Polycarbonate Hatch Repair

[jac]

Whilst looking around I came across this product with Force 4 Force 4 Polycarbonate Hatch Restoration Kit | Force 4 Chandlery

Anyone used it or something similar? My hatches are getting a big past it and I've seen the reglazing options but if this actually works then it might be a good alternative!

 

[Freebee]

does it do anymore than finer and finer wet n dry then toothpaste?? very expensive kit IMHO

 

[rogerthebodger]

Just use a headlamp polishing kit

Various shown here

head lamp lens polishing - Google Suche

 

[mrangry]

At that money you could reglaze with acrylic for a lot less money and effort

 

[jac]

At that money you could reglaze with acrylic for a lot less money and effort

For 6 hatches?

 

[rogerthebodger]

Lots of polishing compounds and kits on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/plastic-polishing-compound/s?k=plastic+polishing+compound

 

[mrangry]

For 6 hatches?

Look on simply plastics website its not expensive. I just bedded into frames with CT1

 

[Aja]

Whilst looking around I came across this product with Force 4 Force 4 Polycarbonate Hatch Restoration Kit | Force 4 Chandlery

Anyone used it or something similar? My hatches are getting a big past it and I've seen the reglazing options but if this actually works then it might be a good alternative!

Quite likely your hatches are 'glazed' with acrylic.

Polycarbonate restoration kit may or may not work well with acrylic.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

does it do anymore than finer and finer wet n dry then toothpaste?? very expensive kit IMHO

It states that it will repair crazed surfaces; purely abrasive methods won't do that. Looking at the kit, I think they supply a liquid that will penetrate cracks, like Tolley's creeping crack repair.

 

[jac]

It states that it will repair crazed surfaces; purely abrasive methods won't do that. Looking at the kit, I think they supply a liquid that will penetrate cracks, like Tolley's creeping crack repair.

That was my assumption. If something can repair those tiny cracks then it may well be valid option for many.

 

[Aja]

It states that it will repair crazed surfaces; purely abrasive methods won't do that. Looking at the kit, I think they supply a liquid that will penetrate cracks, like Tolley's creeping crack repair.

As I alluded to above, this may work for polycarb, but no guarantee it would work for acrylic. A totally different material which is admittedly more prone to cracking, which in most cases (but not all) is non-strucrural. Polycarb tends to go opaque and can be polished to a certain extent.

Polycarb used in a marine environment has usually a protective film applied which assists with UV degradation see Lexan etc.. which lenses on a car won't have.

Using an abrasive on polycarb windows and hatches on a boat may not be a good idea.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

As I alluded to above, this may work for polycarb, but no guarantee it would work for acrylic. A totally different material which is admittedly more prone to cracking, which in most cases (but not all) is non-strucrural. Polycarb tends to go opaque and can be polished to a certain extent.

Polycarb used in a marine environment has usually a protective film applied which assists with UV degradation see Lexan etc.. which lenses on a car won't have.

Using an abrasive on polycarb windows and hatches on a boat may not be a good idea.

The small print on the website does say "It restores polycarbonate and plexyglass". I think plexiglass is acrylic?

 

[davidmh]

Probably a rebadged kit that is used for refurbishing car headlamp covers. These are sometimes an abrasive paste with a polishing fluid. They do work but last about 6 months before the UV degradation starts again, dont know how it would deal wiith the scratches and crazing you often kept on hatches.
David MH

 

[Aja]

The small print on the website does say "It restores polycarbonate and plexyglass". I think plexiglass is acrylic?

I have no idea what 'plexyglass' is although I do agree that 'Plexiglas' is acrylic