How do you polish a TIR optic?

Pavlo · 2018-12-07T06:02:43.000Z

Hello BLF.

I am trying to polish a Carclo 10511 optic to remove or diminish the frosting to be somewhere between a Clear Narrow Spot (10507) and Frosted Narrow Spot (10511).

Has anybody successfully polished/buffed the surface of a frosted TIR?
What was your technique and what did you use? Can it be done by hand or is that wishful thinking?

Any DIY or home remedies that work?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Tom_Tom · 2018-12-07T06:25:00.000Z

Peek works. It is peculiar stuff, and definitely none-Newtonian.

Bounces about in the tube.

Polishes anything, and a little goes a very long way.

Hint: apply it with a baby wipe, not just a bit of rag. Better still a PEC pad.

Pavlo · 2018-12-07T15:30:08.000Z

Thanks Tom Tom. Do you think Peek will potentially corrode or degrade the plastic with chemicals?

Tom_Tom · 2018-12-07T17:34:07.000Z

I doubt it, I’ve never had any sort of problem with it. I think it is really good stuff. I use the paste that comes in a tube.

https://www.tripeek.com/faqs.html

What are the surfaces that Peek Polish works on?

ALL Metals, Fibreglass, Perspex, Eisenglass, mirrors, clouded glass and crystal, leaded glass, ceramics and ceramic tile, porcelain, enamel, granite, marble, laminates and Formica, linoleum, plastic convertible windows, plastics, Plexiglas, Lexan, acrylic, powder coating, auto and aircraft paint (to remove stains and buff out surface scratches), solid vinyl, polyurethane; all non-porous surfaces.

jch10400 · 2018-12-07T19:29:07.000Z

If that doesn’t work, wayyyyyy back when I took an “arts - metals and plastics” class in high school. We used Tripoli Compound to polish lexan and casting resin projects.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-quarter-lb-brown-polish-compound-96775.html

chops728 · 2018-12-07T20:44:41.000Z

I just used 1000 grit then 1500 grit papers slightly wet —- you have to hold the paper over your finger tips because the optic is slightly concaved — if you try to sand with a block you’ll see the edges cut first—- after that I just polish with fine compound and micro fiber towel—- I have done dozens this way—- my favorite optic after polishing

Pavlo · 2018-12-08T22:14:50.000Z

Thanks for all the additional feedback.
Going to see if they sell any of these polishing compounds at Home Depot.

@chops728, is it the polished 10511 that is your favourite?

chops728 · 2018-12-08T23:04:21.000Z

Pavlo:

Thanks for all the additional feedback.
Going to see if they sell any of these polishing compounds at Home Depot.

@chops728, is it the polished 10511 that is your favourite?

Yes —- you can get single sheets of fine sandpaper at any auto parts along with fine finishing compound

LouieAtienza · 2018-12-09T01:03:50.000Z

You can buy at an automotive finish supply like Sherwin-Williams up to 2500 grit silicon carbide paper (which will also remove scratches from glass by the way.) Then Trizact pads in 3000 and 5000 grit. Then you can use your polishing compounds of choice on plastics. I use 3M Micro-fine compound (blue) and Glazing compound (yellow) for a scratch-free finish. For glass, cerium oxide powder, mixed with water in a slurry, on a felt or leather pad.

QReciprocity42 · 2023-01-24T21:52:08.000Z

I've got the fingernail buffer and shiner, which seems ok at polishing most things. Would it work well for polishing a frosted optic?

zoulas · 2023-01-24T23:40:00.000Z

What caused it to get frosted.

Jerommel · 2023-01-24T23:42:39.000Z

zoulas:

What caused it to get frosted.

The factory.