Headlight Restoration

[MikeTaylor57]

By recommendation of some fine people of this forum, and I mean that genuinely, I purchased the 3M Restoration Kit to use on my son's 99 SS Camaro. This is my first time doing this as well. These headlights were in terrible condition, I could tell during my first sanding with the 500 Grit that these lights had been worked on before. To get to the point of my post, I was very pleaased with the before and after results, but they still have a milky look to them. I am sure some of the damage may be coming from the indide, or maybe it's all the way thru. I was very conservative with my RPM's. Is their a trick to polishing these up to a clearer finish. Be happy to provide more details if needed, as always I appreciate the help.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I was very pleaased with the before and after results, but they still have a milky look to them.

If you've sanded and buffed the outside and they are still milky then chances are the problem is either throughout the plastic or on the inside.


One thing you could try is to re-polish the plastic using a fine grade automotive polish and a foam pad on a rotary buffer or dual action polisher.

What do you have for polishes, pads and tools?

 

[BrianMcLeod]

If you've sanded and buffed the outside and they are still milky then chances are the problem is either throughout the plastic or on the inside.


One thing you could try is to re-polish the plastic using a fine grade automotive polish and a foam pad on a rotary buffer or dual action polisher.

What do you have for polishes, pads and tools?

Don't mean to hi jack your thread but couldn't cracks on the inside of headlights effect the results?

 

[hernandez.art13]

Try and post pictures MikeTaylor.

You used the other sanding grits that came in the 3M kit right? You didn't stop at 500 And then buffed?

And just wondering how could you tell that the headlights were worked on before?

As far as them still being milky I am thinking that either you didn't sand fine enough and didn't buff and polish the sanding marks out.

Or like said above it could be that it is in the inside. However, a lot of times you can see that it is in the inside.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

As far as them still being milky I am thinking that either you didn't sand fine enough and didn't buff and polish the sanding marks out.

That's real possibility.

Headlight plastic is pretty stout, a person needs to finish out at a fairly high grit level to make removing 100% of the sanding marks easy.

It also helps to have a rotary buffer, wool cutting pad and aggressive compound to show the plastic whose boss.

 

[Always Learning]

It also helps to have a rotary buffer, wool cutting pad and aggressive compound to show the plastic whose boss.

With regard to showing the plastic whose boss, I've been using 105 then 205 after sanding. I have some leftover 3M Super Duty and Extra Cut from a boat project. Would either of these be safe as a first compound step, or waaaaaay to agressive?

 

[ducksfan]

With regard to showing the plastic whose boss, I've been using 105 then 205 after sanding. I have some leftover 3M Super Duty and Extra Cut from a boat project. Would either of these be safe as a first compound step, or waaaaaay to agressive?

It's not your paint. All the coating is gone. I don't think you could find a modern automotive compound that would be too aggressive here (unless you don't tape and catch the paint while your working).

 

[Always Learning]

Ok thanks. I just try to be cautious, and a little worried about rocks in a bottle.

You're right though, I think the worst that could happen would be I'd have to resand.

Doug

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