Subject: faded taillight lenses
Author: John Prusnek
Date: Mar 6, 2002, 5:01 AM
Post ID: 1709788365
Tom:
The following is an article I wrote for the MGNOC newsletter a while
back regarding faded lenses. Kinda long winded, but the results are good.
John Prusnek
| Restoring faded plastic taillight lenses on Ambassadors and Eldorados Having restored a 1971 Ambassador recently, I wasn't happy with the condition of the taillight lens. It had stress cracks from vibration and overtorquing, and since it had faded to nearly clear, the previous owner had "fixed" it by spraying the inside with red paint. This cut down on the amount of light that could pass through it, resulting in a very dim taillight. Stripping the paint without dissolving the lens was the first order of business. Having a wife who is a chemist (and whose bike this is anyway) came in very handy with regards to stripping the paint. Suzanne says that the lens is made of polystyrene plastic and things that normally strip paint (like toluene, xylene (xylol), or lacquer thinner will also attack the plastic. If the label says aromatic hydrocarbons, don't use it. Things that will work are ketones such as acetone and MEK (Methyl ethyl ketone), and, ethanol (vodka). Rubbing or wood alcohol work well also. An equal mixture of acetone, MEK and alcohol works best. The next part requires a trip to a craft store for a small (1 oz will do ya) bottle of transparent glass paint, the type used to make fake stained glass ornaments. The stuff I used is called Gallery Glass #15118 Ruby Red. I'm sure there are other brands. Follow the directions on the bottle (not rocket science) and you'll be fine. It has the consistency of molasses. You should coat the inside of the lens in quadrants, propping it up on a rag to keep the part you're working on flat. Let it dry for a day or two and do another quadrant. Fill the lines and textures molded into the inside of the lens to just about their highest points, the point being that the coating has an even thickness. Be patient, do several coats. . .it's a two hour job that takes a few days. An added benefit to this process is that it strengthens the lens if it's cracked. For a final touch polish the outside with a plastic polish such as Maguiars, or if you know what you're doing use rouge and a string buffing wheel. Don't forget that there's a rubber gasket in there, and use a dab of locktite instead of muscle if you're worried about it coming off. Now get out on the road and let your little light shine |