not sure if this topic belongs here but figured it does since it involves detailing.I had a picture on my cluster slid in betweeen( not glued on) and removed it once it got faded. I noticed some scratches that it left behind,maybe dust scratches. Anyways, i tried using a damp terry towel with little bit of windex applied to it and it did not help. i read up on some forums to use a plastic rubbing coumpund and that it should work. i have some McGuires plastx cleaner and polisher and not sure if i should try it. has anyone experinced this?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59585527@N08/5495910665/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59585527@N08/5495910665/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/59585527@N08/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59585527@N08/5495910433/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59585527@N08/5495910433/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/59585527@N08/, on Flickr

 

i can't remember as it's been a long time since i've disassembled a honda cluster - does that clear part come completely off, so it is a stand alone clear piece?

if so, it most likely could be wet sanded with a high grit and then machine polished.

from the looks of it, you are not getting them out without real work. you could attempt to polish by hand with graduating polishes but i don't think it will be completely removed w/o a machine.

 

not sure..the cluster is still on the car.. im gonna try rubbing some plastx polish with a Qtip and clean off with a terry towel.see how that goes..but i was thinking the same, wet sand with a high grit (2000) then polishing it.im going to try it on a cluster at the junk yard at first =]

thanks for the input .

 

Your going to call me crazy,but wetsand.I had pretty much waterspot like things on the inside of my cluster cover (clear peice) that wouldn't come off with anything else.Wetsand gently with 2000 grit,polish (i used a mini buffer) and wax.

 

PlastX or ScratchX?

 

PlastX was created for use with headlights where as ScratchX was designed to be used by hand on paint to remove minor scratches. The clear plastic part is simple to remove. My Civic has 6ish screws and the whole cluster is out, then just pop the tabs. As mentioned above, I would wetsand and polish out by machine.

 

i have plastx. good thing i havent done it lol..im removing plastix from experimenting..

 

PlastX clearly states it was designed for use on clear plastics....

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G12310

 

I never said it couldn't be used on it. Just stating what they are used for. I did forget to mention that ScratchX is meant for minor scratches in clear coat so I apologize for that.

 

Plastix works great.

Also, there is a product that I have used for years on model car glass (and paint finishes) as well as R/C body Lexan called Novus. It is a 3 step system starting with a heavy scratch remover (#3) then works down to a fine scratch remover (#2) then goes to the final polish and static wax (#1). It really works well, is not very expensive, lasts forever, and you will find many other uses for it if you have it in your workshop or garage.


HTH,


doug

 

Just so you know the DA cluster will come out, and you can remove the clear plastic cover so you can do all the work you need to it. Seems like other people have the details covered on what to do when you get it apart.