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Very thorough post Mike. Thank you. I will be buying two tools then. Can I use the PE8 instead of the PE14 because of the size is better for headlights (And is priced much better for such purpose)? Just a heads up, I tried to email the "other guys...chemical brothers...cough...cough" to get...

Mike, thank you. You said everything under the sun, but you didn't specifically list "headlights" so I will assume you meant headlights too? That is my prime focus. From reading your description on"How to choose the right polisher" I would think the rotary action of the Flex PE8 would help...

Mike, thank you for responding. If you could buy only one mini sander/polisher, which one would it be? I need it to sand (with 3M 3" sanding discs) AND polish. All I will be doing is headlights, so I want the most versatile tool for the job. I'd like to be under $400 (even use that none to...

Thank you for your quick response Matt. Did you find the 3" pads (along with the orbiting action) sufficiently small enough to work on most headlights? I am now between the Flex rotary PE8 and the DA Rupes Mini. IS the $100 more Rupes's DA $100 more efficient? I want to buy once, cry once...

Thank you Matt. Comparing the DA action of the Rupes vs the Rotary Flex mini, what would be the best for headlights? Does DA really make a big difference in less visible scratches?

Custmsprty-Great advice, I have been doing that with my drill. The drill is bad on my wrist (ergonomically for my old wrist injury. Maybe not for everyone). The dedicated polisher will allow me to adjust to multiple positions which is really important for me. I was thinking that the rotary...

Thanks for the advice. I am REALLY leaning that way now...

Custmsprty-since the Rupes backing plates seem proprietary, are they at least velcro? Can I run my 3M sanding discs (velcro backed 3" sized)

Wow, I missed that Flex. I thought a DA would be superior for minimizing scratches? No? I am currently using a corded drill, and it sucks. I won a contest through my school so with the prize money I am buying a replacement for my worn corder drill. Ergonomically, the drill kills my bad...

Thank you MarkD51, that is solid advice. I am hoping someone with the mini Rupes can comment.

I may have messed up the model for the Rupes. This is the one I am talking about...Rupes LHR 75E Mini Random Orbital Polisher, rupes mini polisher That one says you can run the 3" pads. Is this backing plate removable? I have the Flex 2" and 1" backing plates (With the screw adapter thing for...

Hi, I want your advice on which detail DA polisher I should buy to use mostly on headlights (I started a business doing mobile headlight restoration). I have been on this foam and it seems that best bang for the buck is the PC 7424XP is a contender at $130-ish. The one I see as the "top of...

Cool. I'll just bypass the RC on headlights from now on.

Got you. But, you offered an alternative to using the RC. There HAS to be a way to safely remove RC w/o getting those wiping scratch marks. Hopefully another person will also chime in with experience in that too. Thank you!

Hi, are you saying skip the rubbing compound and use say (1200,1500,3000) paper and then polish? I am trying to moderate my expenses, the 3M 3" discs are pricey. But I do also want the right tool for the job. Would you just not used the RC on headlights? I'm still learning, thank you.

Hi, I am using 3M Super Duty Rubbing Compound while restoring plastic headlight lenses. It is pretty coarse, I use it to remove 1000 grit sanding scratches. I noticed, while whipping it off, it scratches the plastic lens. I'm not talking about the circular "normal" rubbing compound scratches...

Yeah, these are pretty bad. I wanted to start at the WORST I could find, and then see what I could do from there. Here are two lights I pulled from the junkyard. One is JUST the lens. The rest of the light was broken, had holes, spiders, and bad chrome. I just kept it for the lens. The...

Hi dcredline. Yeah, I started with the 3m Finesse Polish first, wasn't even close. So I then went to the 3M SD Compound. Still not enough. Keep in mind the lights I am restoring are from the junkyard, I am using them as a before/after demo for my budding business. I found that I wasted...

Awesome advice Dave. I'll order some 3000 grit now. Is it necessary to go to 2000 in-between, meaning is the 1500 to 3000 too big of a jump? On the 3000, why/when would you use the 3M paper or the Trizact? Is one less aggressive or better?

Hi Bill. Thank you for your reply! I am restoring severely yellowed headlights. To add to my sandpaper entourage, I now have packs of: -400 -600 -800 -1000 -1500 Would the SD compound still fall after the 1000 grit (but before or after the 1500)? -Then polish -Then seal? So for liquids, I...