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Post by 2stroked on Dec 2, 2015 12:56:15 GMT -5
When I bought my Helix, all of the black plastics had turned greyish after thirty years of sun and fun. I remembered a trick I have used on faded dash boards and tried it here. What a difference.
For lightly hazed and dull plastics, a heavy application of cheap shoe polish will bring the luster back. In more severe cases, like the helix, a steel wool rub down is necessary before the polish.
It's just like polishing a pair of boots. Wash, rinse, dry and polish. Allow the polish to set for a minute or so, then buff, or wipe off. When a steel wool is needed, very light pressure and tight circular motion will break the haze. After that, the polish will bring it back to new. Sometimes it will take two or three coats of polish, but I have never seen a case that it wouldn't do the trick.
It works on seats as well. I wish I could post pics of the before and after on both of my big scoots. It's amazing that a two dollar can of turtle wax shoe polish ( or kiwi ) will do all that it does.
If using on seats, never use steel wool first. Just wash dry apply and buff by hand. I do not suggest any type of mechanical buffer, the polish will build up in spots and create waxy knots that will badly streak any plastic or vinyl.
Good luck hope this helps someone.
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Post by moofus02 on Dec 2, 2015 17:09:20 GMT -5
I want a helix
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Post by Silar on Dec 3, 2015 19:35:46 GMT -5
Another easy way of getting 'back to black' is to use a heat gun.. I've done this with many black plastic things on vehicles and to me it works pretty darn good!
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Post by milly on May 24, 2017 6:57:39 GMT -5
Brilliant tips thankyou
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Post by greggkinney on Jun 15, 2017 17:20:47 GMT -5
i use black magic tire wet. its messy and requires some work but last forever. if it can re-black or grey the faded plastic trim on jeeps it can do anything
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Post by Senna1Rossi on Jun 16, 2017 12:57:11 GMT -5
When I bought my Helix, all of the black plastics had turned greyish after thirty years of sun and fun. I remembered a trick I have used on faded dash boards and tried it here. What a difference. For lightly hazed and dull plastics, a heavy application of cheap shoe polish will bring the luster back. In more severe cases, like the helix, a steel wool rub down is necessary before the polish. It's just like polishing a pair of boots. Wash, rinse, dry and polish. Allow the polish to set for a minute or so, then buff, or wipe off. When a steel wool is needed, very light pressure and tight circular motion will break the haze. After that, the polish will bring it back to new. Sometimes it will take two or three coats of polish, but I have never seen a case that it wouldn't do the trick. It works on seats as well. I wish I could post pics of the before and after on both of my big scoots. It's amazing that a two dollar can of turtle wax shoe polish ( or kiwi ) will do all that it does. If using on seats, never use steel wool first. Just wash dry apply and buff by hand. I do not suggest any type of mechanical buffer, the polish will build up in spots and create waxy knots that will badly streak any plastic or vinyl. Good luck hope this helps someone.
you don't get black shoe polish on your butt if using on the seats?
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Post by jeff84 on Jun 16, 2017 13:23:54 GMT -5
I was going to suggest the heat gun thing too. don't know if it would work on vinyl seats but I don't see why not. just slightly melts the plastic so the dye gets redistributed.
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Post by 2stroked on Jul 2, 2017 22:10:10 GMT -5
Haha nope, no residue if you buff the seat/plastics like a pair of nice boots! Still looking new to BTW.
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Post by FrankenMech on Jul 6, 2017 17:57:08 GMT -5
you don't get black shoe polish on your butt if using on the seats?
Who can tell, black-brown what's the difference? |
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Post by dinakanuha on Aug 10, 2017 20:17:28 GMT -5
How do I check my vin no. And year ?
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Post by lostforawhile on Aug 10, 2017 21:23:08 GMT -5
When I bought my Helix, all of the black plastics had turned greyish after thirty years of sun and fun. I remembered a trick I have used on faded dash boards and tried it here. What a difference. For lightly hazed and dull plastics, a heavy application of cheap shoe polish will bring the luster back. In more severe cases, like the helix, a steel wool rub down is necessary before the polish. It's just like polishing a pair of boots. Wash, rinse, dry and polish. Allow the polish to set for a minute or so, then buff, or wipe off. When a steel wool is needed, very light pressure and tight circular motion will break the haze. After that, the polish will bring it back to new. Sometimes it will take two or three coats of polish, but I have never seen a case that it wouldn't do the trick. It works on seats as well. I wish I could post pics of the before and after on both of my big scoots. It's amazing that a two dollar can of turtle wax shoe polish ( or kiwi ) will do all that it does. If using on seats, never use steel wool first. Just wash dry apply and buff by hand. I do not suggest any type of mechanical buffer, the polish will build up in spots and create waxy knots that will badly streak any plastic or vinyl. Good luck hope this helps someone.
you don't get black shoe polish on your butt if using on the seats?
at least it's not brown shoe polish |
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Post by spaz12 on Aug 10, 2017 23:14:20 GMT -5
How do I check my vin no. And year ? Welcome to the forum. Call your local police department. |
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Post by 2stroked on Aug 11, 2017 19:28:45 GMT -5
you don't get black shoe polish on your butt if using on the seats?
at least it's not brown shoe polish Uhm, no. Never have yet.. |
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