Plastic/perspex lense cleaning - what to use?

[Jez]

The plastic/perspex lense protecting the instrument cluster needs a clean up, new sealing tape etc. What solvent can I use that will dissolve the gum from the old degraded sealing tape, but not cloud up the plastic? I did a test spot with Eucalyptus oil but it clouded the plastic.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Jez

11/80 Inca Yellow TR7

[Beans]

I used valve oil from my trumpet to get the glue residue off.
But that won't help you much I'm afraid.

Have you tried white spirit?

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[MickeyR]

WD40?

[FI Spyder]

The plastic is very soft and most solvents/cleaning agents will cloud it. I can't personally suggest anything but warn you to be very careful. Possibly cleaning products used for motorcycle face plates?

As an aside, we used trichloroethaline to clean plastics on IBM products but it would cloud plastics from any other manufacturer whereas any solvent used for other manufacturers including relatively benign propanol would cloud IBM plastics.



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[EntonoX]

What works really well for me is to get a set of paint scratch remover. This is a set with 2 tubes (1 cutting compound and 1 polish compound) it also comes with a some 2500 sanding paper.

If the cutting compound isn`t going remove the scratches then you can wet-sand the plastic lense. The use the cutting compound again. I did this and my lens looks as a new one!

TR7, ACG 2700L

[Rblackadar]

CD Scratch Polish Kit maybe????

[Rblackadar]

How about AUTOSOL????

[Henk]

I used Brasso!




Henk

1980 TR7 US Convertible
1978 Mini Clubman Estate

[trv8]

Any finishing polish or a dedicated plastic polish like Meguires Scratch X.

I just had a go on mine with Meguires 105 (ultra cut compound) and it got rid of the scratches [:D]

[MickeyR]

I think his main issue is with the adhesive residue; not polishing the plastic.

WD40 works great on breaking down adhesives, and it's not abrasive.

[Gubi]

I've not used it for this application, but the safest product I've found for tape & glue removal is called Goo Gone. Not sure if it's available in Australia. It's citrus based and hasn't damaged anything I've used it on so far.

For polishing the cluster plastic my favorite is Novus #2 plastic polish. Meguiar's Plast-X is easier to find and is my backup.

-----
Tom
'79 TR7
'87 Alfa 75
'91 Alfa Spider

[Jez]

Many thanks for the replies. Yet another use for WD40!
Cheers
Jez

11/80 Inca Yellow TR7

[silverseven]

x3 on the wd40 , it's my favorite glue removal tool

Ron.