Greetings to all,
I have heard the expression of "buffing out scratches".
Can anyone share a good method of buffing out scratches from plastic, polystyrene, and bakelite.
I have used novus 3-2-1 with not much luck, it will remove only the most minute one's. I do not have a machine to do it, I "buff" by hand so far, is there a tiny machine or buffer that any uses?
Thank you,
Vinny A.

I have used auto polish like blue coral for use by hand.
There is also some aircraft polish for plastics ..
If you ever do get or use a buffing wheel, be sure to go low speed and lite contact. Can burn or melt plastics.

:I have used auto polish like blue coral for use by hand.
:There is also some aircraft polish for plastics ..
:If you ever do get or use a buffing wheel, be sure to go low speed and lite contact. Can burn or melt plastics.
:There is a product called "mirror glaze" that works well for buffing out small scratches and haze, for larger scratches, try 600 grit wet-or-dry samdpaper and water.

Thank you Earl for the advice. As I replied to warren I was considering buying (of all things) an electric shoe polisher.
My workbench is a table for two in a tiny divorce style apartment, so the smallest as possible.
Can you really use 600 grit, does it damage the plastic, do you follow it up with another sandpaper to get it smooth again?
Vinny:

:I have used auto polish like blue coral for use by hand.
::There is also some aircraft polish for plastics ..
::If you ever do get or use a buffing wheel, be sure to go low speed and lite contact. Can burn or melt plastics.
::There is a product called "mirror glaze" that works well for buffing out small scratches and haze, for larger scratches, try 600 grit wet-or-dry samdpaper and water.

While bakelite is very durable, you should be careful not to buff away the very thin outer (shiney) layer. Once gone it cannot be recreated. I recommend hand buffing. Try Novus scratch remover, available from online radio parts sources or on eBay.

:Thank you Earl for the advice. As I replied to warren I was considering buying (of all things) an electric shoe polisher.
:My workbench is a table for two in a tiny divorce style apartment, so the smallest as possible.
:Can you really use 600 grit, does it damage the plastic, do you follow it up with another sandpaper to get it smooth again?
:Vinny:
:
:
:
:
::I have used auto polish like blue coral for use by hand.
:::There is also some aircraft polish for plastics ..
:::If you ever do get or use a buffing wheel, be sure to go low speed and lite contact. Can burn or melt plastics.
:::There is a product called "mirror glaze" that works well for buffing out small scratches and haze, for larger scratches, try 600 grit wet-or-dry samdpaper and water.

Jeff, thank you very much for sharing your time and advice.
Vinny A.

:While bakelite is very durable, you should be careful not to buff away the very thin outer (shiney) layer. Once gone it cannot be recreated. I recommend hand buffing. Try Novus scratch remover, available from online radio parts sources or on eBay.
:
::Thank you Earl for the advice. As I replied to warren I was considering buying (of all things) an electric shoe polisher.
::My workbench is a table for two in a tiny divorce style apartment, so the smallest as possible.
::Can you really use 600 grit, does it damage the plastic, do you follow it up with another sandpaper to get it smooth again?
::Vinny:
::
::
::
::
:::I have used auto polish like blue coral for use by hand.
::::There is also some aircraft polish for plastics ..
::::If you ever do get or use a buffing wheel, be sure to go low speed and lite contact. Can burn or melt plastics.
::::There is a product called "mirror glaze" that works well for buffing out small scratches and haze, for larger scratches, try 600 grit wet-or-dry samdpaper and water.

Thank you Warren for the advice. I was considering buying (of all things) an electric shoe polisher.
My workbench is a table for two in a tiny divorce style apartment, so the smallest as possible.
Vinny

:I have used auto polish like blue coral for use by hand.
:There is also some aircraft polish for plastics ..
:If you ever do get or use a buffing wheel, be sure to go low speed and lite contact. Can burn or melt plastics.
:

:Thank you Warren for the advice. I was considering buying (of all things) an electric shoe polisher.
:My workbench is a table for two in a tiny divorce style apartment, so the smallest as possible.
:Vinny
:
:
:
:
:
::I have used auto polish like blue coral for use by hand.
::There is also some aircraft polish for plastics ..
::If you ever do get or use a buffing wheel, be sure to go low speed and lite contact. Can burn or melt plastics.

May I strongly suggest that you not use motorized polishers on plastic until you practice on a lot of scrap plastic. An electric motor and a polishing pad can make a little scratch into a great big gouge. This is from one who has "been there, done that."
Lewis

Lewis, thank you. I could always depend on your word. I am a little "chicken" to do so also. that is why I think a shoe polisher could do it, maybe that's to strong also.
Vinny A.

Vinny,
You might well narrow your scope a little. Actually the 3 mat'ls you noted are completely different, and will certainly require different techniques for each. Polystyrene is also a soft flexible plastic, and can be destroyed/melted with acetone. Bakelite on the other hand is a brittle thermo resin not readily dissolved with anything except maybe sulfuric acid (battery acid), and I've had ugly reults coating it with clear polyurethane. High speed motorized polishers (Dremel tools) should be avoided on soft plastics/polystyrene as noted in other posts. You having first hand knowledge of the amount of damage must make a final determination as to what is best in your situation, then live with the consequences and learn from mistakes (experience) May I suggest that if no recourse is found here, you Google polishing/buffing ABS or polystyrene, Bakelite or whatever. BTW polystyrene makes great stable capacitors too.

marv

:Greetings to all,
:I have heard the expression of "buffing out scratches".
:Can anyone share a good method of buffing out scratches from plastic, polystyrene, and bakelite.
:I have used novus 3-2-1 with not much luck, it will remove only the most minute one's. I do not have a machine to do it, I "buff" by hand so far, is there a tiny machine or buffer that any uses?
:Thank you,
:Vinny A.

Marv, thank you for the advice. I have seen some great articles already.
Vinny

:Marv, thank you for the advice. I have seen some great articles already.
:Vinny

I bought a bakelite radio many years ago. The cabinet was in terrible shape--it was covered with about a 1/4 inch of Louisiana crap. (Take my word for it, Louisiana crap is about as crappy as it gets.) I rubbed and rubbed and rubbed, using a variety of non-gritty products, until the cabinet looked (and still looks) awesome. The best product was basic Armor-All.

DO NOT use sandpaper or any other "gritty" product. Use the same types of wipers you would use to shine shoes--panty hose, nylon socks, or soft cotton cloths. DO NOT use any "machinery." Good ole elbow grease is the ticket.

Sam, thanks for the advice. I tried a plastic radio using toothpaste, brasso, elbow grease, and novus and it came out nice. I still do not have the guts to go in a store and ask for panty hose.
Vinny

::Marv, thank you for the advice. I have seen some great articles already.
::Vinny
:
:I bought a bakelite radio many years ago. The cabinet was in terrible shape--it was covered with about a 1/4 inch of Louisiana crap. (Take my word for it, Louisiana crap is about as crappy as it gets.) I rubbed and rubbed and rubbed, using a variety of non-gritty products, until the cabinet looked (and still looks) awesome. The best product was basic Armor-All.
:
:DO NOT use sandpaper or any other "gritty" product. Use the same types of wipers you would use to shine shoes--panty hose, nylon socks, or soft cotton cloths. DO NOT use any "machinery." Good ole elbow grease is the ticket.
:
:

Brasso can often bring a cabinet back to extreme lustre, as can Mothers polish. NuFinish will bring back a dull cabinet to a really fine shine, but won't remove scratches readily.

Brasso may or may not work on other plastics, too. It seems to work alright on lucite and on that marbled terribly unstable plastic used so commonly in the 1930s and early 40s. A bit of buffing brings back a really fine shine and removes scratches. However, you have to be careful not to melt the plastic. Best to hand buff.

T.

Thomas, thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with me.
I have found some luck using toothpaste, brasso, and novus for plastic radios from the 50's. The Bakelite responds well to brasso, shoe polish, and a final coat after the polish dries of Novus #1. Polystyrene responds well to Novus product.
Thank you again,
Vinny A.