Scratched dashboard.

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Willo
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 4:07 pm
model: 907 I.E.
year: 1991
Location: Australia

Scratched dashboard.

Post by Willo »

Hi All, Some lowlife has used a key to scratch the perspex (or whatever it is) cover over my Tacho. Has anyone has any success cleaning up / polishing the perspex. Needless to say I'm not happy.
Willo
Wannon Victoria Australia
91 907ie
95 748
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paso750
paso grand pooh-bah
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Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2004 12:00 am
model: 750 Paso
year: 1987
Location: southern Germany

Re: Scratched dashboard.

Post by paso750 »

Can you post a picture? You can fix scratched plastic surfaces but the result will depend on the depth of the scratches. You can find polish for plexi- and acrylic glas and you can find complete sets to fix scratched or dull headlights. Typically you'll start blocksanding wet by hand with a 1.500-2.000 grit sanding paper. I wouldn't go lower than 1.000 grit as that may cause fine scratches that won't polish out afterwards. In the second step repeat the process with 3-4.000 grit. At last clean and dry everything thorougly and apply the polish using a soft non-abrasive mircofiber cloth. The finer the sandpaper you start with is, the longer it will take to remove scratches of course, but the endresult will be better.
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higgy
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Re: Scratched dashboard.

Post by higgy »

Flame polishing works very well but it takes a keen eye and practice :truck:
Ducati,making mechanics out of riders since 1946
There's no problem so bad that a little fixing can't make it worse! : )
If it ain't broke keep fixin it till it is
88 750
90 906
92 907ie
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randtcastell
Posts: 356
Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:33 pm
model: 750 Paso
year: 1987
Location: San Francisco Bay, California USA
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Re: Scratched dashboard.

Post by randtcastell »

Sorry for your misfortune. The important thin is not to take it personally. The culprit is deranged or mentally unfit. Two techniques that I've had success with restoring clear plastic like acrylic:

1. Wet sand with 1200 grit sandpaper, then buff/cut with an ultra-cut compound like "MEGUIARE'S MIRROR GLAZE 105" to remove fine sanding swirls
2. if the scratch is too deep after buff/cutting, clean the plastic with alcohol and spray with a coat or 2 of clear acrylic in a can. Any clear coat that won't yellow under UV and adheres to plastic will do. Result will be satisfactory.

Goof luck! :^)
1987 Ducati P750
1973 Honda CB450
2022 KTM RC390
Willo
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 4:07 pm
model: 907 I.E.
year: 1991
Location: Australia

Re: Scratched dashboard.

Post by Willo »

Thank you everybody for the fine advice. I have moved on but it's very hard to see something you have loved and well kept for 32 years, suddenly desecrated .
Willo
Wannon Victoria Australia
91 907ie
95 748
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