Just bought a classic console, an original High-Def Sega Genesis, but it has two scratches on it near the back. These are a bit deep so something like Mr. Clean Magic Eraser wouldn’t work.
Since the rest of my unit is otherwise in immaculate shape for its age, its not worth taking drastic measures over like sanding & repainting. Anyone know of a good polish for plastic that can at lest fill in those scratches and greatly diminish their appearance? Or something like a plastic resign for a more solid repair?
How deep are they? You can try using 800 grit to smooth the scratches, then work your way up 1000 grit and then 2000 grit to get it very smooth. Then rub and auto compound on it and finish with a polish.
Going through all the steps, by the time you’re done, you’ll have an ultra glossy surface. If you’re happy with the finish you get on a particular step, then just stop there. I’d recommend starting with a piece of 800 grit sandpaper and then using the buffer stick to polish it up.*
** I take no responsibility if this all goes completely pear shaped and the console ends up looking worse than when you started.*
Total noob here. Won’t sandpaper hurt the plastic or something? What do you mean by “800 grit”?
They’re not surfaces scratches, like scuffs, but i can actually feel them when moving my fingers over it. Its not something a little magic eraser scrubbing will get rid of.
And again, 1000 grit? 2000 grit? These terms perplex me.
Not if you use a high enough grit of sandpaper. Polishing anything requires that you grind the surface in order to make it smooth. Typically the deeper the cuts, the lower grit of sandpaper you’ll need to polish it out, but of course if it’s too deep, there’s not much you can do without damaging the surface.
Higher the grit number, the smoother the sandpaper is. So you start off with a low grit sandpaper, give it a once over, and move onto the next higher grit of sandpaper, and higher, etc etc, until it’s nice and smooth.
As mentioned earlier, the higher the grit number, the smoother the paper. Generally 600-2000 grit are quite smooth and do not cause major noticeable scratch damages (Especially the 1000 & 2000 grit, they almost polish the plastic)
One thing a total noob should also know is you hardly can ever find high grit sandpaper at Home Depot, Lowes, or your local hardware store.
You’ll have to try your local automotive store, Walmart might even have it in their automotive section, and O’reilly’s.