Headlight clean up

[UWF97]

I am not sure I can get my headlights "brand new" looking or not but I wet sanded them from 600 to 1000 to 1200 to remove all scratches and haze. They are ultra smooth but almost look hazy and not clear or new. Can I do anything to make them clear up? I would think I could do something but not sure what. Help? Thank you in advance.

[Murr1525]

Re: Headlight clean up

You will need to use something like PlastX, Ult. Compound, etc after the sanding to remove the sanding marks.

May be possible by hand, or may need to have some kind of machine/drill attatchment.

[UWF97]

Tried a bit of Plast x. Do I need to let it sit?

I have no idea. Better at keeping rest of car clean. Not really in the know with headlights

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Tried a bit of Plast x. Do I need to let it sit?

I have no idea. Better at keeping rest of car clean. Not really in the know with headlights

Meguiar's Quik Tips Video Series - Restoring Neglected Headlights

[Detailing by M]

You need to buff these to a shine with a compound and a mech. Then paint the with Headlight Renew Dr.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Headlight clean up

Was 1200 grit sanding the last thing you did? If so, and if done properly, then the lenses should have a very uniform, frosted look to them similar to what you see in the image below:



At this point you've got a ways to go still. We highly recommend that you finish sanding at 3000 grit and then buff out the lenses with an appropriate compound and pad. That could mean our PlastX and the wool pad that comes in our HD Headlight Restoration Kit (that wool pad attaches to a drill) or you could use Ultimate Compound and a 4" foam pad on a DA or rotary buffer if you already have one of those tools.

[hypergolica]

Re: Headlight clean up

Now that you have wet sanded them they now need to be buffed out with compounds and protected with a good wax. This is something I do by hand but others may prefer to use machines. I myself don't use any specialized headlight restoration compounds. I simply use paint compounds and some elbow grease. After restoring them keep them well protected with wax. Headlights take a real beating because they are made of relatively soft plastic, they are hammered by sunlight and they take a serious pelting from road grime, small road rocks and road sludge driven into them at high speeds. Headlights take just as much if not more work to keep them looking new than paint does inch for inch.

[foilr]

Re: Headlight clean up - UC Rocks!

I took some pretty rough headlights from this:


To this:


Using UC on the DAPS with a burgundy pad. Three passes and then covered with ULW.
No sanding and it mad a huge difference.