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3M Plastic headliight Lense Polish

Posts: 2237 Threads: 272

I took my 1964 WMP floor tom to my friend at a body shop to polish it for me after I stripped the black paint off of it successfully. He's gonna polish it with a 3M polish made for polishing plastic headlights. Plastic headlight lenses get dull and hazy after time and this polish, polishes off the haze and makes them look clear and new again. I assume he will use a buffer to do this. I have seen the restored headlights and it really works!

I can't wait to see the results! I will post pics tomorrow when I get my tom back.

1960's SONOR 12-16-20-14 blue slate pearl
1968 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-14Sky blue P
1972 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-14BlueVistalite
1972 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-(14 impostor)BlackPanther "SOLD"
1964 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl 22-12-13-16-14Supra "SOLD"
1969 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-14 Citrus Mod "SOLD"
1969 LUDWIG Sexto-Plus 8-1 0-12-13-14-15-16-20-20-14 Silver Sparkle
60's Majestic Delux 12-13-16-22-14 red pearl
2009 Homemade Kids 8-10-13-16-12 Orange Sparkle
24 kits, 80 Snares, 65 Cymbals
Don't tell my wife!
Posted on 14 years ago
#1
Posts: 4009 Threads: 209

From poppy79424

I took my 1964 WMP floor tom to my friend at a body shop to polish it for me after I stripped the black paint off of it successfully. He's gonna polish it with a 3M polish made for polishing plastic headlights. Plastic headlight lenses get dull and hazy after time and this polish, polishes off the haze and makes them look clear and new again. I assume he will use a buffer to do this. I have seen the restored headlights and it really works!I can't wait to see the results! I will post pics tomorrow when I get my tom back.

That stuff is designed for modern pvc type plastics. The wrap on vintage ludwigs is a cellulose based plastic. He might do more damage than good. Cellulose based plastic doesn't like a lot of heat for very long like would occur with a power buffer......also, usually, the yellowing (some say mellowing, I say just plain ugly after having seen what WMP is SUPPOSED to look like) is clean on through the wrap itself and is not just on the surface. I'm assuming this is why the polish and buffer?

Posted on 14 years ago
#2
Posts: 2628 Threads: 40

[COLOR="DarkRed"]I don't think Poppy expects the WMP to go white again...just to get some sheen back to the surface.

(IMHO - I love aged, yellowed WMP)

Although a good point....buffing is actually a mechanical process and it does effect the surface of materials....so, while the idea of the 3M product seems enticing....one probably should tread lightly with mechanical buffing.

Interesting idea...keep us posted ....[/COLOR]

www.2ndending.com
Posted on 14 years ago
#3
Posts: 1971 Threads: 249

http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/Retr0Bright+Gel

Dig that magic potion.... for whitening vintage computers... who da'thunk it.

I might stir up a batch of that stuff and see what it does on an old WMP marching shell I have.

Not a Guru... just interested..
Posted on 14 years ago
#4
Posts: 6287 Threads: 375

Put the lime in the coconut...........

Kevin
Posted on 14 years ago
#5
Posts: 2212 Threads: 95

Hey Jim, keep us posted on this please!!

Posted on 14 years ago
#6
Posts: 2237 Threads: 272

My 1st complete restoration was a 60's Sonor teardrop kit. The floor tom I purchased to complete my tear drop kit was pretty scratched up. Mostly surface scratches and rub marks. my friend polished it for me and it turned out fantastic. I know the yellow aint gonna go away. I just want it to be shiny.

If it gets screwed up I will go ahead and wrap it to match my BDP kit.

1960's SONOR 12-16-20-14 blue slate pearl
1968 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-14Sky blue P
1972 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-14BlueVistalite
1972 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-(14 impostor)BlackPanther "SOLD"
1964 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl 22-12-13-16-14Supra "SOLD"
1969 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-14 Citrus Mod "SOLD"
1969 LUDWIG Sexto-Plus 8-1 0-12-13-14-15-16-20-20-14 Silver Sparkle
60's Majestic Delux 12-13-16-22-14 red pearl
2009 Homemade Kids 8-10-13-16-12 Orange Sparkle
24 kits, 80 Snares, 65 Cymbals
Don't tell my wife!
Posted on 14 years ago
#7
Posts: 683 Threads: 96

I've used 3M Plastic Lense Polish with pretty good success.

Little tip, Brasso will take scratches out of plastic too. I've used it on watch faces and on my bass boat wind shields where people reach back to cast and smack their lure on the plastic. Works great!

There is another product that I have really liked on drums which is 3M Finesse II, it's formulated for fiberglass boat hulls.

30's Radio King - 26, 13, 13, 16
49 - WFL Ray McKinley - 26, 13, 16
58 - Slingerland Duco
58 - Slingerland Krupa Deluxe
70 - Ludwig Champagne Sparkle - 20, 12, 14
70 - Ludwig Champagne Sparkle - 22 (need), 13, 16
And some others..
Posted on 14 years ago
#8
Posts: 392 Threads: 30

poppy79424 & GoneDrumming - First of all thanks for trying this method in the first place, and keeping us up to date on these efforts. We can all have better restorations because of your experiences. This forum is GREAT!!!Clapping Happy2

“In fact your pedal extremities are a bit obnoxious”. – Fats Waller
Posted on 14 years ago
#9
Posts: 2237 Threads: 272

I got my floor tom back and it look fabulous!!!

1960's SONOR 12-16-20-14 blue slate pearl
1968 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-14Sky blue P
1972 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-14BlueVistalite
1972 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-(14 impostor)BlackPanther "SOLD"
1964 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl 22-12-13-16-14Supra "SOLD"
1969 LUDWIG 12-13-16-22-14 Citrus Mod "SOLD"
1969 LUDWIG Sexto-Plus 8-1 0-12-13-14-15-16-20-20-14 Silver Sparkle
60's Majestic Delux 12-13-16-22-14 red pearl
2009 Homemade Kids 8-10-13-16-12 Orange Sparkle
24 kits, 80 Snares, 65 Cymbals
Don't tell my wife!
Posted on 14 years ago
#10
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