AverageJoe

After I spent 4 hours washing waxing ,and polishing the bike yesterday I read this thread. Gonna try it next time!!!

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twocoolgliders

Funny, this topic just came up on an airplane group on am on. Hotly debted, the general concensus there is that Pledge is no good for plexiglas or for paint. A couple of guys claimed that there are solvents in the Pledge that lead to stress fractures in the blow molded plexiglas. I have been in the plastics industry for many years..........I have seen these stress fractures form, and it is not caused by anything like Pledge, it is caused by the stresses built up in the plastic during vac-forming, or blow molding. There are also different "grades" of plexiglas. Some is made by a "casting process" and some by an "extrusion process". The cast material is much better, and of course more expensive.

I think some motorcycles actually use Polycarbonate, rather than acrylic(plexiglas) for windshields.

I also noted on my scooter, that the windshied has a film coating over the plexi........this was probably a non-scratch surface, similar to what the put on eyeglasses. After 26 years it is starting to peel off in places.

But, all that being said..........I have used Pledge on airplane windshields for years. The place I work for has used it on plexi airplane canopies and windows for years. It is cheap, easy to use and does a great job. We only like the lemon scent however. We have 40 year old planes and used mostly pledge on them for 40 years. (or at least as long as Pledge has been on the market)

I use it as a quick detailer on my motorcycle and scooter too.

I have also used it on the painted surfaces of the airplanes too. Maybe not as long lasting as car wax, but it does a great "quick" job. Pledge also takes off the heavy oil the covers the bottom of most airplane bellies. I also like it for my car interior vinyl parts.

I also use a product called "Novus" specially made for plastics........it comes in three types, #1, #2, #3 (available at Harley dealer)

The number one cleans and shines just about like Pledge, but costs a lot more. The #3 is great if you have fairly deep scratches. It is abrasive and it will actually polish them out, if you use a lot and a lot of elbow grease. The #2 will take out those really fine scratches or swirl marks.

So another open discussion........At least Junkyard an I agree on this one!

Cookie

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Guba

Digging up old threads isn't necessarily a bad thing. I kept a bottle of Pledge in my flight bag when I used to fly. Funny, but when I stopped flying I guess I kinda forgot about this. I think I'll start using it on my bike.

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'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles

JunkyardDog

We have a lot of issues with the plexi on aircraft here, a lot of it is undoubtably due to the heat, but the front shields do not last that long, there is so much sand in the air that they get sandblasted, especially by the prop. Even car windshields get sandblasted here after several years. But there is nothing in Pledge that will hurt plexi. I don't know about polycarbonate. That stuff can be damaged by almost any chemical. Memphis Shades uses acrylic for their windshields, and warns not to use any type of glass cleaner on them. I have been using Windex on mine, on my Vulcan 750, for years with no problems. I don't do it the usual way, which can scratch, I spray Windex on the shield, use a soft paint brush to clean the shield, then rinse it off with distilled water from a garden sprayer. Jerry.

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gwright1014

Buickguy - I, for one, am glad you "dug up" this thread. I hadn't seen it. I tried the Pledge this afternoon and was amazed how well it works. I've had trouble getting my windshield spotless, and I was concerned that I would end up with a smeared-up mess. But the acrylic turned out looking crystal clear and the paint looked like new. Like Jax said, I love this forum 'cause you never know what your gonna learn.
Ride safe.
Gary

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2004 Rebel 250cc
My "Red Pony"

twocoolgliders

The issue with WINDEX and other GLASS cleaners, is that many conatin AMONIA.........Amonia will damage plastic over time. Maybe not if you just quickly wipe on and wipe off, but amonia is bad for plastic.

Another thing that is bad for plastic is ULTRA VIOLET RAYS.....as in sunlight. The UV will break down the molecular bonds in plastics. Acrylic (plexiglas) is fairly resistant to UV. In Arizona there are just more sunny days so more UV over time. UV affected windshields seem to get "milky" rather than clear. Seen more in "tinted" windshields.

This is why it is a good thing to keep your motorcycle in a garage if you can, and your airplane in a hangar. Or at least keep it covered with a UV proof cover when not it use. You see airplanes left outside with reflective windshield covers. This will reduce the exposure to UV greatly, also minimize temperature extremes.


What does in MOST airplane windshields and canopies, over time, is thermal expansion and contraction.....I forget the percentage, but going from say 15 degrees in winter to 100 degrees in summer is like 8% increase in dimension. The windshields and canopies need to be mounted such that they "float in place", with very loose fasteners, to allow for this expansion and contraction. They usually will start to form cracks around the fasteners, and on the edges and corners.

The good thing about motorcycle windshields is that they are usually "frameless" so they can expand and contract as needed. Also motorcycle windshield mounts are somewhat flexible too.

Polycarbonate, (Lexan), although considered to be "stronger" than acrylic (so called bullet proof glass is sometimes polycarbonate).......is much more acceptable to scratches. It has a "softer surface"..............also much more prone to "spider cracks" around fasteners. Also 4 X the price of acrylic. I think that F-16 uses polycarbonate windshield.

Cookie

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Buickguy

Thanks Gary. I love the pics of your "Red Pony"
The Pledge really seems to do up the red colors. If you look at the pic I posted of mine, that was just taken on the 20th right after a quick cleanup with Pledge.

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ASE-Tech

We need more Lemon Pledge

Attached Images

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twocoolgliders

Jerry brings up a good point of getting the fine, dusty grit off the windshield BEFORE you start wiping on it. Rinsing with water helps. We sometimes use an acrylic cleaner in an aerosol spray can that "foams up". The foam kind of lifts the grit up and floats it off the surface.

Another controversy is whether you should use paper towels on not. Frankly some brands of paper towels are quite abrasive. I often use "BOUNTY" brand but some say even those are abrasive.

Other say to only use a laundered pure cotton cloth. I buy old fashioned baby diapers, pure cotton, for a lot of my cleaning and polishing jobs. Also pure cotton terry cloth rags are good for waxing.

The latest "executive order" in the airplane shop is to only use the new synthetic "Microfiber" cloths. They supposedly can't scratch, and "Lift" the grit up and off the surface and into the microfibers. I am not convinced.

One manufacturer of airplane windshields makes their own brand of windshield wipes. Some sort of synthetic stuff. I think it is really made by 3M or maybe dupont.

Another thing I sometimes use on plastic windshields is Maguires cleaner wax. Really buffs and polishes and leaves a smooth wax finish.

Cookie

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Fridgitator

I've also read that alcohol brittles Plexiglas and similar acrylics. I avoid the whole issue by using a soap based , foaming car cleaning concentrate dispensed using my miraclegro hose-end dispenser. Foam the bike down, let it soak the dirt for awhile, and hose it again with the soap. rinse and use a soft brush in running water to get the stubborn stuff. Never had a scratch from this, and my windshield is as clear and flexible as ever.

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