Restoring a scratched / misty helmet visor

[*Touring Ted*]

My visors on my Tour X and Roof Le mans have taken a fair battering.. Sand, gravel and bad weather has put lots of fine scratches on them and they mist up and generally look hazey...

Well, I was pricing up replacments and at £50 each, im thinking there has to be a way to restore them.

I dont think a wax is going to help but what about some proper plastic restorer. Like the stuff you use on screens, plane windows etc ???

Like this...

Plastic Window SCRATCH RESTORER 4 Convertibles Soft Top on eBay, also Touch Up Materials, Car Care, Car Accessories, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 23-Mar-09 15:40:31 GMT)

Anyone tried it ?

[Tony P]

In the 60s many soft top sports cars had rear windows of flexible PVC (or similar) that gradually got scratched and went milky.
We used to gently go over them with metal polish (Brasso or Silvo) which made it much clearer for some time. Never crystal clear, but certainly visible through

The Ebay product may be just a form of metal polish. If so, at £6.45 for 30ml (2 tablespoons) it seems somewhat expensive compared with whatever supermarkets sell as metal polish these days !

[*Touring Ted*]

I have metal polish already that I use for exhausts etc...

I was thinking it might be a little harsh but I think its worth a go ...

Ta

[John Ferris]

I have used Mirror Glaze Polish and it worked good but I did not have much damage.
They have other Mirror Glaze products to fix scratches, I have not used them.
Meguiar's Direct Mirror Glaze Clear Plastic Cleaner

[Shunt]

Hein & Gericke do something for Screens thats supposed to restore them,
Could be worth a Punt?
hth

Pete

[klaus]

...should work, if the damage is not too "obvious"!

An alternative could be some kind of compound polish - you know, the stuff people use after having parts repainted, to smoothen everything!

It's definitely much cheaper and worth a try!!

[bolla]

I am sure I read about people using tooth paste any one heard this?

[klaus]

.... since you can use it to polish silver I am quite sure it can be used for a helmet, too. It all depends on the amount and kind of scratches!!

[NEVIL]

Hi Ted,

I've had good success using Meguires PlastX...although some visors had to be snade 1st using a 2000 grit emery THEN Meguires PlastX. Be prepared for a lot of elbow grease during this process....best to Practice on an old unwanted visor as well. I've restored 4 visors now (including my XD visor).
Hope this tip helps mate.

Regards

Nevil

[britch]

Jiff cleaner or CIF as it's now called, it will improve the visibility but if over zealous you can rub right through the top tint coating so there are extra clear patches, then the only answer is a new one

[oldbmw]

I have been told toothpaste, but cannot vouch for it, try a patch somewhere unimportant.

[bilimanjaro]

acrylic polish .. used on scratched windows on caravans/motorhomes..

[tweetyduck]

NOVUS three stage polish. Used on helicopter and plane windows. The kits are avail on Ebay.

Its pertect. Stop messing around with stuff not meant for the job and use the proper stuff.

If you are on a budget number two does a damn good job in its own and leaves it optically clear. The fine No.1 is just normal window cleaner IMHO.
Number 3 leaves and misted finish and gets the big marks out.

Plastic Polish Characteristics

Novus 1; Plastic Clean & Shine

Gently cleans all plastics without scratching. Leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static.

• Resists finger marking
• Contains no abrasives or harsh chemicals
• Leaves a smooth, clean, greaseless shine

Novus 2; Fine Scratch Remover

Removes fine scratches, haziness and abrasions from most plastics. With repeated use, Novus #2 restores faded and discolored plastics.

• Removes the damage instead of filling it in
• Buffs out quickly
• After restoring, seals with a coat of polish

Novus 3; Heavy Scratch Remover

Removes heavy scratches and abrasions from most acrylic surfaces. Use when damage is too severe to be restored with Novus #2 polish.

• Requires use of Novus #2 for final finishing
• Not recommended for use on coated plastics

[realmc26]

Originally Posted by neill.bird

NOVUS three stage polish. Used on helicopter and plane windows. The kits are avail on Ebay.

Its pertect. Stop messing around with stuff not meant for the job and use the proper stuff.

If you are on a budget number two does a damn good job in its own and leaves it optically clear. The fine No.1 is just normal window cleaner IMHO.
Number 3 leaves and misted finish and gets the big marks out.

Plastic Polish Characteristics

Novus 1; Plastic Clean & Shine

Gently cleans all plastics without scratching. Leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static.

• Resists finger marking
• Contains no abrasives or harsh chemicals
• Leaves a smooth, clean, greaseless shine

Novus 2; Fine Scratch Remover

Removes fine scratches, haziness and abrasions from most plastics. With repeated use, Novus #2 restores faded and discolored plastics.

• Removes the damage instead of filling it in
• Buffs out quickly
• After restoring, seals with a coat of polish

Novus 3; Heavy Scratch Remover

Removes heavy scratches and abrasions from most acrylic surfaces. Use when damage is too severe to be restored with Novus #2 polish.

• Requires use of Novus #2 for final finishing
• Not recommended for use on coated plastics

Thanks for the tip, Just ordered the No 2 on Ebay.
$20 delivered to Australia seems like a good deal.
I'll report back with the results.
cheers

[Etherelda]

another nod for the Meguairs plastic cleaner/polish, it is designed for visors and windshields, and mine both come up from new.
Meguiar's UK