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Old 06-27-2009, 02:03 PM   #1
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Vinyl scratch repair?

I ate a $100 porch post this week because I cut it to length before noticing a couple of scratches that would have been right at eye level.

But aside from that, we all run into scratched vinyl now and then, whether we do it or it's already there. Google doesn't really turn up much of anything for repairs. Does an effective product/procedure even exist?

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Old 06-27-2009, 07:13 PM   #2
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Bummer.(bump)
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Old 06-27-2009, 09:26 PM   #3
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Have not tried it on vinyl yet - but for solid surface toilet partitions we sand, wax and buff out the scratched in graffiti ......it takes a lot of time and for $100 I would just replace it like you did....... unless it was special order of course
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Old 06-27-2009, 10:28 PM   #4
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we use a mini electric sander to buff it out, and then use "Gel-Gloss" to polish it.
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Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.
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Old 06-27-2009, 11:33 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesse Kirchhoff View Post
......it takes a lot of time and for $100 I would just replace it like you did....... unless it was special order of course
Well, that particular post wasn't special order, but even so... till you eat the $100 and waste half a day running for the replacement so it pushes the one-day job into two, onsite repair doesn't sound too bad even if it takes a couple of hours.

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we use a mini electric sander to buff it out, and then use "Gel-Gloss" to polish it.
That would be for a relatively superficial scratch? I've tried hand-sanding with a fine grit paper and then buffing, with lousy results.

I'll have to give that Gel-Gloss a try; thanks. My concern there would be whether the "polish" holds up over time.
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Old 07-02-2009, 07:43 PM   #6
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If it is vinyl, not fiberglass, then window companies carry liquid vinyl in a tube, works for repairing windows.

For polishing I use "Mothers" polishing cream.
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Old 07-02-2009, 08:44 PM   #7
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If it is vinyl, not fiberglass, then window companies carry liquid vinyl in a tube, works for repairing windows.

For polishing I use "Mothers" polishing cream.
That's the sort of thing I've been trying to source, with no luck so far.

Never heard of "Mother's"; I don't think it's sold in this area.
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Old 07-02-2009, 09:15 PM   #8
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Tin,
They sell Mothers at Pep Boys.
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Old 07-02-2009, 10:15 PM   #9
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Tin,
They sell Mothers at Pep Boys.
Okay, I'm outed. I don't spend much time polishing my truck.

Now, about that liquid vinyl... ?
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Old 07-10-2009, 09:00 PM   #10
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toothpaste or baking soda and water on a cloth will sometimes work depending on how deep the scratch is. I use it for scuffs all the time
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Old 07-11-2009, 08:34 AM   #11
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toothpaste or baking soda and water
Learned those back when I was a tadpole.

For an ultra fine polish, you can use cigarette ashes. But the type of scratches I'm referring to would pretty much require filling.
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Old 07-11-2009, 09:00 PM   #12
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Is anyone else tired of all the plastic BS these days? I totally relate with this post
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Old 08-05-2009, 01:16 PM   #13
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Sand it and Nail polish it!

For most white vinyl window frames, we have:

  1. Sanded it smooth, if it's a gouge.
  2. Fill it with some non automotive bondo.
  3. Re-sand it.
  4. Spray it with thinned down white nail polish. (It's laquer based and dries fast!
It's always worked well for us.

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Old 08-05-2009, 01:22 PM   #14
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For most white vinyl window frames, we have:

  1. Sanded it smooth, if it's a gouge.
  2. Fill it with some non automotive bondo.
  3. Re-sand it.
  4. Spray it with thinned down white nail polish. (It's laquer based and dries fast!
It's always worked well for us.

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thats a great idea.
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Old 08-05-2009, 03:51 PM   #15
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with a pre-val

I forgot to mention. I just used to keep a "pre-val" sprayer around and for a vinyl frame, it was definitely good enough if it was thinned down. You could even control the sheen by spraying a really thinned down few final coats if it was too shiny. And if you dont use the sprayer all the time or even if you do, I would always take the spray cap off and leave it in a jar with a lid and some lacquer thinner and it will be good for next time! This worked just as good as an airbrush and no compressor needed! Hope this helps.

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Old 08-05-2009, 04:51 PM   #16
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Hope this helps.
Thanks Rick; sounds very promising! I'll definitely give that a shot.
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