Fine scratches left on headlights

elk42

elk42

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ok i used the 3M restoration kit for my headlights. well after the final pad i noticed that i hadnt removed the finer scratches leftover from the 800 cut paper( second step). the wetted down final paper created the "slurry" that the directions stated but after final polishing they remain. Now some of the methods i tried to do following this was a LC 4" orange pad with my PC and SSR1 but that didnt work. i also tried Pro Polish. Nope that didnt work either. I also tried to go back and repeat the second step and last step but still no correction. my headlights werent yellow but i figured i'd try to clean them up a little. Now i have one headlight with minor scratching and one good one because i didnt do that one. Any help would be great. thanks.
 
elk42 said:
...after the final pad I noticed that I hadn't removed the finer scratches leftover from the 800 cut paper (second step)...
Click to expand...

I would bet that the remaining sanding marks are actually from the P500 grit sanding disc, the first two steps are very important. If you don't get all the marks removed from the most aggressive step, it will be successively harder to remove them with each following step. You said that you re-tried the second (P800 disc) correct? Did you use a fresh P800 sanding disc or reuse the old one? Following that, did you re-use the old 3000 trizact disc? The key is to work each step until the entire headlight is evenly abraded (then do an extra pass or two for good measure) and be sure ALL of the previous marks are removed, the jump from 800 to 3000 is big so, like already I said, the first two steps are important. :dblthumb2:
 
how can i start over? get 2000grit paper and wetsand? then megs plastX then final buff?
 
I forgot the kit only includes one Trizact, but my guess is that the headlight needs more work with 800 grit. Some 2000 by hand with a soft block between 800 and 3000 would likely help. Can you post some pics? Anyone else with suggestions?

Also it's a good idea to seal the headlights really well afterward, I want to try the spar urethane method posted here. http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...eadlight-restoration-new-uv-sealant-idea.html
 
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i used a new 800disc followed by mothers plastic polish. lots of circular micro scratches left. what if i got some 2000 and 3000 paper and wet sanded again then hit it with plastX? my only 4" pads are the orange from LC. i also have SSR2.5. thanks. ps im afraid if i keep using the 800 disc i will never get rid of the scratches
 
I doubt you could get good results going from 800 grit dry sanding straight to a liquid polish, that's a huge gap in abrasiveness. Is your trizact disc totally spent? Seems like picking up another 3M kit or some new paper and working it by hand then polishing will be necessary.

I wish they would provide 2 3000 trizact discs in the kit...
 
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i was able to get some 2000 paper but autozone didnt have 3000. i could lightly try the 2000 and whats left of the trizact followed by whatever. could i use M105 or SSR2.5 after the 2000?
 
Sure, First time I tried I used 800-2000 by hand and menz polishes on my Flex with good results. Even sanding and remove all previous marks with each step. :xyxthumbs:

I'm no pro by any means, if anyone else has some advice please add :)
 
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I've gone all the way from 600 to 2000 grit. Gotta be careful with the 600 though. My headlights were pretty rough. It hard to describe, but most other people would have seriously bought new headlights a long time ago...

As long as you follow each grit precisely with the higher grit paper you should be good to go.

I have used the 2000 grit with my PC. It works, but the rotary is by far better and faster. You can remove them with 105 pretty easily with a 4" pad.
 
i was able to diminish it somewhat with 2000 grit by hand followed by SSR2.5 then SSR1. Im not totally happy but i get what i deserve. Didnt need to do anything in the first place.
 
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