Did my headlights today.

Beerwulf76

Beerwulf76

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Today I decided to restore my headlights on my 2000 Toyota Corolla. I have done them in the past by just polishing them out and sealing with some Klasse AIO or Glaze,don't recall which. Also I don't recall how long that treatment held up several months would be my guess.
Since then I have purchased 3M's headlight restoration kit and used it on 2 sets of headlights so far! I have used the spar-urethane sealing method on 1 set with success as well. This is actually the 3rd set of headlights I've done with sanding disks supplied on that one kit! All 3 sets were just very cloudy and foggy,no "crust" on them.

Originally wanted to use my PC for this set but I neglected to order the foam interface pad!So it back to the standard drill procedure. The lenses were sanded with 500 and 800 grit disks(dry) and finished with a 3000 grit foam finishing pad(wet),then compounded with Turtle Wax Premium Grade compound. They were sealed using the Spar-Urethane method,which went on great with no issues at all!

The lenses however have 3 nipples each that were a PTA to sand around and destroyed my finishing pad!Other than that no issues.

I had half-arsed my lenses a couple of months ago and did not think they were in too bad shape.The before and after shots I took proved me wrong, wow what a difference!They went from barely clear to crystal clear.

Before

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And afters
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They look great! I was a hesitant when I saw that kit at how it goes 500, 800, then 3000 grit, that seemed like a big jump from 800 to 3000 but i guess this is proof it works.
 
A-train said:
They look great! I was a hesitant when I saw that kit at how it goes 500, 800, then 3000 grit, that seemed like a big jump from 800 to 3000 but i guess this is proof it works.
Click to expand...

Have done 3 sets like that so far,worked great each time.I know others use several additional grits,seems like a waste based on my experience.
 
Next time you need to try and go from the 3000 straight to the Spar mixture. I have skipped the polishing step on the 4 sets I have done with excellent results.
 
mrGolfRider said:
Next time you need to try and go from the 3000 straight to the Spar mixture. I have skipped the polishing step on the 4 sets I have done with excellent results.
Click to expand...

I have done on a previous set.I plan on doing this to generate some $ soon.I will be offering a 1 year warranty on the work.therefore I figure if the Spar fails before then it will only reveal a clear and polished surface rather than a cloudy unpolished one.

Since this was done on my own vehicle if durability is an issue,I can redo them any time,and it will allow me to test the longevity of compounding then Spar.
 
Great job.:props: Should be getting a bit more light out onto the roads at night now.
 
Those nipples that stick out are such a pain. Fords have them too. I've chewed up a few pads doing them so I know what you mean.

One thing that I found works well with those is using the PFW by LC. Its lose enough that it doesn't grab on those nipples and it finishes down really nice. I usually will do some sanding then m105/205 and then seal it.

Great job on your lights btw. They came out really clear!
 
A little tip, use your old pads when you do headlights, so if they get chewed up its not hurting your pockets. I usually have a couple beat up pads that are only used for headlights.
 
Mobile detail said:
Those nipples that stick out are such a pain. Fords have them too. I've chewed up a few pads doing them so I know what you mean.

One thing that I found works well with those is using the PFW by LC. Its lose enough that it doesn't grab on those nipples and it finishes down really nice. I usually will do some sanding then m105/205 and then seal it.

Great job on your lights btw. They came out really clear!
Click to expand...

PFW by LC?
Just finished looking at the pads page did not see anything that corresponds with PFW
 
Tried everything else including the Diamondite kit. Saw the 3M kit at Wal
Mart this afternoon and figured why not.
 
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