Headlight Correction, without the drill

[kpowell911]

Hi, My front headlights are starting to cloud up, they arent too bad, but they do let the car down. I've tried to bring them back with some Polish I had around the place (Auto Finesse) but thats not made much difference. I heard good things about the 3m Kit, but it requires a drill. Im not sure what RPM my drill is, and Im a little scared to use such an aggressive approach as my lights are no where near as bad as the youtube video's make out?

This is what I was looking at:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-Headli...ssories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item2a2ce0b04d

Are there any "by hand" options which offer the same results?

Thanks

 

[Chi]

Cant you just buy the same grade paper as the kit and do it by hand, prob cheaper but hard work..

 

[Matt e]

i used my dads dewalt 18v drill and they came up fine and im sure thats more powerful than needed

 

[kpowell911]

I've got a mains drill? Only a B&Q's own brand thing lol

 

[chris_p]

Wet and dry them (not too aggressive) and polish them up by hand. They're plastic, they'll come up fine.

 

[Gav_r26]

I used that kit with a £10 Homebase mains only drill and it was fine. Only used the kit for the 3000 grit pad and polishing though. Used 500 grit paper and 1500 then 2500 wet and dry with plenty of water and found that easier and quicker. 1 hour to recover both from a state that would have been an MOT Fail.

 

[kpowell911]

Higher the grit, more abrasive?

 

[Gav_r26]

Higher the grit the less abrasive. Start with a low number and work up. Need less time with the rougher as it cuts quicker, so i just wipped it over with the 500 really. then did more as i stepped up each grade. Would recomend the kit though, just the rougher stuff scared me on the drill as if you stop on one bit too long you burn and gouge it a bit.

 

[kpowell911]

Higher the grit the less abrasive. Start with a low number and work up. Need less time with the rougher as it cuts quicker, so i just wipped it over with the 500 really. then did more as i stepped up each grade. Would recomend the kit though, just the rougher stuff scared me on the drill as if you stop on one bit too long you burn and gouge it a bit.

Thats what Im worried about, mine arent too bad, might skip the first stage of it

 

[CrippsCorner]

I fucked up with the drill and am currently working my way repairing it by hand lol... to be it looks great now. I spent about a fiver on eBay on different grades from 1000-2500 and spent one hour on one light. Oh and plenty of Scratch-X!

 

[McGherkin]

Wet'n'dry, 1800, 2000, 2500 grit. I went to 3000 grit too.

Then polish either by hand or by polisher with Megs Scratch X.

Done.

 

[Gav_r26]

Wet'n'dry, 1800, 2000, 2500 grit. I went to 3000 grit too.

Then polish either by hand or by polisher with Megs Scratch X.

Done.

Can't argue with this. As I say I did my second one with 500 lightly then 1500 followed by 2500 wet and dry by hand, then finish with 3000 and polish using drill as I don't have a polisher.

The drill or anything coarser than 3000 is so easy to get wrong!

 

[Gav_r26]

Thats what Im worried about, mine arent too bad, might skip the first stage of it

Give it a try. If you find your using 2500 grit and the scratches aren't getting finer use a grade coarser.

 

[Nathanwilliams772]

I'm doing mine but mine is all by hand and I've got 1500 and 2500 wet and dry then gunna put loads of megs scratch X on it to bring it up again. Hopefully it all works out otherwise an expensive mistake

 

[mrc300]

Wet N Dry 1500,2500,3000 (if desired). If they are particulary oxidised and cloudy start with a slightly lower Grit. Then polish with Meguairs Plast-X. Thats my plan


http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forum...-PlastX-Headlight-Restoration-(Step-by-w-Pics)

 

[JD]

I do love some of these replies. 3000 if desired... 500 grade up... Utterly hilarious.

If a job's worth doing...

 

[kpowell911]

I do love some of these replies. 3000 if desired... 500 grade up... Utterly hilarious.

If a job's worth doing...

Elaborate lol?

 

[JD]

500 is far too coarse. But people use it as they see results more quickly.

3000 and 4000 should be used to remove the marks imparted by 2000 grit.

People expect immediate results, hence the "botch job" 3M kit sells so well.

 

[ben lee]

done mine by hand 1500 wet and dry (wet with water) then used g3 look spot on didnt take much work.

 

[kpowell911]

500 is far too coarse. But people use it as they see results more quickly.

3000 and 4000 should be used to remove the marks imparted by 2000 grit.

People expect immediate results, hence the "botch job" 3M kit sells so well.

So what should I start with? 2000, work upto 3000, then 4000, then Polish with Scratch x?

 

[helloimjammie]

I did 1200-1500-2000 then used scratch x and super polish resin. Allot of elbow grease and water

 

[Ryanj]

I bought the 3m kit but my drill packed in so just used the 3m stuff and did it by hand. My headlights were horrendous and they came up pretty well!

 

[kpowell911]

I did 1200-1500-2000 then used scratch x and super polish resin. Allot of elbow grease and water View attachment 99417

Cheers, so you work UP the grades not down?

 

[helloimjammie]

Cheers, so you work UP the grades not down?

Yeah so go from 1200 up to 2000 use a lot of water, and make sure to rinse the headlight off every so often because of the gunk that comes off it, makes it easier to see where you need to focus more on and work more on PM me if you need to mate will be glad to help you

 

[scotty10]

How many packs of each grade will i need to buy and do i just dunk the paper into water every so often