My soft top is just about to be retired for the winter and this year I've noticed alot more scratches and swirls on it. I'm curious if there is some kind of way to clean up the plastic windows. Removing swirls at least maybe. I know the scratches are probably there but maybe even just a way to clean up the plastic??

 

Mrs Crash,

your problem is just like swirls and scratches in paint. you'll need to treat the problem just the same.

sounds like you got deeper scratches than you can possibly "cover up". what you'll need to do is to use acrylic polishing fluid or compound and buff out the scratches. in worse cases, you'll need to wet sand the plastic with decreasingly abrasive wet sandpaper until it is clear.

a good search of aquarium websites might lead you to some good advice too. try searching "acrylic aquarium wet sanding" in google. that woudl be my first guess.

bob

 

There is a product by Meguires that works great for your exact problem. I know they sell it at marine shops, and may also have it at auto parts places. I'll get the number for it tomorrow, I think it's their product 15, but I could be way off. Might be number 56, it's too late for me to remember right now. It's a plastic detailer used for the clear windows on boat covers and works like magic. I'll let you know tomorrow.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the help.

Also, Bob from what you described sounds like a step I'm afraid of making. It's part of why I haven't done anything more then regular hand waxing in my rig. I think I'd be afraid to do such a detailed kind of swirl remover on the plastic as well. I'd be afraid of messing it up. Making it look worse. Are there places that do this? Like auto detailing?

 

i recall seeing a "kit" for acrylic aquarium tanks. there was a tutorial showing how easy it was to do. pretty idiot proof as i recall.

bob

 

lol you don't know me too well. I can screw up anything.

Thank you though. I will do a google search tomorrow and see what I can find. Simple is what I need. Simple hand waxing type thing and I'd do it in a heart beat but anything that requires a plug in type machine and I'd be afraid I'd over due it and then not have to worry anymore cause I wouldn't have windows when I was done.