You can also apply 3M Paint Protection Film (PPF) after you polish them, for a little more UV protection.

quote:

Originally posted by ARman:
Whatever you use to polish them up with, clearcoat them after with a UV protective made for plastics/headlights.

I did mine two years ago and they still look like new. I used Meguiar's headlight coating #G27804.

https://www.meguiars.com/sites...10.png?itok=AmhoRtvC


There are others, but the Meguir's is what I used and have experience with.

If you don't clearcoat them with UV blocking clearcoat they will yellow up fast, like around 6 mouths under a year.

ARman

I thank you for that information.

I have done this about 20 times for friends and family.

I use a 1200 grit, 1500 grit, 2000 grit wet-dry sand paper and wet sand them. Then I use griots fast cutting compound followed by griots polishing compound and a 3inch orbital polisher.

That restores them to perfection. Then I clear coat them with a 2k clear coat. Sand that with 2k grit, then polish the clear coat.

It takes me about 45 min per head light.

No matter what you do, if you don't clear coat them they will yellow again. The clear coat adds uv protection.

start


finish

quote:

Originally posted by VictimNoMore:
You can also apply 3M Paint Protection Film (PPF) after you polish them, for a little more UV protection.

I had that put on mine new from the factory in hopes it would help delay the deterioration, plus I wax over that.

That looks very good Nickelsig. Curious, where does one find those super fine grit papers? Are they carried by auto parts stores? Also, the hazing is across the top of the lens, should I do the entire lens?

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
That looks very good Nickelsig. Curious, where does one find those super fine grit papers? Are they carried by auto parts stores? Also, the hazing is across the top of the lens, should I do the entire lens?

It’s cheaper at Lowe’s or Home Despot...right in the paint section, it’s wet/dry paper

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I've done a number of headlights at this point for other folks, and have reached the point where I think its really a fools errand. Grinding on a headlight whether using fine sandpaper or some other abrasive removes any remaining UV protection on the headlight, and they seem to cloud over even quicker the second time. My recommendation to others going forward is going to be to simply replace them as egregore noted. Replacement headlights are available for decent pricing, and they provide a much longer useful life than trying to buff cloudy lights into submission.

Agreed. You'll be repolishing frequently once they go.

After polishing, I apply this when finished and about every 3 or 4 months after. Never had to re-polish one yet. It can also be applied to protect new headlights.

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiar...h%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1

I used the Sylvania kit from the auto parts store last year. A definite need is use the sealant for long term protection.

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
That looks very good Nickelsig. Curious, where does one find those super fine grit papers? Are they carried by auto parts stores? Also, the hazing is across the top of the lens, should I do the entire lens?

I do the entire plastic lens. I got all the tools and time set aside for the job, why half ass it.


You can get the paper at Home depot or lowes, even walmart auto department. It's maybe 5 bucks for the variety pack, just make sure its the higher grit assortment not the lower. You an start with the higher grit if your nervous, but you'll quickly figure out the lower grit is needed to remove the material that has been ruined by sun or scratched from road debris.

You have to be slow an smooth with sanding, I use a foam sanding block so that there are no deep sanded spots from using your hand directly. You can find those pretty much any auto store even amazon for 5 bucks. Also you don't have to go crazy with the sanding, slow and steady, consistent strokes. Don't be worried when it looks worse then it was after initial sanding, that is normal.

You also don't have to use the polishes I use, there are cheaper alternatives like meguires at walmart.

BTW this all works on windsheild and glass too just requires more elbow grease.

Make sure you use a 2k clearcoat about 20 bucks on amazon. It will have a punch on the bottom that you have to break the seal for the hardener to mix with the clear coat. If not your just doing this again next year.

The orbital polisher is what makes it perfectly clear, something that didn't come across in the finish picture due to the glare off of the reflective piece around the light. The decent ones are 100 dollar range but the good thing about them is once you have one, you can restore the paint on your car easily. I use them every time I wash a car, it's much easier then using wax and the protectants last 4-6 months as opposed to 1-2 months with wax.

If your gonna do this just once, you'll most likely be better served to buy new aftermarket lenses. Your looking at spending 50-200 bucks depending on polisher. But if you have family who need it done, if your interested in polishing your car when you wash it, then this is cost effective.

1500/2000 grit sandpaper. Wet sand them with alittle dish soap in the water. Them use a buffing wheel with some buffing compound and soon they'll look like new.

I just tried this today. I’ll see if it’s as good as the Meguiar’s spray. Hopefully it will be because using newspaper and masking off a good portion of the front end is a hassle.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Quic...+%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1

Is these clear coatings ok to use on new headlights to prevent clouding?

quote:

Originally posted by 9mmnut:
Is these clear coatings ok to use on new headlights to prevent clouding?

Yes. Make sure the headlights are clean though. I clean them really well with Windex and then an alcohol wipe.

Its good to know there are several different products to choose from. I am writing some of these down.

quote:

Originally posted by 9mmnut:
Is these clear coatings ok to use on new headlights to prevent clouding?

It's already on it. It's years of sand from driving and sunshine that slowly deteriorates it. No need to do it to newer lens' because it's already there.

quote:

Originally posted by Nickelsig229:
It's already on it. It's years of sand from driving and sunshine that slowly deteriorates it. No need to do it to newer lens' because it's already there.

I’ve seen newer cars headlights start to turn yellow or cloud after 1.5-2 years down here in the Georgia sun. It won’t hurt the headlights at all to coat them with the products I listed above.

Toss everything you learned above. Go buy a large tube of Flitz.

Flitz and a cotton rage will easily and quickly take the haze off and has many other uses so you are not stuck with a specialized car polish.

I have used it for years on vintage plastic watch crystals. Originally designed for polishing silver and gold. I clean my watches with and old tooth brush and Flitz, then rinse with water and wipe dry with cotton pads. Every watch, from wife's two-tone Rolex to all my watches.

Also works great on brass and any other polished metal. Better and easier than Brasso from the service days.

.

^^^. That might work for cleaning them, but without UV protection they’ll be yellow or hazy again in a few months.

You could try insect spary with DEET. Put some on a cloth and rub a small area to try