Acetone melted bezel lens on Starretts

[Gil P.]

It looks like the lens has yellowed pretty badly over the years. Possibly from oil and cleaning chemicals. Do yourself and that fine tool right, buy a new bezel and lens so I can sleep at night. LOL!

Already ordered one haha

 

[Gil P.]

Success!

 

[Gil P.]

Thanks everyone for the help. I never want to have to do this again.

 

[anschuter2013]

Wow! Nice job! That looks great. Sah-weet!

 

[ricco1949]

Nice job...what'd you use for the final polish?

 

[Jayplace]

When all else fails, check YouTube. Several how to videos.

 

[Gil P.]

Nice job...what'd you use for the final polish?

It's a polish compound called Meguiars PlastX.

 

[lb-ft]

Starrett, one of the remaining fine Made in the USA companies out there

 

[Gil P.]

Starrett, one of the remaining fine Made in the USA companies out there

This is an old pair and when I checked it on a 1" gauge block, it measured less than 1.0005". Pretty good. I really like it.

 

[Webster]

Just like the title says. How can I fix it? I'm thinking of sanding the lens until the surface is flat, then polish. I'm getting shadows on the dial.

I tried polishing the lense, and while it helped, I couldn't restore the surface back to flat.

All the off marks on the lens are from the acetone melting it.
View attachment 1649266

Looks OK to me. It's barely noticeable and cosmetic.

 

[RED DIRT]

This is an old pair and when I checked it on a 1" gauge block, it measured less than 1.0005". Pretty good. I really like it.

Good job Gil. Glad it worked out for yah. But speaking for myself, i would still order a couple new bezels.

 

[Gil P.]

Good job Gil. Glad it worked out for yah. But speaking for myself, i would still order a couple new bezels.

Thank you and I have a new one incoming.

 

[Fast14riot]

Looks great! Working with plastics is my job, feel free to message me or tag me if you ever have any questions.

 

[Gil P.]

Looks great! Working with plastics is my job, feel free to message me or tag me if you ever have any questions.

Thank you, ill keep that in mind.

 

[Jayplace]

You did a fantastic job on the lens. Use it like it is or put the new lens on and it will look good either way.

 

[itchyTF]

I have found acetone attacks a lot of plastics. Mineral spirits seems to be friendlier.

 

[bobcat93]

Call them and ask for a new lense, they use to be a great company.
I bet they send ya one

 

[Webster]

Success!
View attachment 1649385

At work I polished a few things with Soft Scrub. Any store should have it. I put some Soft Scrub on a paper towel and quickly made my car head light covers almost look like new. It's a very mild abrasive.

 

[Thud]

Bon Nami will do the same thing

 

[Fast14riot]

A good polishing system to use is Novus products. Sanding is great for deep scratches and deformation since it will level the surface. Novus has 3 different grit liquids, #3 is coarse, #2 medium/fine and #1 is a final swirl remover and cleaner. A buffer with loose muslin wheels and red rouge will get scuffs out, white after that will buff it.

I will typically take a saw cut rough edge acrylic and sand with 180-220 to level it, then proceed up to 600 wet. Ill take a clean 800 to the red buffer and finish with white to get a crystal clear finish. If you dont have a buffing wheel set up, wet sanding up to 2500-3000 grit can get you very close, but also stopping around 1200 and then going to paste polishes can save some time.