OMG, how NOT to clean your FTP lenses
05-25-04, 10:23 PM
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OMG, how NOT to clean your FTP lenses
okay, this is a warning for those of you cleaning ANY type of lenses. although you would have to be as stupid as i am to have done this.
...so i wanted to clean my FTP lenses, which are pretty dull and dirty. i didn't really know what i would use to do this, other than what i have read on this forum. i didn't really have any sandpaper or that mother's stuff people mention, so i just looked around my house. all i had was general purpose cleaner and a can of ACETONE. no, not acetone in its wimpy nail polish remover form, the industrial grade stuff. i bought this for cleaning of some pistons in a recent head gasket replacement. anyways, i knew that acetone eats away plastic. so i thought to myself, this is a good thing, right? i'll just scrub the top layer of crap off and then wash it down. i WAS, however, smart enough to try it out on my front turn signals (the stock clear S5 ones), before doing this on my FTP lenses. so anyways i poured some of the acetone on the lens, and i starting scrubing with a toothbrush. i got scrubing the whole lens before realizing...the freaking plastic melting
i quickly washed it off.
needless to say i would have gotten better results if i let a monkey throw crap at them. all the dirt and discolouration is gone, but the plastic is really hazy, and it looks like i took a torch to it. that ACETONE is some crazy stuff.
moral of this story: ACETONE + PLASTIC = BAD
NOT BEING STUPID LIKE ME = GOOD
...so i wanted to clean my FTP lenses, which are pretty dull and dirty. i didn't really know what i would use to do this, other than what i have read on this forum. i didn't really have any sandpaper or that mother's stuff people mention, so i just looked around my house. all i had was general purpose cleaner and a can of ACETONE. no, not acetone in its wimpy nail polish remover form, the industrial grade stuff. i bought this for cleaning of some pistons in a recent head gasket replacement. anyways, i knew that acetone eats away plastic. so i thought to myself, this is a good thing, right? i'll just scrub the top layer of crap off and then wash it down. i WAS, however, smart enough to try it out on my front turn signals (the stock clear S5 ones), before doing this on my FTP lenses. so anyways i poured some of the acetone on the lens, and i starting scrubing with a toothbrush. i got scrubing the whole lens before realizing...the freaking plastic melting
i quickly washed it off.needless to say i would have gotten better results if i let a monkey throw crap at them. all the dirt and discolouration is gone, but the plastic is really hazy, and it looks like i took a torch to it. that ACETONE is some crazy stuff.
moral of this story: ACETONE + PLASTIC = BAD
NOT BEING STUPID LIKE ME = GOOD
05-25-04, 10:31 PM
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Re: OMG, how NOT to clean your FTP lenses
Originally posted by coldfire
needless to say i would have gotten better results if i let a monkey throw crap at them.
needless to say i would have gotten better results if i let a monkey throw crap at them.
05-25-04, 10:55 PM
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Re: OMG, how NOT to clean your FTP lenses
Originally posted by coldfire
i WAS, however, smart enough to try it out on my front turn signals (the stock clear S5 ones), before doing this on my FTP lenses.
i WAS, however, smart enough to try it out on my front turn signals (the stock clear S5 ones), before doing this on my FTP lenses.
05-25-04, 11:47 PM
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you know casio, you have a point. however i was more thinking that i just want to get FTP lenses clear. no light actually passes through them. although one of my turn signal lenses looks screwy now, light still goes through them fine. besides, the signal lenses are less noticable and are not clear anyways. a LOT more damage would have been done on the FTP lenses...
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05-26-04, 12:40 PM
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Originally posted by SureShot
Even after solvent damage, you should be able to sand & polish them back to clear.
Even after solvent damage, you should be able to sand & polish them back to clear.
05-26-04, 01:04 PM
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Originally posted by coldfire
alright, i will give it a shot...but these turn signal lenses are tricky because you have all those bumps on the one side...
alright, i will give it a shot...but these turn signal lenses are tricky because you have all those bumps on the one side...
Then polishing is out.
Maybe a translucent paint to match the body color..
Or - just replace them.
05-26-04, 02:13 PM
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wet sand and spray clear coat.. really nice results.. if they have water droplets on the inside drill a small hole in the back.. let them dry out and silicone the hole and outside edges to reseal them.
05-26-04, 02:17 PM
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Originally posted by SureShot
Are you saying you got solvent on the inside?
Then polishing is out.
Maybe a translucent paint to match the body color..
Or - just replace them.
Are you saying you got solvent on the inside?
Then polishing is out.
Maybe a translucent paint to match the body color..
Or - just replace them.
05-26-04, 02:35 PM
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62.30 Each. I just called my local Mazda Dealer. Just go to your local dealer and pick up a set. Hell, they even come with UNBROKEN mounts!
Normally i'd just use 2000 grit sandpaper, water and 10 min...
-Markus
Normally i'd just use 2000 grit sandpaper, water and 10 min...
-Markus
05-26-04, 03:37 PM
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62.30 each! that's crazy man. for a little strip of plastic...
i'm thinking i'll just wait until i can get one off of someone or from a wrecked 7. light still goes through the lens fine, so it's no big deal...just looks shitty
i'm thinking i'll just wait until i can get one off of someone or from a wrecked 7. light still goes through the lens fine, so it's no big deal...just looks shitty
05-26-04, 04:54 PM
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Wetsand with 800 to 1200 paper. On the ouside that is.......am i being clear? God...I hope so. Then take the lens and buff them with a wool pad. Make sure to use some rubbing compound first to knock the scrathes down........then some glazing compound. They should come out looking great........also, make sure have plenty of time handy. To do the job right takes a couple hours of sanding per lens to get them perfect......and that IS what we are going for, right?..............or of course.......you could always say screw it and buy new ones.......
05-28-04, 12:07 PM
#23
Airflow is my life
Micromesh. We use it to restore the plexi/lexan windows on our airplanes. Removes scratches and will shine it up to a mirror finish. Best plastic polishing system out there.
