Buffing out scratches on plastic?

[Duke]

The bottom of my drivers side plastic door panels are scratched up. Looks like crap. I have tried the plastic paint which also looks like crap. I was wondering if any of you guys have tried using a buffer with some polish or even compound like M105 or M205 to remove the scratches on the plastic?

Maybe it won't return to the original black?

No luck with search, so I thought I would ask before I tried it.

Sorry, no pics, but you know what I'm talking about.

[Iomcamaro]

That would be a bad idea. The plastic could get too hot and potentially melt. Try using a light grade magic eraser on it. Don't use a crazy amount of pressure though. I have had great success with a magic eraser removing scratches from interior plastic.

[Duke]

Thanks for the tip. I did not think of the heat generated by buffing. I am not familiar with magic eraser. Are they like the ones from Mr. Clean and Scotch-Brite?

These are not stains or scuff marks. They are scratches into the plastic.

[Iomcamaro]

Originally Posted by Duke

Thanks for the tip. I did not think of the heat generated by buffing. I am not familiar with magic eraser. Are they like the ones from Mr. Clean and Scotch-Brite?

These are not stains or scuff marks. They are scratches into the plastic.

Yes the ones from Mr clean. It may not remove the scratches completely but it can at least make them less noticeable.

[Jackpot]

you can polish plastic light lens covers and the don't melt would a door panel be that much different?

[Iomcamaro]

Originally Posted by Jackpot

you can polish plastic light lens covers and the don't melt would a door panel be that much different?

Different types of plastic. I'm not sure it would melt, but the textures of the plastic would more than likely be messed up pretty bad. There is also a chance of cracking the plastic from the pressure used on the polisher. I'm just advising against it because it sounds like a bad idea. If you don't mind replacing the door panel then go right ahead and try it.

[JTruck]

On board with Iomcamaro, I would definitely not polish the plastic.

[Duke]

Well, I got home from work yesterday and asked the wife if we had any magic erasers. She said sure and that they were great. So I cleaned the door and the part between the door sill and the seat. It picked up a lot of dirt, but the scratches remained.

Today I'm going to try polishing in a spot that is not usually seen, like between the door and the dash. I will definitely start gently.

[Jackpot]

Originally Posted by Iomcamaro

Different types of plastic. I'm not sure it would melt, but the textures of the plastic would more than likely be messed up pretty bad. There is also a chance of cracking the plastic from the pressure used on the polisher. I'm just advising against it because it sounds like a bad idea. If you don't mind replacing the door panel then go right ahead and try it.

You could remove some of the texture I sanded and buffed my engine cover before painting to remove texture. how hard do you push on your polisher?