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9 April 2006, 08:32 AM

Many of you may have heard of this substance - it's used to polish scratches out of plastic watch crystals. All my current watches (at least those I wear regularly) have sapphire crystals, but when I ordered some watchmaking materials the last time, I wanted to get some of this to try on something other than watches.

My BMW 540i is equipped with plastic lenses over the headlights (my wife's 325xi has them too, but hers are in better shape since her car is much newer), and over time these become pitted and somewhat cloudy, so I thought I would try the Polywatch on those. Here is what I started with:

The scratches and pits are pretty evident, especially when using a flash. So, out came the cotton balls (cotton wool) and I went to work with the Polywatch. I could see results immediately, and stopped to snap this picture that highlights the area I've done. You can clearly see that the haze is reduced where I've been working at it:

So, I carried on, and did both sides, and they look much improved.

There are still pits and some haze, as I think the Polywatch is probably not aggressive enough to clean this in one go, so I may do this a few more times to see if I can get it better, but as this shot shows it's a good improvement from where I started:

If any of you have similar issues on your cars, you might want to give this stuff a try. I'm pretty happy with the result so far.

dman · 9 April 2006, 11:31 AM

One more thing to file under you know you are a WIS when....LOL!

Nice work pal.

padi56 · 9 April 2006, 06:08 PM

Yes agree I use polywatch a lot a great product,but for deeper scratches.I find autosol metal polish,the one in a tube works great as well.Brasso works as well but a little bit messy,and sometimes dulls the plastic finish.

Gedanken · 9 April 2006, 09:22 PM

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, Peter. For a job that size, you're probably better off starting with something cheaper like Brasso or Autosol, and then finishing off with Polywatch if necessary.

10 April 2006, 12:47 AM

Hmmm, maybe the Brasso would work on some of the deeper stuff - I'll have to give that a try, and I know the Polywatch will do a decent job with the final polish.

padi56 · 10 April 2006, 01:05 AM

What I have found that Polywatch works fine on fine scratches,but on the old plastic crystals.Autosol car polish does a great job of removing deeper scratches and discolouration.Plus leaves a really nice smooth finish,that don't need a final polish with polywatch.And a hell of a lot cheaper, and a tube will last for ages.

Uncle-AJ · 10 April 2006, 01:41 AM

On aircraft polycarbonate canopies we use a micro-mesh paper similar to wet and dry, then finish off with an industrial perspex polish.

10 April 2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dman

One more thing to file under you know you are a WIS when....LOL!

Nice work pal.

Exactly what I was thinking.

9 April 2006, 08:32 AM	#1
---- Guest Posts: n/a	Polywatch Many of you may have heard of this substance - it's used to polish scratches out of plastic watch crystals. All my current watches (at least those I wear regularly) have sapphire crystals, but when I ordered some watchmaking materials the last time, I wanted to get some of this to try on something other than watches. My BMW 540i is equipped with plastic lenses over the headlights (my wife's 325xi has them too, but hers are in better shape since her car is much newer), and over time these become pitted and somewhat cloudy, so I thought I would try the Polywatch on those. Here is what I started with: The scratches and pits are pretty evident, especially when using a flash. So, out came the cotton balls (cotton wool) and I went to work with the Polywatch. I could see results immediately, and stopped to snap this picture that highlights the area I've done. You can clearly see that the haze is reduced where I've been working at it: So, I carried on, and did both sides, and they look much improved. There are still pits and some haze, as I think the Polywatch is probably not aggressive enough to clean this in one go, so I may do this a few more times to see if I can get it better, but as this shot shows it's a good improvement from where I started: If any of you have similar issues on your cars, you might want to give this stuff a try. I'm pretty happy with the result so far.

9 April 2006, 11:31 AM	#2
dman Lifetime TRF Patron Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: Daren Location: Austin Watch: the road Posts: 13,585	One more thing to file under you know you are a WIS when....LOL! Nice work pal. __________________ You either get it or you don't, if you have to ask, YOU DON'T!! I really hope that midget cop doesn't find me in Kokomo.

9 April 2006, 06:08 PM	#3
padi56 "TRF" Life Patron Join Date: Jun 2005 Real Name: Peter Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng Watch: ing you. Posts: 53,064	Yes agree I use polywatch a lot a great product,but for deeper scratches.I find autosol metal polish,the one in a tube works great as well.Brasso works as well but a little bit messy,and sometimes dulls the plastic finish. __________________ ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder

9 April 2006, 09:22 PM	#4
Gedanken "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: Sir Location: Melbourne Watch: F-series SD Posts: 8,589	Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, Peter. For a job that size, you're probably better off starting with something cheaper like Brasso or Autosol, and then finishing off with Polywatch if necessary. __________________ You buy a Casio to make sure you're on time; you wear a Rolex because you don't have to be on time.

10 April 2006, 01:05 AM	#6
padi56 "TRF" Life Patron Join Date: Jun 2005 Real Name: Peter Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng Watch: ing you. Posts: 53,064	What I have found that Polywatch works fine on fine scratches,but on the old plastic crystals.Autosol car polish does a great job of removing deeper scratches and discolouration.Plus leaves a really nice smooth finish,that don't need a final polish with polywatch.And a hell of a lot cheaper, and a tube will last for ages. __________________ ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder

10 April 2006, 12:47 AM	#5
---- Guest Posts: n/a	Hmmm, maybe the Brasso would work on some of the deeper stuff - I'll have to give that a try, and I know the Polywatch will do a decent job with the final polish.

10 April 2006, 01:41 AM	#7
Uncle-AJ "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Real Name: Adrian Location: Bolton, UK. Watch: Daytona 116520 Posts: 6,844	On aircraft polycarbonate canopies we use a micro-mesh paper similar to wet and dry, then finish off with an industrial perspex polish. __________________ A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.........Segal's Law Member #10

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