72and86

Was watching one of the restore basket cases muscle car shows and one of the "guys" referred to restoring ("cleaning") the existing plastic lenses, in this car the tail lights, with Muriatic Acid.
Since it was a scene with faked employee conflict they really didn't explain or address the use and results of using the acid. Ive never heard of this.
Any low-down on restoring the lenses with Muriatic Acid? Comments, suggestions...

thegavel

Gooday Mate,
Me -(16 years in the paint/chemical industry and curious)
did some googling on Muriatic Acid (us Aussie's call it Hydrochloric Acid).
Can't tell ya HOW,
BUT what I can tell you is
....This is NASTY stuff...BE CAREFUL.
It's used to clean brickwork.
I'm curious too and I'm sure someone will have more info on how to use this.
Cheers.

Vette5.5

Hmm, no chemist here, and never knew muriatic and hydrochloric acid were the same stuff, as pretty common to get at hardware stores and marine/swimming pool places. Works pretty good for cleaning off boat bottoms in a 50% water mix, and doesn't seem to caustic this way, or harming the plastics, as it comes in a plastic bottle. Not sure what you're doing, but maybe worth checking into the Sylvania headlight restore system for late model cars. Their site has a video showing it using several fine grit sandpapers, polishes, followed by a brush on clear coat. They say it's good for restoring tail light lenses, side marker lights, ext.

Easy Mike

Why gamble? I would not use any type of acid on plastic. Any good quality plastic polish and elbow grease will clean up your lenses.

03 A/E Coupe

One lesson learned since 2009.... Don't use too strong of an Acid at the Bikini Car Wash....



It take the Pink right of them Areolas and Pert Nips...



Use 7% solution or less, and them Head Light Caps should be no worse for the wear

v2racing

The acid likely won't hurt your plastic lenses, but the chrome rings on them will be toast.

Mike

cv67

Dont use it on plastic

Get some regular old no 7 rubbing compound and a rag, your plastic lenses will come out like new
no need for those fancy "kits".

Priya

I used some aluminum polish on my plastic lenses and they ended up shiny like new. It was an awful lot of polishing, though.

tomboyy

What...didju say something ?

Mooser

Original lens from a used vette place



Flitz polishing compound on a dremel type tool with 1/2 soft cotton buffs (bobs) running at a low speed



This plastic is old, I wouldn't use any kind of aggressive chemicals (acids or other cleaners) or every stressed area or already stress cracked spot will suddenly start to show.
M

kansas123

Very nice!

Sabre34

rickimvette

It does look nice, real nice. But i have to say i`d rather boobies be used to polish my taillight lenses