Review: Meguiar's Plastx!!

T

Tim Lingor

New member
Hey everyone!



I thought that I should add to the tips section, a review on one of the best plastic cleaner polishes I have ever tried---Meguiar's Plastx!!



My wife's new car had a couple of scratches in the plastic trim around the CD player and on the headlights of her new car, so I decided to give Meguiar's Plastx a try. I have used both Meguiar's Professional Plastic Polish #10 and their Professional Plastic Cleaner #17 with usually excellent results. But I am never one to be satisfied, so I wanted to try Meguiar’s new Plastx product with its new “Diminishing Micro-Abrasive Technology�. What I liked the most about the product is that it contains no solvents; something I like to keep away from plastic.



The first thing I noticed is the smell that is quite pleasant. To me, it is a very important characteristic as I do not want a cleaner that I will be using on the gauge cluster and other interior plastic parts to smell like strong chemicals! The second thing I noticed is that it is thick and almost like a gel but in a light white/blue liquid. Hence, it will not run down the vertical surfaces very easily making it perfect for the aforementioned gauge cluster.



My wife’s car had a scratch in the plastic around the CD player that was really annoying as it stood out very well! I used the Plastx on a microfiber cloth and rubbed it into the surface very thoroughly. I removed the excess right away with another microfiber cloth and buffed. It almost removed the whole mark so I repeated the procedure. On the second attempt, it was gone! I am one happy man as that mark really bothered me, especially on a brand new car! What I liked about the product is that it is not too aggressive; I needed to use a second application. In my eyes that is a good thing as plastic is easily scratched and an aggressive product may make matters worse.



I decided to try the product on the headlights. Again, I applied the Plastx with a microfiber and wiped it off with a clean one. The lights came out spectacular!! The plastic is so clear and has excellent gloss!



To sum up, I really love Meguiar’s Plastx. It cleans and polishes in one easy step. Since I tend to spend a lot of time detailing, any product that does such an excellent job, and in one step, is definitely one of my favorites!



Tim



Here is a pic of the headlights:



4989107_0737cc__small_.jpg




(Originally posted on www.showcargarage.com)
 
I tried it on a "clear bra" with small scratch on it and it did NADA, nothing, zero!



Looks I may have to go Plexus or Novus.



Regards,

Deanski
 
Dean, get Novus, Plexus is just a upkeep detailer like Meguiar's #18.



Have you tried using your finger with Plastix and rubbing the scratched finish for hours on end? (Well I wear a tight polyester glove now.) This seems to get the scratch out but take a alot of rubbing.



Well maybe not, Novus sounds like a good bet.
 
Hey Iceman!



I have the Plexus, and I have both Meguiar's Professional Series #10 Plastic Polish and #17 Plastic Cleaner.



In comparing it to Plexus, I have to say that it works a lot better! Plexus is a lot easier to use, but it does very little to the scratches. The Plastx just seems to get more of the scratches out .



In comparison to Meguiar's own #10 and #17, I can say without a doubt that Plastx smells a heck of a lot better!!! In terms of performance, this Meguiar's combo(#10 and #!7) has been my old stand by for reliability. I know that I can always count on them to do the job! BUT, along comes Plastx with its diminishing abrasives. I find that it does not quite equal the Meguiar's Combo, but it comes in at 95% as close!! Plus, it is only one step!!



The trick with using Plastx is in how it is worked in. Those diminishing abrasives need to be worked in very well!! I did one light by just wiping it on and wiping it off. The gloss was fine but the scratches remain. In that sense, I would have to give Plexus the nod if it was just a wipe on, wipe off type of product.

On the other light however, I really worked the Plastx in! The difference was remarkable!! The best part was the len's clarity and gloss!! In a way, Plastx reminds me of DACP in the way it needs to be worked in and broken down.



Overall, that Plastx is one of the best plastic cleaners around. If you want the absolute best IMHO, then Meguiar's combo of #10 and #17 would be on my list. If you want very close performance to that of the Meg's combo in a one step, then Plastx is it.



Cheers!

Tim
 
2hotford said:
Overall, that Plastx is one of the best plastic cleaners around. If you want very close performance to that of the Meg's combo in a one step, then Plastx is it.
Click to expand...



Where can you find it? At Canadian Tire or Lordco? And have you tried it on the guages? Is it safe here or is the plastic somewhat softer and might get lots of micro-scratches instead, making it look hazy? I have a few scratches visible on the tachometer that drive me up the wall!
 
JasonC8301 said:
Dean, get Novus, Plexus is just a upkeep detailer like Meguiar's #18.



Have you tried using your finger with Plastix and rubbing the scratched finish for hours on end? (Well I wear a tight polyester glove now.) This seems to get the scratch out but take a alot of rubbing.



Well maybe not, Novus sounds like a good bet.
Click to expand...



Hi Jason,



As I said, it needs to be worked in really well. Usually for headlights, I use a mushroom polishing buff on a high speed drill. I have not tried this with the Plastx yet but I have a feeling that will work very well based on what I have seen so far! Anything with diminshing abrasives needs to be worked in. Besides, I would rather have a product that I can work in slowly to remove marks than an aggressive one that might cause more damage with micro-marring.



oh, and Jason, why are you using your finger to apply a plastic polish/cleaner? :D



Tim
 
Used lots of Brasso on my finger tip to shine up my name tags back in HS. Also use Brasso and lots of rubbing to remove scuffs on my poromeric shoes (I can't seem to find the old style leather oxfords anywhere.) :D
 
can we get a picture of the packaging so we know what to look for? I've been to a few auto supply stores recently looking at stuff and haven't seen anything like that
 
Hi Iceman,



You can actually get it at both places. I think Canadian Tire will probably have the better price on it. I think Canadian Tire has 15% off Meguiar's products this week, but I am not sure.



As to the gauge cluster, that is tough one. They ALWAYs seem to show marks with which ever product you use! Just using your finger (a la Jason;) ) to wipe the dust off causes scratches!! Honestly, the Meguiar's #10 and #17 combo might be a little better for the gauge cluster (that way you can spend more time on which ever step, cleaning or polishing that you need more of). These are available at Lordco.



I will try the Plastx on my truck's gauge cluster and post some pics. I have only so far tried it on the headlights and some plastic trim. But I will try it out on the cluster and let you know!



Tim
 
Well, I'll try again on the Armorglove... Darn MF towel had something on it or I rubbed too damn hard on the Armorglove and got a scratch. I also see what I think was a stone hit, damn thing must have been a bolder from the mark. I guess I'm being too careful on the film, all I need is more scratches.



See my post on what 3M said. They even say to try Plastix.



But, I need to have some Novus on-hand anyway, hell it's only money!



Regards,

Deanski
 
Hey Iceman!



I just finished doing the dash gauge cluster on my Super Duty with the Plastx! To say that I am impressed is an understatement!!



I did find again, I really had to work it in really well with a MF. The product starts out a light Baby Blue but after rubbing it in, it goes clear. It is at this point that I wiped what little residue was left. If I wiped it off sooner, I ended up adding micro marring. So I was right in my assumption that it is similar to the method of applying DACP in that if it is worked in well enough, the finish is flawless!!



Here is a before and after pic:



Before:

4989107_0771__medium_.jpg




and after Meguiar's Plastx !!!

4989107_0774__medium_.jpg




Wow! My gauge cluster has never looked so great!!

Now the face plate on my CD player is next!!! :)



Tim
 
Thanks Tim. I think I will go look for this stuff and test it on my old Accord first before it touches my 350Z.
 
Nice review on PlastX. Do you think it's okay to use on paint? Maybe it'll work as a nice, fine polish... the gel consistency seems interesting. From what I've heard, #17 is just #7 SCG repackaged.
 
Hey Iceman!



I would try it on your Accord FIRST so as you can get the feel of using it! It is hard to sit there and buff and buff until the product breaks down but it is worth it!!! Just make sure that you break the product down!!!



Good Luck and let us know, OK? :)



BW,

I do not believe that #7 and #17 are the same product. I agree that they smell and look similar but the consistency is different.

I would not use a plastic polish on paint. But I have used it many times on clear coated wheels!! You should see the shine it gives to them!!! Try it!!:)



Cheers!

Tim
 
I had a bottle lying around for about a month that I bought on a whim. Seeing the good review here I tried it on my headlights and tailights and it definately cleaned and shined them up quite a bit. Lots of the gritty feeling on the plastic was removed without using a claybar. I would not use it on paint, especially since the bottle specifically says not to use it on paint.
 
Deanski said:
I tried it on a "clear bra" with small scratch on it and it did NADA, nothing, zero!



Looks I may have to go Plexus or Novus.



Regards,

Deanski
Click to expand...





Hi Deanski,



While this product is for clear plastics, it’s not really intended for working on clear bras. This type of plastic is in a category all its own. Nowhere on the label does it say it’s for clear bras. I have a large piece here in my office to test on but I haven’t had the time.



I have been asked by a number of people who install these clear bras if there is a way to remove scratches, even cobweb-effect out of it.



So I'll check it out, however from my experience, I'm going to guess it's going to be a pretty hard problem to solve, for Meguiar's or for anyone else.



The plastic is too soft, too flexible, too thin, too workable. It doesn't lend itself to abrading.



Just like paint, in order to remove a scratch, you must remove the material surrounding the scratch until the surrounding surface is as low as the lowest point of the scratch.



I hope you’ll give it another chance on other plastic surfaces such as the ones Tim listed.



I have personally used it on Plexiglas motorcycle windshields and it easily removes #2000 grit sanding marks when used with terry cloth toweling.



It also works better than anything I have ever tested on flexible clear plastic windows like you find on convertible tops on cars and boats, especially after they have been neglected for some time and are hazy and filled with scratches... and does it in one step.



When you do find a product that removes scratches from these clear plastic films being used for protecting paint.... make sure you share that with everyone, I know a lot of people are interested in finding a "fix" for this problem, including myself.



Perhaps there are some other companies besides the ones you listed that make plastic polishes that will work better on clear bras for removing scratches?
 
Here's what 3M replied as to scratches on clear paint film.



"We usually recommend a plastic cleaner similar to the Plastx product to

remove light scratches. Most of the plastic cleaners require a lot of

effort and time to get them to remove scratches. This is because they have

very fine or a low concentrations of abrasives. I recommend trying the

Plastx again.

Avoid using abrasive cleaners like rubbing compounds or cleaner-type waxes

recommended for medium to heavy paint oxidations. These can leave

scratches.



Regards, Matt"



Just so you know...



Yes the film is soft and plyable, so it's tuff to resolve these issues. Maybe Novus, or other product, but I'm still waiting for more info from 3M.



Regards,

Deanski
 
I can back up what Mike Phillips said about plastX removing 2000 grit scratches. I did a test with an acrylic bowl, got some 2000 grit and wetsanded the bowl a bit until it was hazy. Then I got some plastX, worked it in for about 3-5 minutes and the hazyness was gone. There were some scratches left but I think it was because I was using the cheapest most dirty terry cloth around so I bet with a proper microfibre the results would be flawless!
 
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