How to achieve a perfect headlight polish job

[NiSyam]

Hello guys

I would like to hear the way you approach headligh polishing. I've done lots of sets but i'm not 100% happy with the results. I can't get rid of all the scratches left by wet sanding.

I usually start sanding with 600-800-1000-1500 and 2000. Once that's done i start polishing with my makita with m105 orange pad and finish it off with m205and white pad. I like to spend 2 hrs for the whole job.

Hope to hear from you guys

Thanks

 

[mr.fusion]

Those steps are fine. Try adding a 3000 grit finishing step before compounding... 3M trizact 3000 pads are nice. Also, skip the 600 and even the 800 unless absolutely necessary. That will make the whole job much faster and easier to get perfect results.

 

[tuscarora dave]

The Makita/orange pad/105 will easily get rid of the 1000 and finer grit sanding marks so adding another sanding step would be counter productive. Sure it wouldn't hurt anything but your efficiency. I suggest that you try and determine which step it is that is leaving behind the sanding marks. I'd say that it's the 600 or 800 step that is leaving the marks behind and the next/following sanding step is where your problem begins. Each sanding step you do should remove the sanding marks from the previous sanding stage. Somewhere along the line you are stopping short of removing the sanding marks from a previous sanding stage. Figure that out and you'll be set.

 

[NiSyam]

Thanks for the input guys !

 

[ShineTimeDetail]

Also, skip the 600 and even the 800 unless absolutely necessary.

Isn't it necessary to use at least 600 grit to remove the existing UV coating? I guess if it is only light oxidation you don't need to remove it but if your even considering wet sanding it must be in pretty bad condition. I can make some nasty head lights look great with using a 4 inch wool pad and 105.

 

[Marc Hufnagel]

Please pose questions like this as an actual question in the subject line, not as a statement which is read more of 'HOW' to achieve this goal.

It will help others both reading now and when using the search engine later.

 

[addysdaddy]

Isn't it necessary to use at least 600 grit to remove the existing UV coating? I guess if it is only light oxidation you don't need to remove it but if your even considering wet sanding it must be in pretty bad condition. I can make some nasty head lights look great with using a 4 inch wool pad and 105.

Right, I have a 3" GG pneumatic with a LC HT cyan pad along w/M105 followed by LC HT tangerine w/M205. About 15-20 minutes total and they look brand new.