Hazy ice light; polish?

[dkkim73]

Hi All, 

This thread: 

made me wonder about polishing my ice light. 

The ice light lens is hazy, and the factory (where the pre-purchase/annual was done) said it was actually a fair bit of trouble to replace it, requiring some interior disassembly and paint work. I deferred, and since scarcely use it, more in the habit of shining a bright flashlight out the window.

But, it occurred to me that maybe it would get better with some polishing, like old auto headlights? I haven't done that in the past, but assume it is essentially a fine abrasive process to reveal the plastic underneath. 
Has anyone tried this, or have thoughts based on transferable experience?

Thanks!

 

[Fly Boomer]

4 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

Has anyone tried this, or have thoughts based on transferable experience?

Clearly the outside would be easy.  I can't remember what the lamp holder on the inside looks like -- if that looks like too much work, it's probably the outside that needs it the most.

[LANCECASPER]

11 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

Hi All, 

This thread: 

made me wonder about polishing my ice light. 

The ice light lens is hazy, and the factory (where the pre-purchase/annual was done) said it was actually a fair bit of trouble to replace it, requiring some interior disassembly and paint work. I deferred, and since scarcely use it, more in the habit of shining a bright flashlight out the window.

But, it occurred to me that maybe it would get better with some polishing, like old auto headlights? I haven't done that in the past, but assume it is essentially a fine abrasive process to reveal the plastic underneath. 
Has anyone tried this, or have thoughts based on transferable experience?

Thanks!

 

If you ever go into the ice light from the inside to change the bulb make sure you change it out with an LED bulb. there's a post on Mooneyspace somewhere re: that. This might be it: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/aeroledsstarlight_11-16661.php

[GeeBee]

19 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

Hi All, 

This thread: 

made me wonder about polishing my ice light. 

The ice light lens is hazy, and the factory (where the pre-purchase/annual was done) said it was actually a fair bit of trouble to replace it, requiring some interior disassembly and paint work. I deferred, and since scarcely use it, more in the habit of shining a bright flashlight out the window.

But, it occurred to me that maybe it would get better with some polishing, like old auto headlights? I haven't done that in the past, but assume it is essentially a fine abrasive process to reveal the plastic underneath. 
Has anyone tried this, or have thoughts based on transferable experience?

Thanks!

 

Yes, I polished the outside of mine and it worked wonders. I need to do it again.

[dkkim73]

1 hour ago, GeeBee said:

Yes, I polished the outside of mine and it worked wonders. I need to do it again.

Thanks @GeeBee, what did you use? I just ordered a Novus kit from further up this thread..

[GeeBee]

I used some left over from a Scratch Off kit. Any of them are fine. It cleans up very fast. Cheapest way would be some automotive headlight stuff.

[glenn reynolds]

I would ask the question of how well does the ice light illuminate the wing at night?  you really don't care what the assembly looks like, you care about your ability to see the wing at night in ice conditions.  My light lens is not very clear, but it does a fine job of illuminating the wing at night in icing conditions.  

[A64Pilot]

On 7/19/2024 at 9:17 AM, dkkim73 said:

Thanks @GeeBee, what did you use? I just ordered a Novus kit from further up this thread..

I’ve used them on windshields literally decades ago. Have to be careful with them

Now I think I’d go with a car headlights restoration kit, but I’d talk to someone at a body shop that’s done many first.

On car headlights I’ve had great luck with ultra fine machine polish with my 7” Mikita, only saying that maybe very fine paint polish and a soft rag might be the way to go.

Start fine exchanging elbow grease for speed that you get with coarser cuts