Polishing Lego Bricks
Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 7:46 pm
I've had a pile of used Lego that I didn't really want to use since the bricks were scratched and yellowed. One of my many hobbies is detailing my car, so I decided to put some of those tools to use. I documented my progress to see if I could really make these bricks look better.
This first picture shows the stuff I used:
Meguiar's M205 Ultra Finishing Polish - Available online, or you can get Scratch X 2.0 at any Walmart, Target, etc.
Microfiber pad - You can also use an old towel or t-shirt
I washed these bricks individually using a toothbrush and dishwash soap when I got them, but as you can see, it wasn't enough to get some of the dirt, yellow tint, and scratches out. This is what they looked like after stacking them:
Here's a close up of the bricks showing the damage:
I put a pea sized amount of the polish on the pad and polished the brick wall using a lot of elbow grease. I rubbed the polish in for a few minutes until my arm got tired and this was the result:
Here's a close up:
It looks a little cleaner, but I think I can make it look better. Time for the big guns.
I used a regular household drill and the foam pad attachment that came with the 3M Headlight Restoration Kit:
I set the brick wall on the ground, put a pea sized amount of polish on the pad and got to work. It's best to have somebody help you hold the wall down with two hands while you use both hands to hold the drill steady. I went across the wall 3-4 times. Afterwards, I washed the bricks with dishwashing liquid to get rid of the polishing oils and this was the result:
And here's a close up:
Is it perfect? No. 100 times better? Absolutely!
I was totally happy with the results and it didn't take much time to do. Next time though, I think I will skip the polishing by hand and just use the drilll. I'm sure you could get the same results if you stick to it, but you will have to put a lot of elbow grease into it and spend more time.
Just in case...
DISCLAIMER: I take no responsibility for the damage to your bricks, any property damage, bodily harm, or any other adverse effects that may arise directly or indirectly from this guide. Do so at entirely your own risk. This document is provided for information/education purposes only!
This first picture shows the stuff I used:
Meguiar's M205 Ultra Finishing Polish - Available online, or you can get Scratch X 2.0 at any Walmart, Target, etc.
Microfiber pad - You can also use an old towel or t-shirt
I washed these bricks individually using a toothbrush and dishwash soap when I got them, but as you can see, it wasn't enough to get some of the dirt, yellow tint, and scratches out. This is what they looked like after stacking them:
Here's a close up of the bricks showing the damage:
I put a pea sized amount of the polish on the pad and polished the brick wall using a lot of elbow grease. I rubbed the polish in for a few minutes until my arm got tired and this was the result:
Here's a close up:
It looks a little cleaner, but I think I can make it look better. Time for the big guns.
I used a regular household drill and the foam pad attachment that came with the 3M Headlight Restoration Kit:
I set the brick wall on the ground, put a pea sized amount of polish on the pad and got to work. It's best to have somebody help you hold the wall down with two hands while you use both hands to hold the drill steady. I went across the wall 3-4 times. Afterwards, I washed the bricks with dishwashing liquid to get rid of the polishing oils and this was the result:
And here's a close up:
Is it perfect? No. 100 times better? Absolutely!
I was totally happy with the results and it didn't take much time to do. Next time though, I think I will skip the polishing by hand and just use the drilll. I'm sure you could get the same results if you stick to it, but you will have to put a lot of elbow grease into it and spend more time.
Just in case...
DISCLAIMER: I take no responsibility for the damage to your bricks, any property damage, bodily harm, or any other adverse effects that may arise directly or indirectly from this guide. Do so at entirely your own risk. This document is provided for information/education purposes only!