% water 20% bleach... but more bleach seems ok too)

The Crosley lens only soaked for a few hours and came out nice. The Zenith soaked all night... But wow!
I am very very pleased.
I won't say it's 'perfect" but it removed like 80% or more of the yellow from the Zenith and 90% from the Crosley.

For those troublesome lenses I suggest you try this easy tip.

The Crosley also had some scratching and cloudiness too. So I sprayed some kind of old Stanley-Home Products spray-on shoe polish wax with polymers? maybe ...from maybe like 25 years ago that I found under the kitchen sink.
That did a nice job too. So I'm guessing any spray on wax or maybe even any wax.
I did also see a hint out there for using two of Mecquires Auto cleaning products. #17 cleaner and #10 polish .
They claim those two will clear up cloudy yellow plastic.
I don't have any here. But I'll try to get some. Do any of you guys out there have any particular experience with this?
Or any better tips?

:I often can make my own nice new dial lenses out of 20-mil polycarbonate sheets. I trace/draw the temptlate on masonite and cut it out with a scroll-saw leaving a "collar" around the outside. Put it in the oven with a piece of the plastic over it... when it melts I force the outer collar down over the edge to get sharp edges... works great.
:
:But I can only do this if the template is easy to make.. round or square rectangle etc.
:.. but if it's got weird bends and no lip or extra lips I'm stumped.
:
:I had two such lenses here for radios I'm currently restoring. The larger one is bent at right angles and is from the Crosley 66TC and the other is a half-moon weird one for a Zenith consoletone 6d-614.
:
:Both were very yellowed and old. Especially the Zenith.
:
:I looked around on-line for tips about removing that cowardly-yellow... found one that says to soak it in diluted bleach.
:So last night I tried it with rather pleasing success.
:
:(I used 80% water 20% bleach... but more bleach seems ok too)
:
:The Crosley lens only soaked for a few hours and came out nice. The Zenith soaked all night... But wow!
:I am very very pleased.
:I won't say it's 'perfect" but it removed like 80% or more of the yellow from the Zenith and 90% from the Crosley.
:
:For those troublesome lenses I suggest you try this easy tip.
:
:The Crosley also had some scratching and cloudiness too. So I sprayed some kind of old Stanley-Home Products spray-on shoe polish wax with polymers? maybe ...from maybe like 25 years ago that I found under the kitchen sink.
:That did a nice job too. So I'm guessing any spray on wax or maybe even any wax.
:I did also see a hint out there for using two of Mecquires Auto cleaning products. #17 cleaner and #10 polish .
:They claim those two will clear up cloudy yellow plastic.
:I don't have any here. But I'll try to get some. Do any of you guys out there have any particular experience with this?
:Or any better tips?

I have always had good luck using good old Brasso to clean and remove scratches. It also removes some of the yellowing. Go at it like you are polishing brass.Everytime I use it it brings back many memories from my time in the Army.
Jon.
:
:
:

Jon:
Thanks...I also use it for many things around here .. I was thinking that it may work for this yellow plastic...but didn't try it... glad it is good for this.
I've used it to bring up nice results in dead looking Bakelite... works great.
.. also just recently, after refinishing a wood cabinet and shellacing & then finally lacqering it... the last fine polising mirror-like result came from a brasso rub out... great stuff..

And of course it came to me first in the U.S. Army too... made my belt buckle glisten so I could look into it and count my teeth.!!... Hadto spit shine those boots too like a mirror... but that was just good old Esquire shoe polish and SPIT...

::I often can make my own nice new dial lenses out of 20-mil polycarbonate sheets. I trace/draw the temptlate on masonite and cut it out with a scroll-saw leaving a "collar" around the outside. Put it in the oven with a piece of the plastic over it... when it melts I force the outer collar down over the edge to get sharp edges... works great.
::
::But I can only do this if the template is easy to make.. round or square rectangle etc.
::.. but if it's got weird bends and no lip or extra lips I'm stumped.
::
::I had two such lenses here for radios I'm currently restoring. The larger one is bent at right angles and is from the Crosley 66TC and the other is a half-moon weird one for a Zenith consoletone 6d-614.
::
::Both were very yellowed and old. Especially the Zenith.
::
::I looked around on-line for tips about removing that cowardly-yellow... found one that says to soak it in diluted bleach.
::So last night I tried it with rather pleasing success.
::
::(I used 80% water 20% bleach... but more bleach seems ok too)
::
::The Crosley lens only soaked for a few hours and came out nice. The Zenith soaked all night... But wow!
::I am very very pleased.
::I won't say it's 'perfect" but it removed like 80% or more of the yellow from the Zenith and 90% from the Crosley.
::
::For those troublesome lenses I suggest you try this easy tip.
::
::The Crosley also had some scratching and cloudiness too. So I sprayed some kind of old Stanley-Home Products spray-on shoe polish wax with polymers? maybe ...from maybe like 25 years ago that I found under the kitchen sink.
::That did a nice job too. So I'm guessing any spray on wax or maybe even any wax.
::I did also see a hint out there for using two of Mecquires Auto cleaning products. #17 cleaner and #10 polish .
::They claim those two will clear up cloudy yellow plastic.
::I don't have any here. But I'll try to get some. Do any of you guys out there have any particular experience with this?
::Or any better tips?
:
:I have always had good luck using good old Brasso to clean and remove scratches. It also removes some of the yellowing. Go at it like you are polishing brass.Everytime I use it it brings back many memories from my time in the Army.
:Jon.
::
::
::Hi Guys
I found something that works extremely well on Bakollite cabinets, its called Harveys Fiberglass Cleaner/Polish, this stuff is unbeleivable, have not tried it on discolored lens covers yet, will have to get one and try it, you can get this stuff at Home Depot or Ace Hardware, try it, you won't regret it:)
Mark

:::I often can make my own nice new dial lenses out of 20-mil polycarbonate sheets. I trace/draw the temptlate on masonite and cut it out with a scroll-saw leaving a "collar" around the outside. Put it in the oven with a piece of the plastic over it... when it melts I force the outer collar down over the edge to get sharp edges... works great.
:::
:::But I can only do this if the template is easy to make.. round or square rectangle etc.
:::.. but if it's got weird bends and no lip or extra lips I'm stumped.
:::
:::I had two such lenses here for radios I'm currently restoring. The larger one is bent at right angles and is from the Crosley 66TC and the other is a half-moon weird one for a Zenith consoletone 6d-614.
:::
:::Both were very yellowed and old. Especially the Zenith.
:::
:::I looked around on-line for tips about removing that cowardly-yellow... found one that says to soak it in diluted bleach.
:::So last night I tried it with rather pleasing success.
:::
:::(I used 80% water 20% bleach... but more bleach seems ok too)
:::
:::The Crosley lens only soaked for a few hours and came out nice. The Zenith soaked all night... But wow!
:::I am very very pleased.
:::I won't say it's 'perfect" but it removed like 80% or more of the yellow from the Zenith and 90% from the Crosley.
:::
:::For those troublesome lenses I suggest you try this easy tip.
:::
:::The Crosley also had some scratching and cloudiness too. So I sprayed some kind of old Stanley-Home Products spray-on shoe polish wax with polymers? maybe ...from maybe like 25 years ago that I found under the kitchen sink.
:::That did a nice job too. So I'm guessing any spray on wax or maybe even any wax.
:::I did also see a hint out there for using two of Mecquires Auto cleaning products. #17 cleaner and #10 polish .
:::They claim those two will clear up cloudy yellow plastic.
:::I don't have any here. But I'll try to get some. Do any of you guys out there have any particular experience with this?
:::Or any better tips?
::
::I have always had good luck using good old Brasso to clean and remove scratches. It also removes some of the yellowing. Go at it like you are polishing brass.Everytime I use it it brings back many memories from my time in the Army.
::Jon.
:::
:::
:::Hi Guys
: I found something that works extremely well on Bakollite cabinets, its called Harveys Fiberglass Cleaner/Polish, this stuff is unbeleivable, have not tried it on discolored lens covers yet, will have to get one and try it, you can get this stuff at Home Depot or Ace Hardware, try it, you won't regret it:)
:Mark

I had great results polishing a bakelite cabinet using Turtlewax scratch and swirl remover. I figured that if it was safe enought to use on automobile clearcoat finishes that it would be safe. Restored it to a very nice shiny surface. Mark from Kalamazoo

Hi

Tooth paste will also remove scratches.

The neat thing is being able to bleach out that yellow color which happens over time. Can't remember anyone else having success.

Norm

::::I often can make my own nice new dial lenses out of 20-mil polycarbonate sheets. I trace/draw the temptlate on masonite and cut it out with a scroll-saw leaving a "collar" around the outside. Put it in the oven with a piece of the plastic over it... when it melts I force the outer collar down over the edge to get sharp edges... works great.
::::
::::But I can only do this if the template is easy to make.. round or square rectangle etc.
::::.. but if it's got weird bends and no lip or extra lips I'm stumped.
::::
::::I had two such lenses here for radios I'm currently restoring. The larger one is bent at right angles and is from the Crosley 66TC and the other is a half-moon weird one for a Zenith consoletone 6d-614.
::::
::::Both were very yellowed and old. Especially the Zenith.
::::
::::I looked around on-line for tips about removing that cowardly-yellow... found one that says to soak it in diluted bleach.
::::So last night I tried it with rather pleasing success.
::::
::::(I used 80% water 20% bleach... but more bleach seems ok too)
::::
::::The Crosley lens only soaked for a few hours and came out nice. The Zenith soaked all night... But wow!
::::I am very very pleased.
::::I won't say it's 'perfect" but it removed like 80% or more of the yellow from the Zenith and 90% from the Crosley.
::::
::::For those troublesome lenses I suggest you try this easy tip.
::::
::::The Crosley also had some scratching and cloudiness too. So I sprayed some kind of old Stanley-Home Products spray-on shoe polish wax with polymers? maybe ...from maybe like 25 years ago that I found under the kitchen sink.
::::That did a nice job too. So I'm guessing any spray on wax or maybe even any wax.
::::I did also see a hint out there for using two of Mecquires Auto cleaning products. #17 cleaner and #10 polish .
::::They claim those two will clear up cloudy yellow plastic.
::::I don't have any here. But I'll try to get some. Do any of you guys out there have any particular experience with this?
::::Or any better tips?
:::
:::I have always had good luck using good old Brasso to clean and remove scratches. It also removes some of the yellowing. Go at it like you are polishing brass.Everytime I use it it brings back many memories from my time in the Army.
:::Jon.
::::
::::
::::Hi Guys
:: I found something that works extremely well on Bakollite cabinets, its called Harveys Fiberglass Cleaner/Polish, this stuff is unbeleivable, have not tried it on discolored lens covers yet, will have to get one and try it, you can get this stuff at Home Depot or Ace Hardware, try it, you won't regret it:)
::Mark
:
:I had great results polishing a bakelite cabinet using Turtlewax scratch and swirl remover. I figured that if it was safe enought to use on automobile clearcoat finishes that it would be safe. Restored it to a very nice shiny surface. Mark from Kalamazoo

I just used some Brasso on that Zenith lens to get out any scratches on the front and boy did that do a GREAT job on the scratches.
... seems to even have helped reduce some of the residual yellow that was still left after bleach soaking.
Now I do think the bleach could have gotten out even more yellow if I had soaked it longer or increased the concentration. However it made it acceptably nice as it is.
But it certainly did the trick more quickly on the Crosley lens in just a couple hours.

It seems to have made them a bit more supple too, reducing brittleness.. but that may be my imagination.

Toothpaste:
I remember using tothpaste to rub on crystals to carefully change their frequency slightly by actually rubbing off a little of the crystal material making them somewhat thinner and thereby increasing the frequency a little.

Though I don't remember the freq moving all that much...lol
... as it takes a lot of rubbing..and I certainly didn't have a freq counter in those early days. Just trying to move my one-tube CW transmitter a little higher up the band.

That was back in my early amateur radio days in the 60s and it was by then even a very old trick I read in an early ham manual that was commonly used by the early hams a generation or so before my time.

:I often can make my own nice new dial lenses out of 20-mil polycarbonate sheets. I trace/draw the temptlate on masonite and cut it out with a scroll-saw leaving a "collar" around the outside. Put it in the oven with a piece of the plastic over it... when it melts I force the outer collar down over the edge to get sharp edges... works great.
:
:But I can only do this if the template is easy to make.. round or square rectangle etc.
:.. but if it's got weird bends and no lip or extra lips I'm stumped.
:
:I had two such lenses here for radios I'm currently restoring. The larger one is bent at right angles and is from the Crosley 66TC and the other is a half-moon weird one for a Zenith consoletone 6d-614.
:
:Both were very yellowed and old. Especially the Zenith.
:
:I looked around on-line for tips about removing that cowardly-yellow... found one that says to soak it in diluted bleach.
:So last night I tried it with rather pleasing success.
:
:(I used 80% water 20% bleach... but more bleach seems ok too)
:
:The Crosley lens only soaked for a few hours and came out nice. The Zenith soaked all night... But wow!
:I am very very pleased.
:I won't say it's 'perfect" but it removed like 80% or more of the yellow from the Zenith and 90% from the Crosley.
:
:For those troublesome lenses I suggest you try this easy tip.
:
:The Crosley also had some scratching and cloudiness too. So I sprayed some kind of old Stanley-Home Products spray-on shoe polish wax with polymers? maybe ...from maybe like 25 years ago that I found under the kitchen sink.
:That did a nice job too. So I'm guessing any spray on wax or maybe even any wax.
:I did also see a hint out there for using two of Mecquires Auto cleaning products. #17 cleaner and #10 polish .
:They claim those two will clear up cloudy yellow plastic.
:I don't have any here. But I'll try to get some. Do any of you guys out there have any particular experience with this?
:Or any better tips?
:
:
:Peter, Some great tips, I also have the same crosley which is also yellowed with age I will try it , now my only problem is the metal dial the paint on mine seems to be peeling off, I was going to scan it on to my computer and just print out a new one and glue it over the original but alas my scanner has seemed to died so looks like I will try and touch it up the best I can , unless you have any resoration ideas on metal dials?
E.