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Thread: Polishing transparent Lucite

  1. #1
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Polishing transparent Lucite

    Polishing transparent Lucite

    I'm going to try to restore a large used (already have an unused) aircraft porthole. I have surfed for solutions, but you folks are a priceless source of expertise.

    Suggestions, please?
    Many thanks!

  2. #2
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
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    Lightbulb Re: Polishing transparent Lucite

    Quote Originally Posted by Jac@stafford.net View Post
    Polishing transparent Lucite

    I'm going to try to restore a used (already have an unused) large aircraft porthole. I have surfed for solutions, but you folks are a priceless source of expertise.

    Suggestions, please?
    Many thanks!
    One common plastic polish is Corvus, available in three grades. Amazon carries it.

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  3. #3
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: Polishing transparent Lucite

    Quote Originally Posted by Leigh View Post
    One common plastic polish is Corvus, available in three grades. Amazon carries it.

    - Leigh
    Your recommendation is all I need. I'm off to find it now.
    Huge thank you, Leigh!

    Edit: I ordered it!

  4. #4
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
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    Re: Polishing transparent Lucite

    Glad I could help.

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  5. #5
    Gary Beasley's Avatar
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    Re: Polishing transparent Lucite

    If the stuff is too far gone for Corvus you can get Micromesh pads for wet polishing finishes to a mirror shine and work it back into a shape the Corvus polish can finish up. Its generally available at Rockler, Woodcraft, and other hobby woodworking stores.

  6. #6

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    Re: Polishing transparent Lucite

    Look up telescope mirror making for examples of different strokes for optical polishing, even if you are just trying to clean up the surface...

    Whatever you end up doing, do everything evenly as you cover the whole...

    Don't work any one area too much, as you will have to bring down surface evenly down past the bottom of the deepest damages...

    There's a new surface under all that stuff, you just have to get under it... ;-)

    Steve K

  7. #7
    Paul Ron's Avatar
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    Re: Polishing transparent Lucite

    i think you meant norvus....
    https://www.novuspolish.com/plastic_clean_shine.html

    ive buffed out haze n scratches with red rouge or better yet blue rouge to a mirror finish.

    something interesting here...
    https://www.instructables.com/id/How...d-for-under-4/

  8. #8

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    Re: Polishing transparent Lucite

    Jac, does the window form an image?

  9. #9
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: Polishing transparent Lucite

    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Fromm View Post
    Jac, does the window form an image?
    Not at all, except upon our retinas. It is a big, bright, ~150º wide window.

    Aside: It is very heavy, both elements are thicker than we might expect for optical purposes. Perhaps it was to protect from shrapnel.
    Last edited by Jac@stafford.net; 2-Sep-2018 at 15:40.

  10. #10
    Drew Wiley
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    Re: Polishing transparent Lucite

    Well, I've got more than my fair share of plastic supplies and equip. But if you're willing to hand-polish, any plastics retailer will have everything necessary. If you decide to go into the mass porthole refurbishing business, then I can give you some machinery clues. I once knew a tugboat operator who did exactly that. After awhile he couldn't find enough old marine-salvaged portholes, so started making his own new ones. Within ten years he had a warehouse in SF the size of a football field, plus a brass foundry overseas. Just think of how rich you could get making faux lucite barnacles! Well, I guess float planes could have barnacles. Space barnacles would be worth more anyway.

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