Can you recommend a cure for fingerprints on plastic?

Hello

Can you recommend a cure for fingerprints on plastic?

Background
I have a some specially-textured, black ABS plastic sheet that gives a nice slightly-reflective/satin type of finish on my model. The problem is that it is picking up finger prints very badly. I keep cleaning them off using (e.g. using IPA solvent), but when there is zero oil on the surface it becomes slightly more pale - which I don't want - and moreover it shows up the oil in any fingerprints even worse!

Tentative possible solutions:
A. Fingerprint-proof lacquer or varnish - is that 'a thing'?
B. Furniture polish?
C. Some kind of spray film?
C. A fine layer of silicone oil, like is sometimes applied to latex to get a glossy sheen?

To get clear, I am wanting to create a semi-reflective SATIN finish, rather than a gloss finish.

D

Golly, that's an unusual question! Root cause is probably the 'specially-textured, black ABS plastic sheet'. Most surfaces pick up fingerprints but they're rarely so intrusive that an occasional wipe over doesn't control them. Try a different black sheet, perhaps one textured enough to hide fingerprints, or one that's easily cleaned.

It's usual during builds to protect delicate surfaces by masking them or by wearing gloves. Finished models of the display type end up behind glass. Working models are protected by lacquer, paint, bluing, anodizing, wax polish, oiling and regular cleaning. Best to avoid materials that show the dirt!

I think you'll have to experiment.

Dave

Here is a photo of the material I am using.

Like I say it's a raw, unfinished ABS plastic sheeting. It is quite deeply textured. And as you can see, the oil in fingerprints are making it look much darker.

I suppose a layer of some kind of satin varnish (or lacquer) might do the trick... and should make the whole thing darker, but without making it look glossy. I how wonder what luxury plastic products do....

Donnie
 

Edited By Donald MacDonald 1 on 26/02/2022 16:28:07

I use Renaissance wax polish but the problem with that is it is a gloss finish but it does work wonders

Wear gloves! Prevention is always better than cure!

Don't handle it

Robert Butler

Might be worth trying a 'cockpit care' product, they are after all designed to restore the finish and help prevent fingerprints in freshly-valeted cars..

Wurth do a good one, we also used to use it too put some life back into things like the textured black plastic instrument binnacles on motorbikes..

..trying to think how to explain it - it gives the surface a homogenous 'new' lustre, without being too shiny.

Because it gets rid of the bloom, fingerprints don't show and a wipe with a duster will keep it looking that way until it finally weathers out..

As with all chemicals on plastic, do a test piece first!

Try a 'good' professional one.

Otherwise known as Back to Black which is a silicon oil spray. Also quite useful wiped on the car door seals when the temperatures drop below Zero when it acts a release agent on ice covered seals.

amputate at the wrists? I'll get me coat. Ha ha

Yes, I have been testing silicone oil spray. Although it does work up to a point it, the oil itself kind of smears with fingerprints and over time creeps back out of any small crevices... so you have to keep wiping it down to even the oil out. Not ideal.

So I much prefer the idea of more of a 'wax', than an oil. The problem is that I definitely don't want a high gloss finish, which I fear that Renaissance wax polish would give...

DiogenesII, which version of Wurth spray do you recommend? There seem to be a few...
"Wurth All Purpose Interior Cleaner "
"Wurth Active Glass Cleaner"
Or "Wurth Rubber Care" / "Wurth Silicone Spray" / "Wurth Political, (Anti Hologram plus)" / "Wurth 893140 Industry Cleaner"

Fwiw, I have also discovered some products that are specifically designed to stop fingerprints (even though they seem quite glossy):

e.g. "Flitz Stainless Steel Cleaner"

"WHOOSH! Screen shine"
**LINK**

Anyone tried either of the above?

Don

Haha, one of the reasons that I didn't give a link was because I recoiled in horror at their convoluted product-data-web-experience..

?this one

Wurth Cockpit Care Data

probably best bought from somewhere like here - Wurth seem to have gone 'trade only'..

Falcon Workshop Supplies - Ebay store

..not cheap, sorry..