Headlight Makeover

[dangle]

Here's the makeover of the headlights on a Nissan Maxima, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/6991489157_536fed8e9f_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7049/6845361960_d47018ddce_z.jpg

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6991491211_8b797f2988_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6845363982_a53c37d9a0_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6991493179_61e07276a8_z.jpg

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/6991494701_a0a4cc7455_z.jpg

[davey g-force]

That's insane! Nice work man!

I can't believe how trashed the headlights were to start with - almost looks like they had a light coat of spray paint on them.

[BillE]

OUTSTANDING!

What was your process?

Bill

[dangle]

That's insane! Nice work man!

I can't believe how trashed the headlights were to start with - almost looks like they had a light coat of spray paint on them.

Thanks, it took some work, but they turned out great. The drivers side headlight was a used replacement light due to an accident. When I received it, it was pretty badly oxidized. I cleaned it up with PlastX, but 2 years later.... it looked like it did in the before pictures! Extremely oxidized.

OUTSTANDING!

What was your process?

Bill

With these lights, I began wetsanding with 500 grit, then 800, 1000, 1500, 2000. Wiped headlight down with Mineral Spirits, then applied a Spar Urethane/Mineral Spirits mixture for UV protection.

[davey g-force]

With these lights, I began wetsanding with 500 grit, then 800, 1000, 1500, 2000. Wiped headlight down with Mineral Spirits, then applied a Spar Urethane/Mineral Spirits mixture for UV protection.

So you went straight from wetsanding to LSP? No compounding?

[dangle]

So you went straight from wetsanding to LSP? No compounding?

Correct, no compounding. The sanding marks leave a "gritty" surface for the mixture to adhere to.

[davey g-force]

Oh, I see. Spar Urethane is actually a clear protective coating formulated for timber!

Well, whatever works I guess :)

[dangle]

Oh, I see. Spar Urethane is actually a clear protective coating formulated for timber!

Well, whatever works I guess :)

Correct, it is a "clear gloss" that dries hard, protects the plastic from UV rays and lasts years...not weeks or months.

Any of the other "headlight kits" available to the common consumer offer "band-aid" solutions with their "headlight protectants"...

:doublethumbsup2

[STRIFE]

nice work, would plastX via DA remove that heavy haze?
btw....how the heck does anyone allow that to happen to their cars?

[dangle]

nice work, would plastX via DA remove that heavy haze?
btw....how the heck does anyone allow that to happen to their cars?

You'd be hard pressed to get any sort of desirable results for any length of time using a DA + compound or PlastX. The problem is the lack of "bite" in a DA pad to "clean" out all of the oxidation on the headlight lens in the condition that this headlight was in... hence the use of aggressive wet sanding.

Now if you want a temporary fix and are satisfied with ~80% correction and continual "messing" with your headlights to keep them presentable... yes.

[Fast_Eddie]

They look brand new, what a difference from the before. Great work!

[dangle]

They look brand new, what a difference from the before. Great work!
Thanks!

I offer this service with a $50 price tag and 1 year guarantee... and people have still complained about price!

[MrCLRider]

Those look great! Worth $50 imo. Are you applying that product with a brush? Does mixing it with the mineral spirits help level it out like that? Is it a couple thin coats. Thank you.

[dangle]

Those look great! Worth $50 imo. Are you applying that product with a brush? Does mixing it with the mineral spirits help level it out like that? Is it a couple thin coats. Thank you.

The product is applied with a Scott's Shop Towel (the blue ones). The mineral spirits allows the mixture to be workable, but the mixture is self-leveling to a certain degree. Only one coat is applied.

[ronniejay]

bookmark.

[Scott's 62]

Wow what a difference makes the rest of the car look just as clean. Good job

[Rafael Rakyan]

Yesterday I had a free headlight restoration from my friend, using the Headlight Restoration Kit..

Based on your experience, after wetsanding the headlight, can I use DA with 4" woolpad + Ultimate Compound to clean the light haze from 3000 grit? Thanks