micro-mesh polishing fenders

[DoonRider]

Hello. I ran across a product that happened to be given to me by a friend that was cleaning out his garage. Micro-mesh is a real fine sand paper for polishing plastic. It starts out at 2400 grit and then works up to the final 12000 grit.
I cleaned up some 88 fenders that I just acquired. I was a little hesitant scuffing them up with the 2400 grit but as I worked up to the 8000 grit I could see my work paying off. The 12000 grit made them shine again although some of the deeper scuffs were still there.
Hopefully they hold up in the long term with the "patina" polished off.
I thought I would share this. Anybody else ever try it?

[DoonRider]

This is a picture that shows the rear fenders that I polished and the front side panel that I didn't polish. I am not so sure it shows in the pic, but there is a noticeable difference.

[Fear250r]

Wow, that cleaned up real nice! I wouldn't mind looking into that stuff.

[troybilt]

Thanks for sharing, I'm always interested in refinishing plastics... looks pretty darn good!

[danhung11]

That looks great! Just curious, is the shine on the rear natural or did you apply something to give the luster? (i.e. WD40, armor all, mop n' glow, etc.)

Thanks again for the info!

[DoonRider]

The last step in the process is wiping it down with a paste to pull the fines up off the plastic. The rubbing caused a static electricity build up that pulls the fines to the fender. The paste is supposed to neutralize this. This paste does put a little shine on it but not like armour all or Wd-40. I was worried that shine was only from the paste so I sprayed Simple Green on it. I lost a little shine because Simple Green is a degreaser, but not the smooth finish. Rubbing my hand on it, I can feel it is alot smoother.

To answer your question danhung, there is nothing like you mentioned sprayed on it.

[danhung11]

Thank you for clarifying. Could you share where you bought this stuff?

Thanks in advance!
Dan

[fastrnrik]

I searched "micro-mesh plastic" and it showed a kit on ebay for 30 bucks. I'm going to try some.

[DoonRider]

Looks like they are called Micro Plastic now out of Wilton IA.
http://www.micro-surface.com/
A friend of mine that used to repair commercial aircraft on the west coast gave it to me when he was cleaning his garage.
My kit came with 2400, 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000, and 12000 grit "paper", a sponge block for holding the paper, and 2 bottles of paste for cleaning the dust. The literature showed 1200 and 1800 grit also in another kit. I knocked down a ridge with some 400 grit paper I had in the garage.
You start with the roughest grit sanding back and forth, not circular, covering a 1 square foot area in 3 minutes. Working up to the next grit, you sand perpendicular to the previous grit.

It generates a little heat and emits an ozone smell. It's also a new way for the 250 to cause arm pump.:p

I never looked at the website until just now, but it looks like quite a developed industry.

Try a test area before you use it, please. I resorted to this after bidding ebay fenders to ridiculous prices and still losing them.

[DoonRider]

Originally posted by fastrnrik
I searched "micro-mesh plastic" and it showed a kit on ebay for 30 bucks. I'm going to try some.

I see that goes up to the 6000 grit. You might want to get one that goes to 12000 grit to get the look you want.

[fastrnrik]

The one I looked at showed 12000 grit? I will check before I actually order though.

[IRISH-RACER-14]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Micro-Mesh-Acrylic-and-Plastic-Restoration-Kit-/150271393381?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item22fcdf7e65#ht_538wt_905

is this it

[socal]

That looks like it.I wonder how long it will hold up?

[IRISH-RACER-14]

would one sheet of each really be enough? im going to use this on my yz125 plastics

[DoonRider]

That ebay kit says it will do 30 square feet, BUT it doesn't go up to 12000 grit.
The sandpaper I have is rubber backed and it can be washed out to be freshened up. It was used to start with and can do my whole 250.
Someone needs to find a source for a kit that has the finer grit. I see the website has an 800 # and customer service.
Y'all aren't going to be happy with a 6000 grit finish.:ermm:

[250Rhonda]

Here is the 12,000 grit kit

Micro Mesh (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXYCL3&P=FR)