----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger" <sub1@rogerhalstead.com>
To: "Ian Hill - K8MM" <ihk8mm@charter.net>
Cc: <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Fixing scratched meters
>
>
> Ian Hill - K8MM wrote:
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> I have a couple of SB-200's that have scratches in the meter lenses.
>> Does anyone know of a good way to polish them AND have them remain clear
>> and micro-scratch free?
>>
> I see you've received a wide variety of procedures. Being a pilot and
> aircraft owner, I regularly get to clean some large and fairly expensive
> pieces of plastic. IOW, The windshields and side windows on airplanes.
> Those same procedures should work well on meter faces. The windshield
> on my *old* Beech Debonair is a single piece of tinted, 1/2" thick
> plastic which regularly gets a good dose of bugs and dust. Micro
> scratches can be a real pain in the backside when looking through one of
> those wind shields particularly when the sun is also ahead.
>
> Most of us use good old fashioned paper towels. Yup! that's what I
> said, but not without a caveat. You do use care when cleaning a bug and
> dirt coated, $8,000 to $12,000 dollar windshield. The towels have to
> be clean (and wet). We start by just rinsing the plastic off, then
> using a good, mild dish washing detergent (or plastic cleaner). Done in
> the wrong order or carelessly can be very expensive as well as creating
> safety hazards. There are larger and better paper towels that are made
> just for that purpose, but for cleaning and polishing a meter face you
> don't need one that is 2' on a side. Damp, paper shop towels (the
> ones that come in a big box) work very well with the proper cleaner.
> Those towels are thick and soft.
>
> Of course a thick, soft cotton or microfiber towel is great but costs a
> bit more than what most of us use. Besides, once we clean a windshield,
> the towel goes in the trash.
>
> The cleaner comes in (IIRC) 3 grades. There is a coarse, fine, and just
> a polish. After using the soap and window cleaner we normally use the
> find polishes unless the window is really bad and has scratches you can
> feel with a finger nail. This is strictly hand work with no power tools
> allowed on the windshields as they are likely to create irregularities,
> or even burns into the plastic. The windshield on mine is over 15 years
> old with no noticeable scratches.
>
> BTW, I just finished reconditioning a group of meter faces using the
> same methods and they worked. Unlike coatings that age the finish is
> permanent, or it is until the meter face gets scratched again.
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>> Ian - K8MM
Yesterday I stated that I have been using a Meguiars product.
Here is a bit more data from the product itself.
"Removes fine scratches from: Boat Windows, Helmet Visors, Convertible
Windows, Aircraft Windshields, CD's, Tinted Windows, Eyeglasses, Instrument
Panels, Computer Screens, All Clear Plastics"
There are 3 distinct levels. Mirror Glaze Professional Clear Plastic Cleaner
#17, Clear Plastic Cleaner/Polish #18, and Clear Plastic Polish #10. Also
listed is a Mirror Glaze Defect Removal System for "major repairs"
Also meets Mil Spec P-P-560B whatever that is.
I bought these about 10 years ago and a little goes a long way. Ive no idea
if the product is still available, name changed, etc. However Meguiars is at
the very top of the polishing world and Ive used their other products for
decades, all with excellent results.
Carl
KM1H
There is also a
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