Anyone here in the plastics business

[AltheaToldMe]

I have a sheet of black HDPE that I am making a dash panel out of. It's somewhat of a matt finish. I would like to polish it a bit and need to know how to go about it.

Thanks!!

 

[arks]

Re: Anyone here in the plastics business

Not in the biz, but if you don't get a good answer, try the "Fusion" spray paint in clear gloss. It was made for painting plastics.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Anyone here in the plastics business

I don't think you will have too much luck polishing a polyethylene to a shiny finish. Its very tough stuff and in as much, too soft to successfully polish.
Arks has a good idea. Simply paint/coat the plastic you have with a gloss paint product and that will give you a shine.
Or, switch to a harder type plastic such as acrylic based. Ideally in the colour you are after. Usually you can them in a few (clear, black, red, etc).
Regardless, keep us posted on what you try and how it works out.
BP

 

[AltheaToldMe]

Re: Anyone here in the plastics business

I had a choice of plastics to get and could have gotten a harder material, but I went easy on the wallet. This sheet was 2' x 2' x 1/2" and was under $50. The other plastics were well over $100 for the same sized sheet. Graingers has a nice selection of raw materials in case anyone is looking for plastics like this.

I'll try to update the progress of the dash project, but I am bad about things like that. The projects get done, but I never seem to update the information.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Anyone here in the plastics business

Another thing to consider is using a very thin sheet of the more expensive,but hard and arguably shiner plastic over the thicker, cheaper one. You could use either a plastic adhesive or probably even contact cement to adhere the two together.
Just thinking out loud here.
BP

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Anyone here in the plastics business

I bought some plastic polishing pads some time back and I don't know if they'll work on your material but they're cheap enough to be worth a try.

They are attached to a spindle you put into your drill. Just spritz with water and then polish away. I used them to restore quite a few plastic parts from helmet and boat windshields to some trim plastics that were scratched from abrasive cleansers. Some of those plastics were quite hard and the pads coulds also polish without distorting them optically (helmet windscreen).

I bought them at WalMart in the automotive section for around $15 for the drill adapter and 4 pads. I still have 3 left so they last quite a while.

 

[JB]

Re: Anyone here in the plastics business

DJ might use some advice about plastic razor blades.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Anyone here in the plastics business

It can be done. There are polishing kits available. Not sure where, but I'm sure a internet search will lead you to one.

If it were mine, once the holes and the shape is all cut is when I would start my polishing. Usually the sandpaper in the kit is for wet sanding. The grit starts about 500 grit and then I will increase in stages until using a sandpaper that almost feels like a soft cloth 2000 grit. Its a lot of work, but possible. Using a power tool with too much rpm can and will damage the surface. Takes a lot of practice to use power successfully. Good Luck