Headlight correction without a PC Polisher?

[JMR]

Good stuff. No point doing all that work for them not to be sealed against the weather/UV that causes the damage in the first place.

I was hesitant as to how much to wet n dry to be honest for fear of removing the UV coating, but I'm reasonably confident that its not an actual coating, more of a stabiliser that is added to the plastic before moulding.

 

[Richyy182]

Silly question - how you do this without scratching the surrounding paint ?

 

[Fletcher]

Silly question - how you do this without scratching the surrounding paint ?

Tape up around the headlight/s.

 

[Joe#]

I'd do it with the bonnet open too.

 

[richy22]

and then get polish splatter all in the engine bay and have to then clean that

 

[Mike_08]

and then get polish splatter all in the engine bay and have to then clean that

I've had to go round and clean all my engine due to making this mistake. Lol

 

[Ireedyink]

Trying this wednesday. Mine are really bad so gna have to sort a polishing fitting for the drill. Will post pictures.

 

[helloimjammie]

What are people using to seal them afterwards? Is there any UV protection sealant?

 

[Cameron2443]

What are people using to seal them afterwards? Is there any UV protection sealant?

any super fine polish will seal the headlight and help prevent it from clouding over in the future

 

[helloimjammie]

Brilliant cheers bud

 

[Amberlamps]

Anyone used the Novus scratch remover plastic polisher stuff for the headlights? A mate lent me his pack but dunno wether to use it or just wet and dry them.

 

[JD]

any super fine polish will seal the headlight and help prevent it from clouding over in the future

Eh? Where do polish and seal provide the same outcome?

 

[yellowbelly]

Eh? Where do polish and seal provide the same outcome?

Duh didnt you know that JD, its in the same way heat cools things down and water dries things.

 

[JD]

Duh didnt you know that JD, its in the same way heat cools things down and water dries things.

Lol, saw you'd replied and was betting on an AIO product smartarse comment

Perhaps I'm out of touch...!

 

[yellowbelly]

Lol, saw you'd replied and was betting on an AIO product smartarse comment

Perhaps I'm out of touch...!

I may be predictable but I know that a polish is the same as a wax/sealant lol

 

[JD]

I may be predictable but I know that a polish is the same as a wax/sealant lol

Nice slip

 

[yellowbelly]

Nice slip

slip?

 

[Tony Hunter]

I spent Sunday afternoon doing mine. Looks so much better.

 

[JD]

slip?

You stated you knew they were the same. I'm guessing there was meant to be a "n't"

 

[Richyy182]

I'll pay someone to do mine - anyone keen and in Kent ? I'll make lots of tea

 

[R-Sport.]

I can do yours one sunday- ^^
I would use wet & dry & my polisher

 

[chaski]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread!

Took out a few hours of my weekend today and had a crack at doing this. I don't have a DA/rotary polisher, so it was all done by hand over the best part of 4 hours.. but I'm massively pleased with the results. I used 1200 & 2500 grit Wet & Dry sand paper from Halfrauds and about half a bottle of Megs Scratch X and a random spray bottle for the water!

​Not the best photos as taken on a camera phone, sorry!

 

[JD]

For the attention of all those that say the 3M kit is fine;

Hi all,

Just bought some secondhand lights for my car since I had a go with the 3M kit on my old ones and they came out, Well.. Pap really!

I think the sand paper was just to coarse and can still see a lot of scratches on the lights when you look closely. These secondhand ones have the normal hazing on top and a few scratches etc so im wanting to tidy them up to make them look clean and fresh!

Can anyone tell me a good process to do them and where to buy the products for a good price instead of buying the 3M kit.

Ive got a drill with the attachment to put the sand paper on to make it a bit easier than doing it by hand

Just want to know what sort of grade of sandpaper i will need and how much of it etc. Oh and a polish/compound aswell!

Thanks in advance

I rest my case.

 

[Jordanb29]

For the attention of all those that say the 3M kit is fine;



I rest my case.

Yeah if i was any of you who are wanting to do your headlights, dont use the 3m Kit. Only unless you are only after getting a result that you can go 'well its alright'. I admit the 3M kit for money is ok. But for a better result go with a more finer grade sandpaper which will not leave scratches when you look close. I mean tbh i didnt expect much from the kit for it being pretty cheap and it lived upto its name perfectly. Its good for a cheap fix. But not mint by any means

 

[snowey172]

Hi all
Think I have the start of this hazing effect on my head lamps I tried some g3 with A cloth then polish but it didn't make much difference I was scared if putting to much pressure on the lamp tho or are they pretty sturdy. Here's a picture after I had spent about 10 mins on it. Sorry is just a iPhone picture I don't really use a desktop anymore. You can see it near the lower part of the picture.


Hope this picture works.

Would using g3 but putting more effort behind it get out these marks?

Thanks
Chris

 

[JD]

I had the start of this that has appeared over the last few months (since C4 wore off). I took some decent cutting polish and solved it by hand. Yet more proof you don't need a drill or the ridiculous 3M kit.

 

[*Wilson*]

Hi, i need some help on this topic i will be doing mine this week and i will be using the Das-6 pro da polisher. I'm fine with the wet and dry my questions are can i just use megs scratch x v2 then ag srp or should i use a cutting compound as well? Also what size backing plate and pads do you guys recommend?

 

[scotty10]

How many sheets of wet and dry should i need or per side

And when polishing up what should i be using cloth/buffer wise

 

[riz]

Are you supposed to soak the wet and dry overnight?

 

[CrippsCorner]

What the f**k? No.

 

[Yellow Dave]

Are you supposed to soak the wet and dry overnight?

Soak them for a little while prior to using as it softens the paper and helps move over shapes easier

 

[MiseryStreak]

I did my headlights yesterday using the Meguiar's kit:
http://www.halfords.com/motoring/cl...s/meguiars-one-step-headlight-restoration-kit

It wasn't cheap at £22 but the only one that Halfords had. It took about an hour on each headlight using the sanding pads, then the polishing pad on the drill. They're not perfect but a million times better than they were, and I can actually see where I'm driving at night now, which is always a bonus.

Before:


After:

 

[cat171]

They look good to me.

 

[Knuckles]

Good effort, but halfords stock packs of wet and dry too, 200-2500 and some g3 scratch remover and jobs a good un.

 

[cloud9376]

Quixx headlight restoration for me comes with 1500 2000 3000 a cutting compound and uv protect sealant all for under a tenner delivered

Before

After

 

[markclio]

top job, just had my wheels refurbed and the alloy wheel man mopped them for free.... result...

http://www.autoscuffsolutions.co.uk/

 

[w33 brl]

There my attempt using a das6 pro for the first time using

1.800,1500,2500 grit wet and dry
2.chemical guys V34 with yellow hex pad
3.chemical guys V36 with green hex pad
4.chemical guys V38 with black hex pad

Then sealed with AF tough coat ( only sealant I have)

Then a layer of AF essence

Drivers side

Passengers side

Very pleased with the outcome even tho there not 100% but the car is 14yr old

Let me know what you think and if there's anything a should do different

 

[Coby.]

They look very good, I've no idea on the abrasiveness of the CG polishes but outcome looks decent

 

[w33 brl]

They look very good, I've no idea on the abrasiveness of the CG polishes but outcome looks decent

Thanks....the V38 was like milk lol it just ran all over the pad but it is there finishing polish

 

[terryc101]

Finally got around to sorting mine at the weekend, they were both awful! Only remembered to take a before pic once I'd done one already oops!

Process was:
1500
2000
2500
3000
Menz 203S on a white hex
PO85 on a black hex
Sealed with G5

PhotoGrid_1429206421548 by terryclarke13, on Flickr