Headlight polishing
- Thread starter Jamesvinar
- Start date
Yup, as you can see in that video. The kit was cheap and easy to use. A year later when I sold my Mark the headlights still looked the same after using the kit.
Jamesvinar
New member
Hm, I'm wondering If i can send one of you guys my headlights for some polishing, I'd pay for everything of course, I just don't trust myself on this fragile of a part lol
Jamesvinar
New member
Here's some good pics of the damage that was there before and what i caused
Jamesvinar
New member
I believe so. I cant feel anything on either side though
What should i go at it with 800 1000 then 2000?
What should i go at it with 800 1000 then 2000?
In the first pic, near your wrist, does it look like little diamonds in the lense? Look at it with a flashlight shining through the lense.
Jamesvinar
New member
Yes it does
They are there to stay. Mostly diamond cracks happen where the heat of the bulb hits. With the lights off, and a polished lense, they'll look great. You'll see them with the lights on, but I don't think it hurts the light output. Where are you located?
Jamesvinar
New member
Eh im okay with them, as long as those swirls are gone. Theyre near the back by the turn signal so its not really noticable
Jamesvinar
New member
Not sure on that one, they were like this when i got the car. Im hoping to sand them this weekend, still dont know what grit to start with
I'd start with 400 wet, and work my way up to 2K - 2.5K. Do the outside only. Once you sand the inside, it's hard to get it smooth (lots of work). Make sure you use a sanding block. The oval one (pic) works great, got it a pep boys. After 400 you should be able to see if the swirls are coming out. The goal is to get the lense as smooth as possible. I've sanded up to 7K, but 5K was enough, the more sanding, the less polishing. I'll put up some pictures of steps and you can see what I mean. I'll pm you my ph # and I can run you through it.
View attachment 1#1 lense sanded 2500 gritt
#2 After many coats of polishing compound
#3 After wax
#4 finished
I use a 6" DA polisher on lowest speed
Don't get the lense hot
Attachments
Jamesvinar
New member
Thank you for all the info! Ive got a good idea of the sand and polish procedure but ill be sure to give you a call if i need anything.
Im also wondering if i should turn this one into a projector mockup since its a spare
Im also wondering if i should turn this one into a projector mockup since its a spare
Jamesvinar
New member
I did the sanding last night and a coat of polish. Didnt really help much sadly, ill have pics when i get home from work tonight
Jamesvinar
New member
Photobucket messed up the order and but I did my best to realign it. Sanded with 800 1000 and 2000 grit
It looks like you still have some coating on them. Pics with paper towels in the center show it most. pic of what products you use. A foam flexable sanding block is what I use. Looks like it needs more sanding. Polishing takes a bunch of coats. I've sanded to 7000 grit, and it took about 5-6 times with polishing compound. I do Turtle compound, then a few times with Meguiars ultimate compound, it's a finer gritt compound. pic of what I use. It takes a lot of time.Just use the SYLVANIA Headlight Restoration Kit, it cost less than $20 with amazon prime and comes with every thing you need sans some extra gloves, I showed my results above, it works great, just like the video shows. You need an activator to soften the plastic then the UV coating, bot are key for getting good results without all the effort.
https://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-HRK...1&keywords=SYLVANIA+Headlight+Restoration+Kit
https://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-HRK...1&keywords=SYLVANIA+Headlight+Restoration+Kit