Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

[david b]

Did an interior detail recently and noticed the vehicle's headlights were in need of some TLC. Figured the owner wouldn't mind as she's a friend of mine.

Used the 3 inch Mirka sanding discs(1k, 2k, 3k, & 4k grit) on my PC 7424XP. Then followed it up with McKee's 37 AIO Headlight Restoring Polish and a LC 3 inch orange thin pad. Applied Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant which I got as a freebie a while back.

View attachment 63932View attachment 63933

The owner was thrilled!

Thanks for looking,
David

 

[Eldorado2k]

Looks great.
Did you wetsand or drysand? Reason I ask is because the 3M kit that I recently picked up says to dry sand @500, 800, and 1000 grit, then wetsand @3000 grit. What do you think?

 

[TTQ B4U]

Looks great.
Did you wetsand or drysand? Reason I ask is because the 3M kit that I recently picked up says to dry sand @500, 800, and 1000 grit, then wetsand @3000 grit. What do you think?

IMO you can do either. Dry sanding the initial oxidation off is fine but as you move into the finishing grades like 2-3k grit or higher wet sanding will help keep the paper and abrasives clean and doing their job more effectively and does serve to provide a better finish. I do both. Typically 800 then 1000 then 2000 then 3000, the last two being wet.

 

[Eldorado2k]

IMO you can do either. Dry sanding the initial oxidation off is fine but as you move into the finishing grades like 2-3k grit or higher wet sanding will help keep the paper and abrasives clean and doing their job more effectively and does serve to provide a better finish. I do both. Typically 800 then 1000 then 2000 then 3000, the last two being wet.

I’ve also heard that dry sanding kills the discs alot faster?

 

[TTQ B4U]

I’ve also heard that dry sanding kills the discs alot faster?

It does. I do it mainly because it's easier for me to see the end/dry results of oxidation removal. Once I'm into clear/white plastic I can move to wet.

 

[MTLean]

Did an interior detail recently and noticed the vehicle's headlights were in need of some TLC. Figured the owner wouldn't mind as she's a friend of mine.

Used the 3 inch Mirka sanding discs(1k, 2k, 3k, & 4k grit) on my PC 7424XP. Then followed it up with McKee's 37 AIO Headlight Restoring Polish and a LC 3 inch orange thin pad. Applied Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant which I got as a freebie a while back.

View attachment 63932View attachment 63933

The owner was thrilled!

Thanks for looking,
David

Awesome results!!

How long did such a process take you?

 

[iced98lx]

Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant - does that have UV blockers in it? I get requests to do this frequently and I'm happy to do it but I am always looking for a better coating to avoid future yellowing as I don't want folks coming back X months later going "My headlights only took 6/12/months to get as bad as they did after 10 years from new!!"


Great work by the way, such a difference for that person at night too.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant - does that have UV blockers in it? I get requests to do this frequently and I'm happy to do it but I am always looking for a better coating to avoid future yellowing as I don't want folks coming back X months later going "My headlights only took 6/12/months to get as bad as they did after 10 years from new!!"


Great work by the way, such a difference for that person at night too.

Try the new McKee’s Headlight Coating. It’s supposed to last 3yrs.

 

[david b]

Looks great.
Did you wetsand or drysand? Reason I ask is because the 3M kit that I recently picked up says to dry sand @500, 800, and 1000 grit, then wetsand @3000 grit. What do you think?

I wetsanded using a QD as my lubricant. Mike's YT video on headlight restoration showed him using soapy water but the QD was handy and close by so I went with that. Took me maybe 15 minutes per headlight. I was kind of cautious because I never used the Mirka sanding discs before or it would have taken less time.

David

 

[tarobaap]

I wetsanded using a QD as my lubricant. Mike's YT video on headlight restoration showed him using soapy water but the QD was handy and close by so I went with that. Took me maybe 15 minutes per headlight. I was kind of cautious because I never used the Mirka sanding discs before or it would have taken less time.

David

David,

Did you utilize the 3" Mirka Soft-Faced Interface pad or the 3" Multi-Interface pad on the BP of the PC?

Thanks!