MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
W-a-y-y-y-y-y back when I had my original LBC's, I used a product to clean and remove the scratches from the vinyl rear windows of the convertibles. It was a white paste similar to a car polish but supposedly much finer so it didn't add scratches to the windows. It worked great! Is there anything out there now that's similar to use?
The stuff Moss sells works very well. It comes in three grades. The finest is basically just a cleaner. The medium removes mild hazing. The coarse removes scratches. The medium stuff made my rear window sparkle and also took the yellow out of the Miata's headlights.
Is it anything like the headlight restorer you can buy? I just bought one of Maguires kits to do my wife's Subaru and my Tacoma headlights.
The stuff Moss sells is by Novus. The cleaner is really just some sort of plastic safe cleaner. The polishing compounds are similar in consistency to some car (paint) polishes. I'm sure they are similar in their makeup to the headlamp polishing stuff.
You can buy from Moss or you can just take the short route and go to your local pet store. No matter how it's bottled, I have been using it for years to remove scratches from my Acrylic fish tanks. It is cheaper to buy it as a fish tank scratch remover than as a "headlight restorer" or a "Rear Window scratch remover". at the fish store comes in different sizes, so you don't have to spend $20 or more for a large bottle, you can buy the smallest one for about $5 or $6. OOhhh, and yes, it comes in 3 different grades (Deep Scratch remover, Medium scratch remover, and fine scratch remover). Now, you don't need the "Deep Scratch remover", that one is to remove really deep scratches on Acrylic, the type that if you were to run your nail through it, it would get stuck right at the scratch. you can buy the fine one if you have very light fine scratches. If your scratches are a bit more serious, I recommend that you buy the medium and the light scratch remover. You would have to start with the Medium to get the tougher ones out and the fine after it to clarify the window and leave it nice and clear.
Hope that helps!!!
PS. Before you start going from pet store to pet store, call ahead and if they carry tropical fish (Salt Water particularly), they should have it.
Good Luck.
Now I could be wrong so test first to see but I recall that ordinary old everyday toothpaste was good for cleaning these perspex/plastic windows. But with the changes in toothpaste and perhaps the plastics used in the softtops today this may no longer work. PS I probably wouldn't use one that's for whitening your teeth
Plast-X works well for me on my top's plastic windows. Be sure to wash the windows with soap and water first to remove any dust and dirt. It also works good on plastic headlight lenses. I've tried the Novus 3 step procedure - it works, but I like Plast-X better. If your lenses are really in bad shape, try wet sanding with a very fine sandpaper.
I use the NOVUS products. #1 to clean the daily dirt from the window and #2 to polish it a couple of times during the year. There is also a #3 for heavy scratches. I originally purchase a set with all 3 for cleaning my motorcycle windsield. I purchased a half gallon of #1 on evilbay and a smaller #2 on amazon.com late last year. Shop around on-line as the prices vary a lot.
Ken
X2.
Plast-X is the product I have been using on my top for approx 3 years. It takes about 30 minutes of "wax on" "wax off" but the results are the same every time, i.e, looks good as new.
and.....this product is available at any Walmart.
X3 for Plast-X made by Meguiars --I have used the Novus products too but find Plast-X easier and as effective!
Novus Plastic Polish Products -
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/novus-plastic-polish-kit-plastic-polish-and-scratch-remover-8-oz/448PN7100.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=GoogleShopping&gclid=COOww8vs_K0CFUSo4AodDX5vuw
My bottle of Mequiars Mirror Glaze Plastic Polish was never far from the windscreen of my motorcycle.
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-M1008-Clear-Plastic-Polish/dp/B0000AXMD2
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/72/38450/ITEM/Meguiars-Mirror-Glaze-Plastic-Polish.aspx?SITEID=Google_Meguiars_Mirror_Glaze_Plastic_Polish&WT.mc_ID=10001&WT.srch=1&esvt=GOUSP340946832&esvadt=999999-0-4021005-1&esvid=400074
If there's a big motorcycle presence in your community, the local bike shop will typically have one or the other in stock. The windscreen on motorcycle fairings are acrylic/plastic.
I've also used Brasso ocassionally.
Mike
Interesting hearing about the tooth paste. My uncle who was in WW II
told me that they used tooth paste to clean the windshields of the
planes. He was a drew chief on a B-25.
I also use Meguires on my cars and have found it to work as good or
better than anythng else I've tried.
George Herschell
I used GM Vinyl Cleaner. It doesn't get the scratches out, but it does clean the fog off. It's rebadged Armorall Vinyl Cleaner.