Could use some advice on headlight restoring :)

[HungarianHunter]

Hey guys,

I decided to restore my headlight lenses, cuz they were beginning to turn yellow and look crappy.

I found a tutorial that said:

Clean
Wet Sand with 1000
Wet Sand with 1200
Rub with Orange Glo hardwood polish

So I did that, and they looked amazing... until this morning, when they were all fogged up again from all of the sanding. The orange glo makes them completely clear and nice, but apparently it just evaporates or something, leaving the heads full of tiny scratches from sanding.

So, my question is:

Do you guys know of any good polishing compound that I can use to get the scratches out of my headlights? Cuz right now they have that frosted effect that I'm sure you guys have seen.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[02redgalant]

plastic x and then a layr of wax

[carl3g]

They have kits designed just for head light restorations. Google "head light restoration kits" and you should see stuff from 3M and Meguiars. Or you can head down to your local pep boys or autozone and they should have them. They go for around $20-$22.

BTW, I have personally used the 3M kit on my gf jetta. The more sanding you do on each step, the end results will come out better.

[pinoyesv6]

i usually go with 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, rubbing compound, polishing compound and then good ole car wax.

its easier to use the compound with a machine but i've always done it by hand.

[Joshua42007]

i usually go with 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, rubbing compound, polishing compound and then good ole car wax.

its easier to use the compound with a machine but i've always done it by hand.



If you have some really deep scratches or scuffs, the 1000 grit paper might not get them out. ive used 700 & 800 grit then Id go with 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, rubbing compound, polishing compound and then good ole car wax :cool:

[HungarianHunter]

Alright cool guys, thanks.

So the consensus seems to be more sanding, with finer grits, then applying a rubbing compound/polishing compound/wax?

Any recommendations on specific compounds/waxes?


Carl, I've seen those kits, but I was trying to save some money. Looks like by the time I'm done I won't have :P

[G-spot]

mother's clear plastic restoration wax or equivalent

[Stewi]

Yeah definetly go up to at least 1500 grit, 2000 if possible. 3M makes a polishing compound specifically designed to remove scratches from headlights and tail lights. Check with your local auto body supply or an online auto body supply to order it.

*ninja edit*

Looks like this....

http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd-3m-39010-headlight-lens-polish.cfm

[HungarianHunter]

Awesome, thanks guys!

[mrg7243]

i used steel wool on mine, at first they hazed up but then cleared up better than before, though not amazing clear but clearer just a light to moderate pressure. I did it on my fogs, and my fogs now have better light output than before

[shovelman]

toothpaste.

[troubled4g64t]

one of the muscle car episodes show how to do just using a real gritty tooth paste and a small buffer pad and it looked close to oem brand new the other used several stages of wet sand and the polishing compound

[Da_Prodigy]

I forgot where I saw/heard this an avocado will work pretty well too.

[HungarianHunter]

I'ma try toothpaste! Sweet.

[99galantES]

Yeah I seen that episode they used toothpaste on one head and mothers on the other and the both work good but using a machine would be better than by hand