Topic: Cleaning plastic lenses

[Oz390]

Probably known, but new to me. 

Had some '68 front side marker lights I am restoring.  The old lenses were white-ish and grubby.  Soaked them in a strong caustic soda/lye solution overnight and they came out looking almost new.... no buffing to wear down letters, and a very good result, to me....

Going to try it on a pair of Cal Special taillamp lenses that are pretty grubby, with the "waffle" pattern on the backside almost impossible to clean with mechanical methods...

[C5ZZKGT]

Interesting.....can you tell us more about your procedure and exactly what you used? where can caustic soda and lye be purchased today?

[J_Speegle]

Interesting.....can you tell us more about your procedure and exactly what you used? where can caustic soda and lye be purchased today?

I did a web search and came up with some HD drain cleaner from Home Depot. Have not set up a bucket yet to experiment with it as of yet Will see if I can find the name of the stuff and post the make up of the concentration

[69RavenConv]

Soaked them in a strong caustic soda/lye solution overnight and they came out looking almost new.... no buffing to wear down letters, and a very good result, to me....

Yes, please elaborate. I'm sure there are many of us who would prefer to rejuvenate our old lenses rather than replace with reproductions.

[hkopp]

has anyone found more info on the product available for this cleaning method?  i am restoring a set this week and came across this tonight in a search, would LOVE to use something to clean my lenses as described.  Also...what do most do to obtain the correct color of 69 front signal enclosures without sending out for dipping?

[J_Speegle]

has anyone found more info on the product available for this cleaning method?  i am restoring a set this week and came across this tonight in a search, would LOVE to use something to clean my lenses as described.  Also...what do most do to obtain the correct color of 69 front signal enclosures without sending out for dipping?

Will address the second half since I've not found a chemical treatment that helps the irregular surface plastics

As for faking zinc dischromate on a large surface I have yet to see anything that does a good job. Have used the spray can Eastwood produces for tocuhing up spots or on small screw heads but I have not found a shortcut acceptable to me and other judges

[69RavenConv]

Interesting.....can you tell us more about your procedure and exactly what you used? where can caustic soda and lye be purchased today?

Bumping an old thread because I'm wondering if anyone has learned any more about this method. I have some discolored OEM lenses and was thinking of trying some drain cleaner on them as they are unusable now anyway.

[Stangly]

I did some snooping on the internet and a caustic lye is made up of sodium hydroxide.  This is the common ingredient in most drain cleaner.  I bought a basic granular drain opener and Lowes, the product is 100% sodium hydroxide as is nasty stuff.  I'm not a chemist so please read the warning labels on the product you purchase.  I soaked some parking light lenses in the solution overnight and they came out great.