Cleaning acrylic windows?

[Quandary]

This is the next Pot & Kettle question.

Stephen's Longbow has a custom made moulded GRP canopy over the main hatch, it has windows in the front and sides which appear to have streaks of a cloudy white coating on the outside surface, they are approx 6mm. rigid flat acrylic, probably perspex? I was hoping to clean them using 1200-2000 grade wet and dry, used wet and soapy, followed by rubbing compound (T-cut) but before I start, can anyone advise a better method. Scouring pads and some sort of cleaning liquid perhaps?
The coating seems only to be on the outside surface and there is no crazing but I have some concern that since the doghouse was moulded locally, the window may be a softer type of plastic or one that has been vulnerable to weather.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have done some acrylic on my boat with 3M Finnesse It like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/3M-Finesse-it-Finishing-Material/dp/B001J4OURA

It took scratches out of my handheld VHF, leaving it looking like new. I used it on some deck hatches too, which where heavily scratched. I wet sanded with 800 followed by 1000 and then polished. I did some using an electric polisher, slow speed, kept wet with a trigger spray of water.

 

[RichardS]

Scouring pads will probably be too abrasive. I use Peek polish on my hatches but any metal polish like Brasso or whatever will do. T-Cut, especially the version for metallic paint, will probably also be fine but I would test on an small less-important area first.

Richard

 

[blxm]

I have done some acrylic on my boat with 3M Finnesse It like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/3M-Finesse-it-Finishing-Material/dp/B001J4OURA

It took scratches out of my handheld VHF, leaving it looking like new. I used it on some deck hatches too, which where heavily scratched. I wet sanded with 800 followed by 1000 and then polished. I did some using an electric polisher, slow speed, kept wet with a trigger spray of water.

+1 Using Farecla G10. Any finishing compound would be fine. T Cut possibly but I would test a patch first.

 

[Baddox]

I used Autoglym polish. It quickly and easily returned an area of scuffed window from opaque to clear. If the ordinary polish doesn’t work, there is a coarser autoglym paint restorer. T-cut may be too aggressive so I’d start with the mild stuff first.

That looks like an advert but I've no connection with them.

 

[steppygas]

I've heard cheap grainy toothpaste is meant to work. Will be trying it Sunday so will let you know how well it works!

 

[Mister E]

I've heard cheap grainy toothpaste is meant to work. Will be trying it Sunday so will let you know how well it works!

I have used toothpaste to clean foggy acrylic windows. It is a slow process and worked well. I would not use wet and dry.

 

[William_H]

The process of wet and dry sand paper is appropriate for deep scratches and similar damage however once you take out the damage you have a big job taking out the scratches from the sand paper. So don't use any serious abrasive until you have no other choice. Detergent first then if necessary a mild polish. Polish is sold to restore car headlight covers. olewill

 

[steppygas]

+1 for the toothpaste!

Gave it a try today and windows came up good, picture below is after one rub! I went for a couple more and finished with a light buff of Brasso. Not bad for a 90p tube of aquafresh!

 

[Quandary]

These windows are in a canopy, so not essential to boat security, I got them fairly clean today, I tried T cut on a wet cloth after Cif failed to move the stains, I only rubbed gently so that they are now transparent but the white streaks can still be seen, the best solution will be to take them out as the bedding is discoloured and before rebedding them on better sealant, polish them with Finesse or whatever; one of those obsessives who does car 'detailing' as a hobby will be delighted to be given the opportunity?
The stains are ingrained so toothpaste sounds like a lot of hard work to me!

 

[dune16]

Meguiars Plastx would be my recommendation here and as its not a specific marine product it has a reasonable price tag. Designed specifically for acrylic.

 

[Giblets]

Does anyone know if Autosol Metal Polish would be suitable for such a task?

 

[RichardS]

Does anyone know if Autosol Metal Polish would be suitable for such a task?

I tried it once on the plastic cover of a games console and it worked fine.

Richard

 

[JumbleDuck]

It might be worth looking for glider canopy polish - gliders have perspex canopies which need to be kept as clean and see-through as possible.

I used to have (probably still do have, somewhere) some superb stuff called "Kutpol" which I bought from London Sailplanes at Dunstable. It seems to be gone, now, but there is a selection of alternatives at http://www.afeonline.com/shop/aircraft-cleaning-polishes and at http://www.svsponline.co.uk/canopy-repairs-and-spares.html

 

[ccscott49]

This is the next Pot & Kettle question.

Stephen's Longbow has a custom made moulded GRP canopy over the main hatch, it has windows in the front and sides which appear to have streaks of a cloudy white coating on the outside surface, they are approx 6mm. rigid flat acrylic, probably perspex? I was hoping to clean them using 1200-2000 grade wet and dry, used wet and soapy, followed by rubbing compound (T-cut) but before I start, can anyone advise a better method. Scouring pads and some sort of cleaning liquid perhaps?
The coating seems only to be on the outside surface and there is no crazing but I have some concern that since the doghouse was moulded locally, the window may be a softer type of plastic or one that has been vulnerable to weather.

Brasso, works wonders, we used to polish the bubbles on Sioux helicopters with it.

 

[Denise]

The acrylic windows can easily get scratched with the harsh cleaners and scrubbers so use a mild cleaning solution, soft cloth for cleaning. Clean it carefully without causing any scratches. The imperfections can be removed using the polish, kerosene, and sandpaper.
The window cleaning services suggest blowing away the dust or debris from the acrylic window using a blow dryer. Make a mild cleaning solution of dish washing and spray it over the window. Use a soft cloth to remove the dust from the windows.
The stain present in the window can be easily removed with kerosene and you can apply a thin coat of wax to polish the window. And never use cleaning products with ammonia because it gives a cloudy look to your window.

 

[gjgm]

Meguiars Plastx would be my recommendation here and as its not a specific marine product it has a reasonable price tag. Designed specifically for acrylic.

OP- I have used this, with a polisher I think. It did make an improvement, so certainly worth a try. Be realistic, though..it is not going to renovate back to full life !

 

[wonkywinch]

Novus do a range specifically for acrylic windows. There are three grades so for a refurb, buy a pack of all three and start with the most abrasive to remove scratches. Plenty of Ebay sellers have the packs which I have used with great success over many years on the acrylic windscreens of light aircraft which are a real pain when they get scratched and hazy. Novus brings them back to life. No connection, just a happy customer.

Here's an example (again, no connection with seller) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253646751131

 

[RichardS]

I've done several of my hatches with Peek metal polish and the results have been excellent. However, down on the boat a few weeks ago, I decided to try Peek on my chartplotter screen which is 10 years old and was very cloudy and cruddy. The results were amazing. It looks brand new .... crystal clear and sparkling. :encouragement:

Richard

 

[Momac]

Pledge is good ......... and cheap.
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/pledge-multi-purpose-polish-jasmine-250ml/p/0276597