Headlight Lens Sctratches

I

iheartfx

Member
Location
dallas, tx
I just opened my lights to paint black and my outer clear front lenses are pretty horrible and scuffed. I tried polishing but it's marginally better. wondered if anyone had any clear outers sitting around. thanks!
 
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1. car soap
2. soak a 1000 grit paper in the bucket of water & soap aka soapy water (for at least a hour)
3. start wet sanding the headlight lens and use a sponge to keep the lens wet while your sanding.
4. then move your way on up to 2000 - 3000 grit (the same way as step 2)
5. Polish
6. Buff
7. Smile

I know this sounds really scary, but give it a try. if you don't believe me. Check a few youtube clips on headlight restoration

my turn out pix!
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You could also buy a headlight restoration kit that comes with the polish and stuff. I believe you just need a power drill.
 
^^
Oh trust me. my G35 is a 03 and my method work really well. Or start from a lower grit like 800 and work your way up. but yes there's headlight restoration kits out there. just need a power drill
 
I've tried both the Headlight Restoration kits (need power drill) and the other method (wetsand, polish) and both work well. With the Restoration Kit though, it usually only comes with a small wool pad and using it will leave it's own marring. You'll need to follow it with a light cutting foam pad with light abrasive polish (either PC or Makita would work). I use the Menzerna finishing polish and my customers really like it. You gotta be careful though, so as not to damage the UV coating. So try the least aggressive method and work your way to the more aggressive ones.
 
I've started with as course as 500 even & it can still be polished out 100% with the right steps, I've taken actual gauges out with this method in some cases
 
turbocad6 said:
I've started with as course as 500 even & it can still be polished out 100% with the right steps, I've taken actual gauges out with this method in some cases
Click to expand...

Yes, it is possible to follow 500 with higher grit sand paper and then buff out, but headlights usually come with a thin layer of UV coating/film. If you sand all the UV coating out, your headlights will become faded/oxidized faster than if the UV coating was still present. Hence, my recommendation of going from the least aggressive to the more aggressive methods.
 
I'd agree, I mean not going to start digging in with 500 to take out a light scuff, but if the headlight is already gouged deep or oxidized enough to be yellowed then your left with 3 choices, cut past the damage, live with the damage, or replace...

some headlights like some benzes have a protective layer that you will actually be able to see when you cut through it, it looks almost like when you break through a clearcoat & will leave a distinct ring around the broken through layer, but most aren't like that from what I've delt with...


like anything else though, best to start with least agressive & least invasive proceadure & work your way up to what turns out to be just enough to do the job, rather than to just attack something too agressively or 2 invasive & do more harm than good...
 
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