How Remove Melted Plastic From Lexan W/o Scratching?

jyl · jyl's Garage

F'ing F F

I started up my food processor when a plastic accessory was loose in the bowl. The accessory spun around, got a corner melted off, and left a ring of melted plastic on the inside of the clear Lexan workbowl. It won't scrub off, nor will gasoline remove it - makes sense I guess, it is melted and hardened plastic not grease.

Any ideas?

If I use a razor blade to scrape off the melted plastic, I'll scratch the Lexan even if I'm careful. Is there a way to then polish out the scratches?

It is hard to find workbowls for these, the FP is an old French-made Cuisinart from the 1970s and replacement bowls, if you can find them, are $50+.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

1. Go back in time
2. Properly tighten the accessory.

Sandpaper? Then hot melt the lexan to sort of make clear?

jyl · jyl's Garage

I think I can razor the melted plastic off with less damage than sandpaper.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Good freaking luck...

Zeke · 11-05-2010, 05:46 PM

Men do have their problems...

looneybin · 11-05-2010, 07:12 PM

scrape it off with a razor blade, then polish with a dremel

WolfeMacleod · 11-06-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by looneybin

scrape it off with a razor blade, then polish with a dremel

A dremel might cause heat build up and melt the lexan pretty badly. Seen it happen.

My vote goes to Brasso and good old eldow grease. Wonderful for polishing plastics (too bad they canned the old LIQUID formula though) Then wash it thoroughly.

herr_oberst · 11-06-2010, 12:01 PM

Make sure you round the corners off the edge of the razor blade. (this is important - use a whetstone or a fine file to do this.) Then, keep the blade absolutely square on the surface at about a 45 or less angle. Take your time and you should be able to just peel up the melt like a decal off glass.

pksystems · pksystems's Garage

Just to check? You tried gasoline inside something you make food in?

jyl · jyl's Garage

I got the melted plastic off, following herr-o's prescription. Then polished the scratched area with rubbing compound. Still need to fine polish to get the inside of the bowl back to very clear - the rubbing compound left it a bit cloudy. I'll try Brasso.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

So you will have gasoline & Brasso flavored food next meal

I would wash that thing several times in the dishwasher before use. Plastic is slightly porous.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Yeah, a thorough washing is planned. The bowl doesn't smell of gasoline anymore, but it smells of rubbing compound.