[TCML] Polishing Lexan (small, recessed areas)

[Jim Lux]

bunnykiller wrote:
> Hey Daniel...
> 
> how important is it to maintain the cut "quality" of the pocket?  are 
> you going to need a tolerance fit to mate with the pocket or is it going 
> to fall under cosmetic appearence?  If it is only a cosmetic value, then 
> flame polishing is your best bet to get the surface to go back to a 
> clear finish. You will lose the sharp edges from machining the pocket 
> but you will get the clear coat as in unmachined lexan. Be careful on 
> the time of flame contact, it can invoke surface bubbles on the lexan.
> 
> MEK leaves a milky finish as the same as Acetone, which will eventually 
> lead to "crazing/alligatoring and yellowing" in months to come. Other 
> than that, a labor intensive option is to use a Dremel with a cloth disc 
> and a mutiple barage of fine grit pastes to finally get to the clarity 
> you need. Altho this system is good, it can be an issue if you have a 
> less than delicate touch with the Dremel. gouging and "burning" are the 
> main issues with the Dremel....


My experience has been that it's easier to have a steady hand and get a 
good result with the flame than with the mechanical polishing.  Both 
require some amount of finesse, but a stream of hot air is inherently a 
"fuzzier" tool than a grit loaded wheel/disc.

OTOH, there are folks I know who are positive artists with the dremel...