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Thread Number: 40179
/ Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
Myth busted: only aluminum vacuums can be polished |
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| Post# 426590 6/6/2020 at 23:41 (1,413 days old) by broomvac (N/A) | ||
I’ve been restoring a Hoover Elite which I found in the trade-in pile at a local vac shop and decided to try something I often thought of doing but never actually attempted. Using the leftover sandpaper, foam buffing “ball,” and polish from my headlight polishing kit, I attacked the hood of this vacuum with the aim of seeing whether or not I could restore the finish on a plastic vacuum.
Man, did it work! 800 grit wet sanding, followed by 1500 grit wet sanding, 3000 grit dry sanding, and buffing with the polishing compound sure put a shine on this Elite. Despite its trashed “before” appearance, did it turn out shinier than it would have been new? Possibly. What’s crazy is that this took only about 20 minutes to accomplish. The rest of the resto went as expected. As this vac was made in 1995, before Hoover updated the materials used for the motor housing and fan chamber, I was expecting cracks in both—specifically, cracks around the belt-side bearing holder of the housing and cracks on the “eyelets” of the fan chamber. And yes, both pieces were cracked. However, I was able to track down a decent bagless twin chamber from 2002 and put it out of its misery so that I could have those parts—now in the updated, robust, crack-free, glass-fiber reinforced plastic—so that I could set this Elite back to working order. All other parts of this Elite, including the bag, checked out a-okay. Although, just for good measure, I also swapped the plastic “small” belt-side motor mount for the twin chamber’s steel one, because why not. I’ll save the original one in my parts stash as these are getting hard to find. Pics below, and more on the way. Once my belt arrives, I’ll reattach the hood and share some final shots of the machine.
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| Post# 426593 , Reply# 1 6/6/2020 at 23:45 (1,413 days old) by broomvac (N/A) | ||
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| Post# 426594 , Reply# 2 6/6/2020 at 23:55 (1,413 days old) by broomvac (N/A) | ||
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One final note. | ||
| Post# 426595 , Reply# 3 6/6/2020 at 23:56 (1,413 days old) by broomvac (N/A) | ||
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| Post# 426602 , Reply# 4 6/7/2020 at 02:23 (1,412 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA) | ||
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| Post# 426631 , Reply# 6 6/7/2020 at 18:07 (1,412 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah) | ||
Um
If you have ever got your headlights buffed out it's the same idea.
You go through 3-4 grits of sand paper and use a buffer and it clears the lenses. I have a commercial DeWalt buffer polisher it's 18lbs has a 9 inch buffing pad adjustable speed from 800-3600 RPMs. I put plastic polish on turn the buffer on pretty high rpm and it shines pretty quick. You have to be cautious. Nice transformation on the vacuums. I don't have many vacuums with plastic or abs bodies. I have not restored any plastic as well as you. Les | ||
| Post# 426639 , Reply# 7 6/7/2020 at 19:20 (1,412 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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| Post# 426647 , Reply# 8 6/7/2020 at 21:55 (1,412 days old) by vacman1961 (North Babylon, New York) | ||
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I use a 3M headlight restoration kit on Electrolux PN1 hoods and Hoover convertible hoods, they come out like new. | ||
Post# 426660 , Reply# 9 6/8/2020 at 00:15 (1,412 days old) by gottahaveahoove  (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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WOW !!!!!!!!!!! | ||
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Post# 426712 , Reply# 10 6/9/2020 at 15:43 (1,410 days old) by rivstg1 (colorado springs) |
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| Post# 426720 , Reply# 11 6/9/2020 at 18:14 (1,410 days old) by broomvac (N/A) | ||
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@All
Thank you, everyone!
Yes, I used the Mother’s headlight polishing kit and simply followed the directions on the package. 1. 800 grit + water 2. 1500 grit + water 3. 3000 grit (dry) 4. Polish (applied using buffing ball) 5. Polish using soft microfiber towel. My belts arrive this Saturday, so I’ll put the hood on then and come back with more pics. I’m a big fan of Hoover Elites, so I’m very happy to have the opportunity to own this one and make it shine like new. | ||
| Post# 426721 , Reply# 12 6/9/2020 at 18:18 (1,410 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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| Post# 426820 , Reply# 13 6/11/2020 at 17:40 (1,408 days old) by broomvac (N/A) | ||
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Thank you, huskyvacs!
My genuine Hoover Style 190 belts arrived earlier than expected, so I installed one and a genuine Hoover HEPA type A bag and took some pics of the final result. This vac runs smooth! I’m very pleased. | ||
| Post# 426821 , Reply# 14 6/11/2020 at 19:05 (1,408 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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Post# 426854 , Reply# 15 6/12/2020 at 11:21 (1,407 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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Looks "Factory Direct" | ||
| Post# 426873 , Reply# 16 6/12/2020 at 21:54 (1,407 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.) | ||
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Something tells me that this vacuum's 2nd life is going to be much better than it's first, just a wild hunch,am I right? Great job! | ||
| Post# 427258 , Reply# 17 6/19/2020 at 09:12 (1,400 days old) by Rowdy141 (United Kingdom) | ||
I use Abro® Headlight Restoration Polish.
It takes for ever to see any improvement by hand. You really need an electric buffing wheel. T-Cut can remove deeper scratches. But it isn't suitable for all plastics! You have to test an inconspicuous area first. Roger (IBAISAIC on YouTube) recommends using a plastic restoration polish designed for perspex aircraft windscreens. It removes the dirt and oxidized layer, then fills the tiny fine scratches. Drying hard and clear. In the USA you have a product called "Mirror Glaze". It looks like your equivalent to the aircraft polish. | ||
| Post# 427359 , Reply# 18 6/19/2020 at 22:30 (1,400 days old) by bnsd60m9200 (Akron OH) | ||
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| Post# 427362 , Reply# 19 6/19/2020 at 22:48 (1,400 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah) | ||
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Wax
The mirror glaze I believe looks like the meguiars cleaner wax. I also have mother's instant detailer. It give plastic a nice shine. I use it on the dash and other surfaces.
Les The second picture is right side up. You got to live auto correct. | ||
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