I finally found an easy and affective way to bring old stained plastic back to life. I tried sanding and soda blasting but was never happy. I used the green Scotch-Brite pad with Lacquer thinner. I would dip the pad in the thinner and scrub. It will evaporate quickly, after about 10 seconds. I would repeat about 3 times then use a paper towel with thinner to clean the grime and pad dust off. Then I would repeat again, scrubbing with the pad and thinner, then finish off with a paper towel and thinner. Then I used a quality lacquer clear coat. It worked great!! The thinner does not eat the plastic, but is strong enough to lift the stains out. The Scotch-Brite wet sanding will not round the edges off either. The trick is to use only Lacquer thinner.... (not paint thinner....could be mineral spirits). I did this cover section in 5 minutes.
Plastic Renewing Tip.... -PICS-
- Thread starter Arrowhead
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jeepyfz450
Addicted to ArboristSite
wow that looks really really good. My 660 has some black scrapes on it where something black and plastic rubbed on the orange. I might just try that out.
Damn, that looks good. Thanks for the tip 
WesternSaw
Addicted to ArboristSite
Ed
That's some awesome tip you have shared with us! What great thing to do! I tried reping you but they said I have to spread some around first
Lawrence
That's some awesome tip you have shared with us! What great thing to do! I tried reping you but they said I have to spread some around first
Lawrence
AUSSIE1
Al.
Ed, that looks fantastic.
Now the 181 was meant to be for rolling around in the back of the ute and your just tempting me.
Now the 181 was meant to be for rolling around in the back of the ute and your just tempting me.
FATGUY
Addicted to ArboristSite
awesome! Now, if someone had a way of turning the Stihl rear handle plastic back to cream from the orangish yellow it's turned into, we'd ba a happy bunch. My kingdom for that secret......
That looks beautiful! Thanks for the tip.
BloodOnTheIce
Addicted to ArboristSite
I like it, seems a lot less labor intensive than the wet sanding, and clear coat method.
wodbutchr
ArboristSite Lurker
Thanks for sharing the secret!
superduty5.4guy
ArboristSite Member
Awesome tip, rep sent. That plastic looks kick a$$. I never thought i would find a way to make plastic look that good without spending countless hours on it.
logging22
Cuttin to live, livin to cut
Thanks for the tip bro.
davec
ArboristSite Operative
It looks great but a caution to anyone trying this: lacquer thinner is one of the nastiest solvents that the common folk can get their hands on. The glycol ethers in it are vey bad to breathe. A well ventilated work space is very much required and a respirator with carbon cartridges (Organic Vapor or "OV") is a very good idea, and maybe critical depending on how long you are doing this or how good the ventilation is.
I've sprayed lacquer, and won't do it without a respirator on. Very nasty solvents. And of course, very flammable too.
But it looks great...just use some good safety sense with this stuff.
-Dave
I've sprayed lacquer, and won't do it without a respirator on. Very nasty solvents. And of course, very flammable too.
But it looks great...just use some good safety sense with this stuff.
-Dave
Ed- looks great. I'm on my way to get some Scotch Brite pads right now.
Those Mister Clean "Magic Erase" things work good on newer plastic that is scuffed or has back marks in it from a starter handle.
Those Mister Clean "Magic Erase" things work good on newer plastic that is scuffed or has back marks in it from a starter handle.
:agree2: Wear rubber gloves also.
Great trick! I'd rep ya if it'd let me.
Just so everyone gets a second chance to read and understand this post. A side door open does not equal "well ventilated". Hell outside on a calm day I'm still putting a respirator on with this stuff.
