Claying headlights before polishing?

@Buster906. Did you use the supplied wool pad with a drill? Or did you use your DA to polish out after the sanding?
 
No drill. I used my GG3 and the foam pads from an old 3M headlight kit

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Buster906 said:
No drill. I used my GG3 and the foam pads from an old 3M headlight kit

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What speed did you sand at?
What polish did you use after sanding?
 
Buster906 said:
Between 5 and 6. I used M105 and M205. Then applied the sealant included in the kit

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So just keep it really wet? Is there anything I should look for as far as an indication of when to stop sanding at each step?
Route246 mentioned looking for the liquid to go from yellow to clear... I take it that's on step 1 using 1000 grit?
Any last minute tips would be appreciated, this will be my 1st time doing this.
 
Eldorado2k said:
How long do they typically last before they start hazing up yellow again? I can't imagine a AIO protecting them too long?
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You probably need a coating to prevent yellowing. I spray wax weekly with Optimum spray wax so the UV protection is sufficient.


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Eldorado2k said:
So just keep it really wet? Is there anything I should look for as far as an indication of when to stop sanding at each step?
Route246 mentioned looking for the liquid to go from yellow to clear... I take it that's on step 1 using 1000 grit?
Any last minute tips would be appreciated, this will be my 1st time doing this.
Click to expand...
I have only done 3 sets. Keep the pads clean as M105 gunks quickly. Have a bucket of water handy. Keep the sandpaper damp, I used a spray bottle. Do no more than two passes before checking your progress. I also used 2000 and 3000 grit sandpaper wet

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One point, when you cloud up the lenses with wet sanding, even with 3000 you might feel apprehension and nervousness that you somehow ruined the surface because it looks so cloudy. Don't fret. Once you start polishing the clarity will magically appear.


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Route246 said:
One point, when you cloud up the lenses with wet sanding, even with 3000 you might feel apprehension and nervousness that you somehow ruined the surface because it looks so cloudy. Don't fret. Once you start polishing the clarity will magically appear.


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Cool. At this point, my concern is when do I know when to stop. I guess I'll figure that out as I "do it live"?

We'll do it live! Lol
 
Do I want to remove all of the original coating?
I feel like a complete noob right now...
 
I just bought the Meguiars kit... While at the register I saw a 3M Headlight Kit that cost $24.99 and was small in package but included a bunch of sanding discs. This Megs kit only includes 1 1000 grit disc and 2 3000 grit discs. Should I have gotten that 3M kit?
 
Eldorado2k said:
I just bought the Meguiars kit... While at the register I saw a 3M Headlight Kit that cost $24.99 and was small in package but included a bunch of sanding discs. This Megs kit only includes 1 1000 grit disc and 2 3000 grit discs. Should I have gotten that 3M kit?
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You can always pick up some sandpaper at your local autoparts store if you need anything more aggressive than 1000 grit. It's fairly cheap.

The 3M kit is nice too because of those included additional grits.
 
Eldorado2k said:
Does anyone bother claying headlights before polishing them?

Also, does anyone have any experience with trying to restore the headlights on a Corvette like this?

f02692f23c0b5803106b4fba50ceeec3.jpg


How beast are those headlights to restore? Do you think sanding will be a must? Or are they cooperative by any chance?
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I usually do clay before sanding. I feel it makes my sandpaper last longer. I get several jobs out of one piece of sandpaper.
 
Ok cool. Thanks for the replies, I'm going for it. Wish me luck.
 
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