Horn push cosmetic refurb

[The Veg]

(This isn't an electrical question but it concerns an electrical part, so I guess this is the right forum to put this in)

I took apart my horn push to clean and refurb everything -it's all in pretty good shape really, needed cleaning more than anything else- and it appears that the plastic bit that houses the works looks a bit aged on the outside, showing lots of very tiny brown flecks for some reason and the plastic looks a bit grey as well. Of course the backside that never sees UV-exposure looks perfect. At first I thought that I could paint it, but I tried three different black paints in little test-dabs on the backside and after drying, all could be scraped away with a fingernail. The plastic seems to be some sort of very hard type similar to Bakelite and nothing as yet has stuck very well to it. Any suggestions for improving its appearance?

[h20hamelan]

heat- draws the oil out, without marring the surface

Tripoli and buff.

I bet the net has modern, google what's a good polish?

[Billmack]

Wet sand very carefully and polish

[2tmike]

Try some liquid black boot polish, it often works well on black trim

[baileyman]

I also vote for wet sanding. I picked up a grades set of wet papers mounted on foam blocks at a woodworking store. The highest is I think 10,000 grit. I used these to polish things like plastic watch crystals, and they come out just brilliant. John

[RichardHawkins]

I think the item you show is a Triumph part as found on the Spitfire I think that Moss or Rimmer (in the UK) may have them.

Help this helps,

Richard Hawkins

[draenog]

Greygate No. 5 is a specialist bakelite polish used in the vintage radio/telephone community (I have used it on several radios).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GREYGATE-No-5-GPO-BAKELITE-TELEPHONE-POLISH-60G/124577494779?hash=item1d0165b6fb:g:RGwAAOSwlZNe4iUp

Alternatively people have used polishes such as autosol and T-Cut paint restorer (autosol is less abrasive than T-Cut).

[draenog]

Greygate also do a specialist plastic polish which is good on acrylic/perspex, etc. (originally developed for restoring Spitfire canopies - the plane not the car):

http://www.greygate.com/product/plastic-polish/

[jono]

I used some brake fluid and superfine steel wool and it came up a treat

[Greg Foster]

Easwood makes a product which I have used on my F350 black plastic bumper trim. I have been quite impressed as it has been exposed to weather, sun, washing and cold for a year without peeling, fading or chipping. Looks new!
Called EASTWOOD Plastic resurfacer.
Greg