Perspex Query

Perspex can be polished without all the hard labour. Im fairly certain that one of the metal finshing supply houses, probably Lea in buxton,though it might be Cannings,do a greaseless polishing compound specifically for perspex. Ive used it a few times,and it seems good. You just have to keep the mop clean,and not let it get clogged or hot. Cant remember the name though…. Its yellowish…. Going to bug me all night now….

Cheers for the answers guys…

I had the idea it was UV rays – we use a soft plastic hose at work called Tygon for making oil filled electrical cables – cheap and efficient, but highly susceptible to UV – especially in the hotter climates. Usually it changes colour and goes brittle. The only thing we can do to arrest this problem is use a silicon based lubricant, but it only delays the enevitable.

I was wondering if there was anything that could be done to inhibit his or reverse it, as sometimes you see perspex on an airframe that has been externally displayed for years that is pristine, then on others that looks cloudy and discoloured. Obviously the difference is down to care and a lot of elbow grease….

Thanks very much once again.

Kind regards,
Scotty

New technique for restoring Canopys !!

Hi , Interesting subject,

I learnt today of another technique that seems drastic, but does seem to work

Paul with wv499 tried it on a old milky yellow canopy glass to see if it would work
,he says it had marvelous results ,
he used very fine wet and dry Paper, and polished all over it and yes he said
scratched the surface 😮
But he said the yellowing disapeared, as did the milkyness, and then with this rough surface he sprayed it with Modern Laquer hence filling any fine marks with a fine spray ,which has UV protection in it as most modern laquers do, he let it dry, and Buffed it up,
it looked really good, compared to what it did look like ,almost new,and clear
if anyone has a bit of old scrap perspex thats yellowed etc, Give it a try , I would love to see if it works with somebody else
😀

sometimes it has not gone all the way thru and can be removed/polished out with micromesh…..anyone going to cockpitfest will see what 3weeks solid polishing by a chap in a company that makes tornado/hawk canopies did to a very crazed and opaque swift canopy.

I think its a chemical reaction due to UV.
To prevent it – paint the perspex as the yanks in arizona do, keep it out of the sun by fitting covers or even better in a hangar.

I’ve known some slight cases being polished out with micromesh since it happens to the top surface first.