Headlight restoration kit

[agp423]

Hey everyone,

I plan on restoring the headlights on my mom's car in a week or two and have a a question - does Maguire's Headlight restoration kit require a polisher?

Thanks

[bene vita]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

Meguiar's Web site said that it works with a drill.

Following is a link. If it does not work, just click on the Meguiar's logo at the top of the screen, go to "products" then "plactic"

http://www.meguiars.com/estore/product_list.cfm?sectionname=Consumer%20(Meguiar%27s%20Brand)%3EClear%20Plastic%20Care&sectionID=15101

Have Fun.

Harry

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

A drill is all that's required to use our Headlight Restoration Kit - preferably one that plugs into the wall as opposed to a cordless drill. Most cordless units lack the torque and power needed to perform a headlight correction, and most people tend to be waaay too timid when using a drill in this application. You aren't going to damage anything here, so don't be shy about using plenty of speed and a fair bit of pressure. It's probably not a bad idea to use some painters masking tape to mask off any painted body panels directly adjacent to the lenses though.

[agp423]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

Hmm that's a problem... I have no drill either... I remember watching some video of someone using this kid with a sandpaper instead of drill/polisher, will that work? If I have to have a drill/polisher, I'd rather buy a polisher because I can use that for other stuff as well.

[cnfowler]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

Hmm that's a problem... I have no drill either... I remember watching some video of someone using this kid with a sandpaper instead of drill/polisher, will that work? If I have to have a drill/polisher, I'd rather buy a polisher because I can use that for other stuff as well.

And you have no use for a drill? You can pick up a corded variable speed drill for less than $30. I've never seen a polisher that cheap.

Colin

[ColonelCash]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

I like the corded Ryobi at Home Depot. Will cost about $30. IMO, drills are far more useful than a polisher for tasks around the house. Also, I like the 3M Headlight restore kit. It has sanding discs and a small backing plate included.

[agp423]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

Actually, just found a drill. The 3M kit looks a bit more legit too with all the sanding.

[StadiumDetail]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

Actually, just found a drill. The 3M kit looks a bit more legit too with all the sanding.

the sanding helps a lot, and will get the headlight looking like new, just don't sand everytime since it isn't always needed.

Speaking from experience, a corded drill is a must. On cordless ones the batteries lose peak power very quickly and the batteries die fast.

so don't be shy about using plenty of speed and a fair bit of pressure.

x2

[tlsole]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

I use a corded drill for headlights and wet sand if necessary. However i do notice scratches from the sanding, i use 2000 grit, maybe i should jump up to 3000? Or maybe i should spend more time sanding with the 2000 grit? Other then that, it usually comes out really clear!

[StadiumDetail]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

I use a corded drill for headlights and wet sand if necessary. However i do notice scratches from the sanding, i use 2000 grit, maybe i should jump up to 3000? Or maybe i should spend more time sanding with the 2000 grit? Other then that, it usually comes out really clear!

It is possible that you are getting debris under the paper when you are sanding, grinding that into the lights and causing deeper scratches than 2000. You may know this already, but here are a few rules:
1) prep is key, like anything in the detail world. Clean the surface of all contaminates first.
2) Be sure to sand in a uniform direction, don't do from left to right to up and down, the more uniform the scratches the easier it will be to polish out. I wet sand, a local body shop here does it dry with great results. I perfer to wet sand so the water will wash away the bits that have just been removed.
3) If you are noticing sanding scratches, you can either use a more aggressive pad or polish, or jump up to 3000 like you were thinking. The drill only does so much.

[agp423]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

I'm hijacking my own thread here:

Break dust covers up my wheels within a few miles of driving, are there any wax equivalent for the wheel that can prevent or delay this?

[Still Learnin]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

i wish meguiars just sold that little wool pad for the drill... !!! anyone got 1 that they wanna give up?!?!?!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

I'm hijacking my own thread here:

Break dust covers up my wheels within a few miles of driving, are there any wax equivalent for the wheel that can prevent or delay this?

Nope. Some OEM brake pads dust like crazy - Mercedes and BMW among the most serious offenders - so all you really can do is clean them regularly with a quick detail spray and some older microfibers dedicated to wheel work. That, or swap out to ceramic brake pads as soon as possible.

From personal experience, the brakes on my Crossfire (Mercedes SLK in disguise!) would turn the front wheels almost black in 100 miles. A swap to ceramic pads all around fixed the issue, and even after a weekend of flogging on the track the wheels just start to look dirty. In day to day driving, they hardly ever have to be wiped down any more.

[speed3blackmica]

Re: Headlight restoration kit

Nope. Some OEM brake pads dust like crazy - Mercedes and BMW among the most serious offenders - so all you really can do is clean them regularly with a quick detail spray and some older microfibers dedicated to wheel work. That, or swap out to ceramic brake pads as soon as possible.

From personal experience, the brakes on my Crossfire (Mercedes SLK in disguise!) would turn the front wheels almost black in 100 miles. A swap to ceramic pads all around fixed the issue, and even after a weekend of flogging on the track the wheels just start to look dirty. In day to day driving, they hardly ever have to be wiped down any more.

I second what mike said, my car comes with a big brake setup from the factory, the only way to keep them clean is to regulary clean them, and since i wash my car regularly, its never a problem, but switching to ceramic pads is a must if you want minimal brake dust. EBC makes really good pads, and there not even that expensive as you might think..but ceramic is the way to go for minimal brake dust..