Headlight restoration part two...

[CrippsCorner]

Okay I did this last year with whatever I could hunt down at Halfords, bit of a bodge job but they actually came up looking really nice. However a few months later they were looking a bit crap again so knew they would need another going at. I kept reading how good the official 3M kit was on here so thought I'd get one. After about 90 minutes hard work, I'd say they kinda look worse than when I started :quiet:

Left...

Right...

What have I done wrong this time!? Followed the booklet that came with it, and as I said, when I did this last year they looked good after. They're definitely still 'cleaner' this time, but as you can see, there's lots of scratches now. What can I do to rectify this!?

 

[Bluebeard]

I've never used a 3m kit, but i'm assuming it is something along the lines of different grade wet and dry paper, polishing, then buffing?

If so, i'd say that you haven't gone through the grades properly or haven't spent long enough on the polishing stage.

You certainly haven't killed them, they're fixable so don't worry.

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

f**k the kit off and go back to hand.

get some 1000 wet and dry and sand them back to a complete dull finish, work your way up from 1000-1200-1500-2000-2500-3000 or4000 and then compound them.

looks to me you created far to much heat and using the edge of the tool too look like that.

 

[easym5]

I used the 3m kit the other day and they came up like new,as said you may have applied too much pressure/heat ?

 

[CrippsCorner]

The most embarrassing thing I used to do very similar to this on one million pound boats for a living... oh well, must have lost my touch somewhat. I'll take your suggestion Raz and try by hand I think next time!