Cleaning DTI clear plastic face

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Cleaning DTI clear plastic face

This topic has 22 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 23 May 2017 at 07:21 by Neil Wyatt.

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19 May 2017 at 09:14 #15943
David Murray 1
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@davidmurray1
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19 May 2017 at 09:14 #298754
David Murray 1
Participant
@davidmurray1
I have an old DTI that I want to use for a tool setting project. It is a lovely 0.0005" bit of kit but at some time somebody has cut the mounting lug off it. Anyway, the problem I have is the front see through plastic window is all cloudy. I have tried whipping it over with acetone and no improvement.

Any advice on how I could clean it up? I did wonder about a bit of T-cut?
19 May 2017 at 09:22 #298758
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
Lots of things you could try from baking soda/water to toothpastes before moving to t-cut. the good news is that if you google there's loads of places that could likely supply a replacement off the shelf and places that would make a piece to fit for not too much..
19 May 2017 at 10:25 #298771
Circlip
Participant
@circlip
Check Solvent vapour polishing, otherwise, plastic "Glasses" are available from watch and clock spares suppliers. Some have turned their own and fitted using clear Acrylic or Polycarbonate turned slightly oversize on diameter and sprung in using a domed "Punch" and ring die.

Regards Ian
19 May 2017 at 10:34 #298774
David George 1
Participant
@davidgeorge1
I have used Solvol Autosol chrome polish on similar objects.It just takes a lot of time to polish out scratches, try it with a piece of felt or polishing bobbin.

David
19 May 2017 at 10:59 #298776
Hopper
Participant
@hopper
+1 on Solvol Autosol metal polish. Have used it for years on DTIs and motorbike speedo lenses (plastic not glass) etc etc and it works well.
19 May 2017 at 11:33 #298790
roy entwistle
Participant
@royentwistle24699
Acetone I find is not a good thing to use on plastics. Solvol Autosol yes

Roy
19 May 2017 at 12:56 #298813
David Murray 1
Participant
@davidmurray1
I had the tube of Autosol out last night but thought it might be too course. Obviously not so I will have a go later. Thanks for the tips everyone
19 May 2017 at 17:33 #298853
David Murray 1
Participant
@davidmurray1
Posted by David Murray 1 on 19/05/2017 12:56:16:

I had the tube of Autosol out last night but thought it might be too course. Obviously not so I will have a go later. Thanks for the tips everyone

That should of course read coarse!!!
19 May 2017 at 21:00 #298878
Mike Poole
Participant
@mikepoole82104
The lenses of plastic covered headlights also respond to fine wet and dry and solvol. They say Colmans mustard made a fortune from all the mustard that was mixed and left to dry out, I think Solvol must make a fortune from all the Solvol that squirts out when you stand on the tube, it will not go back in.

Mike
20 May 2017 at 17:38 #298961
Alan Vos
Participant
@alanvos39612
PEEK polish is worth a try. I have rescued a few cheap digital watches with that.
20 May 2017 at 21:31 #299001
David Murray 1
Participant
@davidmurray1
Thanks for the advice. Had a quick go with Autosol and it is much better already. Will carry on again tomorrow
20 May 2017 at 23:29 #299011
MW
Participant
@mw27036
Posted by Alan Vos on 20/05/2017 17:38:13:

PEEK polish is worth a try. I have rescued a few cheap digital watches with that.

+1 Fantastic on metals too.

Michael W
21 May 2017 at 09:25 #299025
Brian Oldford
Participant
@brianoldford70365
Posted by Mike Poole on 19/05/2017 21:00:58:

. . . . .They say Colmans mustard made a fortune from all the mustard that was mixed and left to dry out, I think Solvol must make a fortune from all the Solvol that squirts out when you stand on the tube, . . . . .

Mike

I've also heard it said that Reeves made a fortune from all the casting they sold for locos that were never finished.

Edited By Brian Oldford on 21/05/2017 09:26:16
21 May 2017 at 10:49 #299027
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by Brian Oldford on 21/05/2017 09:25:40:

Posted by Mike Poole on 19/05/2017 21:00:58:

. . . . .They say Colmans mustard made a fortune from all the mustard that was mixed and left to dry out, I think Solvol must make a fortune from all the Solvol that squirts out when you stand on the tube, . . . . .

Mike

I've also heard it said that Reeves made a fortune from all the casting they sold for locos that were never finished.

Edited By Brian Oldford on 21/05/2017 09:26:16

Pales into insignificance against the Quorn Horde!
22 May 2017 at 09:18 #299112
mechman48
Participant
@mechman48
I have used toothpaste followed up with Brasso liquid / wadding in the past when polishing plastic.

George.
22 May 2017 at 09:24 #299114
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Micro-mesh works for me. Though if it is an old plastic lense the discolouration may be in the material itself not just on the surface so you could be polishing for ever.
22 May 2017 at 10:25 #299125
ChrisH
Participant
@chrish
You could also try Brasso
22 May 2017 at 10:45 #299128
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
Think here jet fighter canopies? They get scratched; they are repaired by polishing with different grades of suitable abrasive paste – finer and finer until the pilot can see through clearly. Likely some vids on Utoob? No different than polishing glass lenses. Only here it is often more cost effective to replace with a new item.

One can only renovate the surface. If cloudy all the way through, no amount of polishing will resolve the issue!
22 May 2017 at 10:53 #299129
MW
Participant
@mw27036
Posted by not done it yet on 22/05/2017 10:45:58:

Think here jet fighter canopies? They get scratched; they are repaired by polishing with different grades of suitable abrasive paste – finer and finer until the pilot can see through clearly. Likely some vids on Utoob? No different than polishing glass lenses. Only here it is often more cost effective to replace with a new item.

They are made using a very specialized type of material, it's designed to suffer as little expansion/contraction as possible under temperature extremes.

Michael W
22 May 2017 at 11:49 #299140
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
They are made using a very specialized type of material, it's designed to suffer as little expansion/contraction as possible under temperature extremes.

Your point is? Or was that just a passing 'aside' Makes no difference to the method of scratch removal. Needing to remove the scratches, not polish them, may be important.

Cloudiness may have a different connotation.

From the net:

Today, the canopy is a multi-layer structure. In case of the F-16, it consists of three layers:

The innermost layer is 0.5 inch thick polycarbonate and drape-molded into the compound curvature shape.The center layer is 0.05 inch polyurethane to bond the inner to the outer layer.The outer layer is a 0.125 inch layer of acrylic (PMMA).

So not really any different on the surface, which is where it will get scratched/abraded? Poly methyl methacrylate – perspex to many.

Edited By not done it yet on 22/05/2017 11:51:34
22 May 2017 at 13:20 #299153
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
The Micro Mesh I suggested and use was supposidly developed for getting the scratches out of fighter canopies
23 May 2017 at 07:21 #299267
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by not done it yet on 22/05/2017 11:49:45:

Today, the canopy is a multi-layer structure. In case of the F-16, it consists of three layers:

The innermost layer is 0.5 inch thick polycarbonate and drape-molded into the compound curvature shape.The center layer is 0.05 inch polyurethane to bond the inner to the outer layer.The outer layer is a 0.125 inch layer of acrylic (PMMA).

Polycarbonate is harder and more impact resistant, perspex is more resistant to scratching, which would explain the choice and order of materials.
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