MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Cosmetic/Interior Modifications => Topic started by: Top Cat on July 11, 2009, 10:40:20 am
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I have the L.E.D rear lights and wanted to get more symmetry on the back of the car so i have replaced the red fog lens for a white reversing one. Quite a simple mod, just required prying the glued section apart and swapping the lenses, then re-glue back together.
Now i used superglue did the job then came back to it in the morning. There is now a cloudy patch on the outer casing of the light, which is the bit you look through. I am guessing the fumes had nowhere to escape too and have landed or stuck to the outer section and dried, creating a white cloudy patch almost like condensation. (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Ftomashandmilly%2FDaft_stuff%2F1072.gif&hash=f82c747d292ce69bf34a3a7bd9e6e7c6085d7eea)
My question is: What can i use to remove this without damaging the plastic, a bit of it washed off but the rest wont budge. If yuz dont know a safe substance to do this perhaps you could point me in the direction of a company or person who would know. :happy2:
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i think the superglue has burnt the plastic lense, it does this with certain plastics, you may have been better using a silcone based adhesive pal
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So do you think its irreversible :sad1:
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maybe not :sad:, its hard to say without seeing it pal, has it gone like an opaque dry patch?
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its like watered down white paint as soon as you touch it with your fingers which are moist it disappears, then as it dries it comes back again a couple of seconds later. :smiley:
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is it rough to touch?, I have some perpex polish here which we use on plane windscreens your welcome to try a bit of that pal
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The light is back on my car but i had a spare reversing lens so in my hand i have a lens/disc which was covered quite bad. I feel like it will wash off with the correct stuff it doesn't feel etched, but i think unless the correct stuf was used the plastic would scratch or dissolve with the glue.
How does this polish work Gaz is it like a ultra fine sanding effect, as i would worry that would almost do the same thing. Though i no fook all about polishing plastics.
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it is an abrasive paste Tom, but it doesn't make the surface hazy because then the plane drivers wouldn't be able to see where they are going :laugh:
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Just laughed out loud :signLOL:
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I've got some superglue remover mate I could send a tube of it up to if you wanted pretty good stuff should work.
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That sounds good Luke is it plastic safe. :smiley:
PG just sent me a link for this. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=28994
i think i will give this a go first and if it doesn't budge it i will come back to you cheers chaps. :drinking:
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sounds promising :happy2:
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can we see some pictures? i plan to do some tweeking of the interior plastics and kept getting this problem, sounds like the same thing. i switched to a silicone to combat it but would be interested to see if theres a simple fix
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can we see some pictures? i plan to do some tweeking of the interior plastics and kept getting this problem, sounds like the same thing. i switched to a silicone to combat it but would be interested to see if theres a simple fix
I dont think it would show up to well with my camera skills, but i will buy the above stuff tomorrow and do a before and after shot of the light.
Even the spare lens has improved just by sitting here rubbing it so i have high hopes of success. :smiley:
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That sounds good Luke is it plastic safe. :smiley:
PG just sent me a link for this. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=28994
i think i will give this a go first and if it doesn't budge it i will come back to you cheers chaps. :drinking:
Yes mate it has been safe on practically everything i've used it on to date even leather lol.
So ys just give me a shout if you struggle mate i'll get some in the post to you. :happy2:
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Nice one Luke. :drinking:
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how did it go Tom?
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any pics mr feline?
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Took a quick shot of the spare lens, my actual light casing is not as bad as this. Sorry about the quality of the pic, you could see it better when out of focus.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fmm104%2Ftomashandmilly%2FIMG_1126.jpg&hash=2c2bb3b42e5f599f723974b4880eccf60f234c51)
The stuff PG recommended to try Isopropyl alcohol had no effect. So i am going to try and use some of the stuff Luke suggested, as soon as he spots his PM. :happy2:
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so is this a case of glue fume residue or burnt plastic do you think?
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I think it will be the glue fume theory. If the glue remover stuff doesnt work i am going to try and spray it with some sort of waterbased ultra diluted varnish, as soon as it is wet or you spray a solution on it, it becomes crystal clear again. :fighting2:
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so if its burnt, it's going to be a surface burn?
something that could be 'plastic polished' clear maybe?
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Yes i think your right, my only problem is access into the casing, once you pry off the glued innards which include the bulb holder you are left with a golf ball size hole to access the outer casing. Tiz possible though. :happy2:
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dremmel with a flexi extension?
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I tried the glue de-bonder that Luke Plush Automotive very kindly sent me and it just made the spare lens worse. looks like i am running out of options now, think i am only left with the plastic polish. :scared:
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Cowboy, you should have done it right first time! :laugh: :signLOL:
Even I managed to get mine right and thats saying alot, im almost as bad as Stealthy! :grin:
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I used superglue the first time round but never got any of this fume business, and it was the exact same process. :smiley:
I might have to have yours. :driver:
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I might have to have yours. :driver:
Haha :angry015:
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daaaaam just read the thread really thought that would of sorted it for you mate, sorry matey :sad1: :sad1:
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Tom, can you not just clear coat it?
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Tom, can you not just clear coat it?
Looking at it today that would work, but there is no easy way to get near it with a spray :sad1: