Headlights

BrianMcLeod

BrianMcLeod

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I restored my customers headlights

Process: porter cable

Clean with APC and tape off headlights

500 grit dry sand: speed 3

800 grit wet sand: speed 3

1000 grit wet sand: speed 2

1500 grit wet sand : speed 2

3000 grit wet sand: speed 2

Used the flex to compound m105 with the orange lc smart pad: speed 3

Orange lc pad with m205 to polish

Opti lens to seal up FYI the picture is without opti lens

View attachment 22999

And then I clayed and sealent the paint with black label here is a pic when I was done

View attachment 23000

Give me feed back please :)
 
They do look clearer but the pictures are to far away to really tell.

But if your happy with the results that's all that matters.

Now onto your next headlight project. :xyxthumbs:

Art
 
Yes I am when I was doing the left side I look over to the right side and was like wow
 
Honestly I think you wasted to much time and to much sand paper. Why did you use dry 500 grit sand paper, never seen that before, but anyway judging by the light on the right i think you could have started at 1000 wet and worked up to 2000 grit, then bring out the buffer and seal. looks good i just think you could have saved time and paper
 
LuxuryAutoSpa said:
Honestly I think you wasted to much time and to much sand paper. Why did you use dry 500 grit sand paper, never seen that before, but anyway judging by the light on the right i think you could have started at 1000 wet and worked up to 2000 grit, then bring out the buffer and seal. looks good i just think you could have saved time and paper
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How do you do headlights used 500 dry to make it faster how long does it take you to do a pair of headlight?
 
Looks good Brian. Did you remove the oils from the M205 before applying Opti Lens?
 
BrianMcLeod said:
How do you do headlights used 500 dry to make it faster how long does it take you to do a pair of headlight?
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10 - 15 mins per side, i wasn't trying to be funny, i haven't seen that process before, maybe better, could be the best?

How long does it take you? and are you sanding by hand or with machine? Skool Me...lol:xyxthumbs:
 
^ check out critical detail headlight restoration video. I made a video and mimicked his technique.
 
Curious why you clean with APC prior to hitting them w 500 grit...seem like an unnecessary extra step
 
Rsurfer said:
Looks good Brian. Did you remove the oils from the M205 before applying Opti Lens?
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Washed the car when I got done with the headlights the applied opti lens would that take it off? How do you take the oils off another way?
 
allenk4 said:
Curious why you clean with APC prior to hitting them w 500 grit...seem like an unnecessary extra step
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Really don't know lol read it I guess to take off of any thing that is on there before sanding
 
BrianMcLeod said:
Washed the car when I got done with the headlights the applied opti lens would that take it off? How do you take the oils off another way?
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Hopefully all the oils did come off. What soap did you use?

Doing an IPA wipe down is really simple and effective for headlight restoration and using Opti Lens.

You'd just go get your normal rubbing alcohol at your local store they usually cost a couple of dollars.

Then you would just mix 50-50. Half water half rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and then spray it on your headlights and wipe it off using a clean Mf towel. You can do it more than once just to be certain.

Then you'd apply opti lens.
 
hernandez.art13 said:
Hopefully all the oils did come off. What soap did you use?

Doing an IPA wipe down is really simple and effective for headlight restoration and using Opti Lens.

You'd just go get your normal rubbing alcohol at your local store they usually cost a couple of dollars.

Then you would just mix 50-50. Half water half rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and then spray it on your headlights and wipe it off using a clean Mf towel. You can do it more than once just to be certain.

Then you'd apply opti lens.
Click to expand...

Gold class hopefully it did :(

Thinks good to know will help me out alot
 
BrianMcLeod said:
Gold class hopefully it did :(

Thinks good to know will help me out alot
Click to expand...

The problem with soaps is that most will leave some gloss enchancing film behind. You will want a clean surface before applying Opti Lens, thus using an IPA wipe down.
 
hernandez.art13 said:
Hopefully all the oils did come off. What soap did you use?

Doing an IPA wipe down is really simple and effective for headlight restoration and using Opti Lens.

You'd just go get your normal rubbing alcohol at your local store they usually cost a couple of dollars.

Then you would just mix 50-50. Half water half rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and then spray it on your headlights and wipe it off using a clean Mf towel. You can do it more than once just to be certain.

Then you'd apply opti lens.
Click to expand...

Does the percentage of alcohol matter like 75% or anything because I saw it at the store
 
Here is an article on the IPA wipe down. This will apply to head lights as well.

With any coating getting the surface clean of any oils is key for proper bonding to the surface. Another thing you can use is CarPro Eraser or Menzerna Top Coat Inspection. Additionally DP makes a polish that you can use to remove the oils as well.

Detailer's Coating Prep Polish, clear coat polish, best car polish
CarPro Eraser Intense Oil & Polish Cleanser, IPA, paint cleaner, polish remover, wax remover
Menzerna Top Inspection, detail spray

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...pecting-correction-results.html?highlight=IPA
 
Evan.J said:
Here is an article on the IPA wipe down. This will apply to head lights as well.

With any coating getting the surface clean of any oils is key for proper bonding to the surface. Another thing you can use is CarPro Eraser or Menzerna Top Coat Inspection. Additionally DP makes a polish that you can use to remove the oils as well.

Detailer's Coating Prep Polish, clear coat polish, best car polish
CarPro Eraser Intense Oil & Polish Cleanser, IPA, paint cleaner, polish remover, wax remover
Menzerna Top Inspection, detail spray

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...pecting-correction-results.html?highlight=IPA
Click to expand...

Ok thanks! question are all headlights going to turn out different what I ment by. Different is like wow those look good reason I has there were yellow headlights and I did the and they looked clear but did not look pop probably would of helped if the car was washed? View attachment 23077View attachment 23078
 
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