How To Restore/cleanup Ftp Lense
08-01-2003, 08:51 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 7
I washed my car today and noticed that the FTP lenses where faded and ugly, so I decided to try to restore them. After one hour, I was surprised of the result.
It is not perfect or like a new one but it looks better then before. I was not going to pay 140 for a pair of brand new ftp lenses.
This is what is needed for this little project.
1. Coarse OS4 Sand paper
2. P400 Sand paper
3. P600 Sand Paper
4. P800 Sand Paper
5. P1000 Sand Paper
6. A bucket of water
7. 2 rags
8. Rubbing Compound
9. Wax
Start:
1. Carefully removed my FTP lenses
2. Use the Coarse OS4 Sand Paper and started sanding away in one direction until you see the thin film disappear. Then wiped the lense with a wet rag that i put in the bucket of water. Dried the lense and noticed that the film was off and the whole lense was some what smooth.
3. Use P400 Sand Paper and sand in one direction a couple of times. Then wiped the lense with a wet rag. Dry the lense and you will notice that the thick scratches from before start disappearing.
4. Use P600 do the same as above.
5. Use p800 with water do the same as above.
6. Use 1000 with water and do the same as above
7. Use Rubbing compound on the lense. Pass Rubbing compound three or four times removing it every time.
Your lense should be clearer.
8. Pass wax three or four times and you are done.
If you want your FTP Lenses to be new this is not a project for you. It just a way to clean up these lenses. You will notice a little scracthes.
I recommend going to the junk yard and picking up a set of FTP lenses for about 30.00 bucks a pair.
Or if you are brave you can do this on your own set.
AL
It is not perfect or like a new one but it looks better then before. I was not going to pay 140 for a pair of brand new ftp lenses.
This is what is needed for this little project.
1. Coarse OS4 Sand paper
2. P400 Sand paper
3. P600 Sand Paper
4. P800 Sand Paper
5. P1000 Sand Paper
6. A bucket of water
7. 2 rags
8. Rubbing Compound
9. Wax
Start:
1. Carefully removed my FTP lenses
2. Use the Coarse OS4 Sand Paper and started sanding away in one direction until you see the thin film disappear. Then wiped the lense with a wet rag that i put in the bucket of water. Dried the lense and noticed that the film was off and the whole lense was some what smooth.
3. Use P400 Sand Paper and sand in one direction a couple of times. Then wiped the lense with a wet rag. Dry the lense and you will notice that the thick scratches from before start disappearing.
4. Use P600 do the same as above.
5. Use p800 with water do the same as above.
6. Use 1000 with water and do the same as above
7. Use Rubbing compound on the lense. Pass Rubbing compound three or four times removing it every time.
Your lense should be clearer.
8. Pass wax three or four times and you are done.
If you want your FTP Lenses to be new this is not a project for you. It just a way to clean up these lenses. You will notice a little scracthes.
I recommend going to the junk yard and picking up a set of FTP lenses for about 30.00 bucks a pair.
Or if you are brave you can do this on your own set.
AL
08-01-2003, 09:22 PM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by RX-7Aggie' date='Aug 1 2003, 06:14 PM
nice, i decided to just remove mine and put mesh inserts in instead to provide some more cool air for my CAI
08-01-2003, 09:26 PM
#6
Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Amityville, New York
Posts: 12,288
looks like you done good
You could probably save yourself the harsh scratches and start out
with the 600 grit, you would also be removing less plastic this way.
You could also spray some clear coat on them after sanding them with
1000 instead of trying to polish them, and they would stay better in the long run.
You could probably save yourself the harsh scratches and start out
with the 600 grit, you would also be removing less plastic this way.
You could also spray some clear coat on them after sanding them with
1000 instead of trying to polish them, and they would stay better in the long run.
08-01-2003, 09:34 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NASA/JSC - Clear Lake, TX
Posts: 870
well, the topic is no more, re-typing time
i used an aluminum wire mesh rain gutter cover from lowe's (cost $1.08).
i then made an aluminum 3/4" wide "frame" in the shape of the original FTP lens and wrapped the wire mesh around it.
i secured it in place with hand rivits.
i used an aluminum wire mesh rain gutter cover from lowe's (cost $1.08).
i then made an aluminum 3/4" wide "frame" in the shape of the original FTP lens and wrapped the wire mesh around it.
i secured it in place with hand rivits.
08-01-2003, 11:57 PM
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by MazdaEnthused' date='Aug 1 2003, 07:11 PM
do i really have to use all the differant grit sand papers becaues i just used CLR and it worked just fine
It all depends how bad you is.
Thanks
Al