Repairing Fogged Gauges

[JohnRuff]

The fronts of the gauges are plastic. They are fogged but wipe them with a wet cloth and they look perfect until they dry.<br /><br />So I was thinking - what would happen if you wiped these plastic guages with a rag dampened with eposy resin?<br /><br />Anyone ever tried it - or have a better idea? Removing the plastic faceplates does not seem to be an option.

 

[JohnRuff]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

Clarification: Fogging is not internal caused by moisture. Rather the outside of the gauge face seemingly caused by time and the elements.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

Thoughts:<br /><br />1. They make something for private aircraft to clean and remove the scratches on their plexiglass windscreens. I wonder if that would work for you?<br /><br />2. I have seen advertised something for removing scratches on eyeglasses and sunglasses. Would that help?<br /><br />3. What about a good wax? Probably not permanent, but it might do and rewaxing every few months does not sound like a big deal.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

Things I can think of: <br /><br />Try a plastic window polish used on convertable top windows (McGuiers comes to mind). <br /><br />Future Floor Wax might make it look clear. Puts a great shine on dull boats and is very clear. Model builders use it on the windows to make them look clearer. <br /><br />Did you try plain car wax? Most have a mild abrasive and cleaning agents. <br /><br />You might also try an abrasive tooth polish like plain Crest to polish out the dullness. I have used it on old watch crystals to clean them up. But it takes a long time to polish by hand.<br /><br />It might be best to try thing like car wax, and Future first just because they won't do any real damage. Then move on to the polishes. If that doesn't work, then you might need new guages.<br /><br />Mark.

 

[G DANE]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

You can get a cheap paste for poliching scratched off cell phone displays. I think it will work. Crome polishing paste and carefull use does on car lights, i think it will on gauges too. Test on a little spot !!

 

[wallbanger2]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

I've got a Plymouth Voyager with the plastic headlights. They are notorious for fogging up. I use a metal polish like Meguires to clear them up. Takes about 5 min per lens and works great.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

There is a thread here dealing with someone who had to fix a windscreen with similar problems. You might want to read it and contact the originator of the thread.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=26;t=002494

 

[jimr]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

Novis(sp) makes lens cleaner and polish for light bars and other plastic. I have used it at work but end result looks good for a while but doesn't last very long.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

Originally posted by Jack L:<br /> There is a thread here dealing with someone who had to fix a windscreen with similar problems. You might want to read it and contact the originator of the thread.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=26;t=002494

I'm the originator of that thread.<br /><br />I've tried the same cutter by hand rather than power on a badly scratched but not fogged Aqua Meter speedo plastic lens and it didn't do much. <br /><br />I think the lens plastic might be a harder and different type than the ? vinyl ? acrylic sort on windscreens.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

Dunno what happened but I've reposted so I've deleted it.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Repairing Fogged Gauges

Dunno what happened but I've reposted again so I've deleted it. Sorry.