The Ford Barn

warren va · 12-29-2011, 11:26 PM

I have some original lenses for my 28 that are in great shape. However they dont seem to have the brightness of the 30 31's . Is there any way to polish and or clean them that will improve this.

Thanks
Warren

1928Pickuppain · 12-29-2011, 11:38 PM

Glass is hard to polish u could just mail them to me and I'll take them off your hands. :P but seriously try a fine compound and a buff wheel that might help out; and on another note I'm currently looking for a pare of fluted 28 and can't aford repros so if some one has a set for short money pm me.

LukeDahlinger · 12-30-2011, 12:20 AM

You could try one of those kits that's used to remove scratches in windshields. It might also be hard water build up- try some CLR or Coca-Cola and see if that takes the haze off.

C26Pinelake · 12-30-2011, 01:27 AM

I soaked mine over night in a solid bleach bath. I then rinsed thoroughly and used toothpaste and a soft tooth brush. I then rinsed thoroughly and used windex and they look wonderful. Hope it helps. Wayne

Charles Reese · 12-30-2011, 09:39 AM

when using a buffing wheel, be veeerrryy careful ... heat builds up quickly and may/will crack glass ... (dont ask how i know

)

you may find that good originals are more $$ than repo...

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 12-30-2011, 09:52 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Cheap Toothpaste used with 'elbow grease' is a great polish for glass however all it will do is remove light scratches. Another good thing to use is Semichrome metal polish. (I found this out one time when we were at a show and someone leaned over the paint and rubbed it with a button on their shirt. It was just a very fine scratch but because there was a slight amount of abrasive material in the Semichrome, the scratch buffed right back out.)

Warren, there are three or four other things that may be affecting what you are noticing. One could be that you may have a dull reflector where the silver has worn (or has a chrome plated reflector), and a reproduction reflector that has an incorrect parabolic shape. Another may be the candle power of the bulb you are using. The final thing is the fluted lens' do not appear to have the same diffusing abilities as do the TwoLite lens do.

....

Tom Wesenberg · 12-30-2011, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warren va

I have some original lenses for my 28 that are in great shape. However they dont seem to have the brightness of the 30 31's . Is there any way to polish and or clean them that will improve this.

Thanks
Warren

You say lens, so that would be the glass, but when you refer to "brightness" I think of the silvered reflectors. Good silvered reflectors and a good clear lens along with a properly focused and aimed bulb will give good lighting for night drives.

If your lens has hard water stains I would try vinegar or fine steel wool and soapy warm water.

If you are trying to clean the silvered reflector then Marco gave me a good way to clean it some years back, but that was lost when my hotmail account was hacked a few years ago. My original lenses are in pretty good shape, so I haven't tried to clean them. It's important to keep a good cork seal around the lens to keep the dirt and moisture out.

Fred · 12-30-2011, 10:00 AM

Chuck, Check when the next time the so-called BIG-FLEA Antique show is @ the Richmond Fair Grounds or the Show Place.. Most of the time they have a glass repair/polisher man working during the show... P.S. Most F/B people dont even know what you have, ( BIG $$ LENSES )...

warren va · 12-30-2011, 10:32 AM

Thanks to everyone who replied. With all this great info I can't fail. Will get to work on them this morning. I'll let you know how they turn out.
Thanks Again
Warren
P.S.
Chuck Reese check your [personal messages]

warren va · 12-30-2011, 10:13 PM

Hey everyone finished cleaning my lenses today and installed them I gotta say they turned out GREEEAAATTT. Thanks again for your help.
Warren

2935ford · 12-31-2011, 08:37 AM

What cleaning method did you use?

warren va · 12-31-2011, 09:59 AM

2935 ford;
Soaked them in bleach several hours then washed them in detergent with a stiff brush. Used the toothpaste and brush on the stubborn stains around the outer edges. Finally used fine steel wool and soapy water to get what was left around the outer edges.

Ken Ehrenhofer · 12-31-2011, 05:42 PM

I use a product called Naval Jelly and it works great for cleaning glass lenses,
It can be purchased at hardware stores,
Ken

12-29-2011, 11:26 PM	#1
warren va Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid Shenandoah Valley Va, Posts: 268	Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? I have some original lenses for my 28 that are in great shape. However they dont seem to have the brightness of the 30 31's . Is there any way to polish and or clean them that will improve this. Thanks Warren

12-29-2011, 11:38 PM	#2
1928Pickuppain Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Billerica, Ma Posts: 461	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? Glass is hard to polish u could just mail them to me and I'll take them off your hands. :P but seriously try a fine compound and a buff wheel that might help out; and on another note I'm currently looking for a pare of fluted 28 and can't aford repros so if some one has a set for short money pm me.

12-30-2011, 12:20 AM	#3
LukeDahlinger BANNED Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 956	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? You could try one of those kits that's used to remove scratches in windshields. It might also be hard water build up- try some CLR or Coca-Cola and see if that takes the haze off. __________________ Wanted- Feb. 1931 Parts Price List www.vintagefordfacts.blogspot.com

12-30-2011, 01:27 AM	#4
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? I soaked mine over night in a solid bleach bath. I then rinsed thoroughly and used toothpaste and a soft tooth brush. I then rinsed thoroughly and used windex and they look wonderful. Hope it helps. Wayne

12-30-2011, 09:39 AM	#5
Charles Reese Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 882	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? when using a buffing wheel, be veeerrryy careful ... heat builds up quickly and may/will crack glass ... (dont ask how i know) you may find that good originals are more $$ than repo...

12-30-2011, 09:52 AM	#6
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,519	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Cheap Toothpaste used with 'elbow grease' is a great polish for glass however all it will do is remove light scratches. Another good thing to use is Semichrome metal polish. (I found this out one time when we were at a show and someone leaned over the paint and rubbed it with a button on their shirt. It was just a very fine scratch but because there was a slight amount of abrasive material in the Semichrome, the scratch buffed right back out.) Warren, there are three or four other things that may be affecting what you are noticing. One could be that you may have a dull reflector where the silver has worn (or has a chrome plated reflector), and a reproduction reflector that has an incorrect parabolic shape. Another may be the candle power of the bulb you are using. The final thing is the fluted lens' do not appear to have the same diffusing abilities as do the TwoLite lens do. .... __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

12-30-2011, 10:00 AM	#8
Fred BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: California, Maryland Posts: 1,421	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? Chuck, Check when the next time the so-called BIG-FLEA Antique show is @ the Richmond Fair Grounds or the Show Place.. Most of the time they have a glass repair/polisher man working during the show... P.S. Most F/B people dont even know what you have, ( BIG $$ LENSES )...

12-30-2011, 10:32 AM	#9
warren va Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid Shenandoah Valley Va, Posts: 268	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? Thanks to everyone who replied. With all this great info I can't fail. Will get to work on them this morning. I'll let you know how they turn out. Thanks Again Warren P.S. Chuck Reese check your [personal messages]

12-30-2011, 10:13 PM	#10
warren va Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid Shenandoah Valley Va, Posts: 268	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? Hey everyone finished cleaning my lenses today and installed them I gotta say they turned out GREEEAAATTT. Thanks again for your help. Warren

12-31-2011, 08:37 AM	#11
2935ford Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 1,013	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? What cleaning method did you use?

12-31-2011, 09:59 AM	#12
warren va Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid Shenandoah Valley Va, Posts: 268	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? 2935 ford; Soaked them in bleach several hours then washed them in detergent with a stiff brush. Used the toothpaste and brush on the stubborn stains around the outer edges. Finally used fine steel wool and soapy water to get what was left around the outer edges.

12-31-2011, 05:42 PM	#13
Ken Ehrenhofer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Woodstock, Illinois Posts: 597	Re: Cleaning 28 headlight fluted lenses ? I use a product called Naval Jelly and it works great for cleaning glass lenses, It can be purchased at hardware stores, Ken