What pads/compounds/speed on headlights?

[JL-KA]

I looked through every thread that had the word headlight in it and still have a couple questions about the restoring process. For reference I'm working with plastic lenses and using a Porter Cable XP.
What pads/compounds should I use after wet sanding?(there seemed to be conflicting info on this)
What speed setting should I use with each? How much pressure with each?
I'm an uber noob when it comes to polishing so feel free to dumb it down for me lol.

Thanks,
JML

 

[Bates Detailing]

I personally use an aggressive compound by hand only - and finish with a finishing polish - but thats just me?!!?!? Only takes me 20 minutes a headlight and has always worked good for me - Also - my best friend is 91% ISO alcohol before hand.

 

[slickooz]

I tried it with orange pad with M105 then finished with M205 with white pads. They always turn out great. I apply enough pressure to remove the oxidation. If first pass don't remove it then give it a little more pressure/passes.

 

[JL-KA]

That's what I was thinking. Went ahead and ordered those.
Any insight on what speed settings I should use on the PC?

 

[tuscarora dave]

Any insight on what speed settings I should use on the PC?

Full speed ahead!! You can't hurt headlight lenses with a PC, just make sure you tape off the painted edges surrounding the headlight because it doesn't take long to make a mess of that.

I do 3 stages of rotary polishing when I do headlights that are in rough shape.
1. 4" cutting pad with heavy compound.
2. 4" light cutting pad with M-105
3. 4" polishing pad with M-205

If the lenses are just slightly cloudy I can usually get away with just M-205 on a polishing pad. I run at 1000 RPM on rotary and if I am using a DA I run at full speed ahead. I never do anything by hand if I have a machine that will do it for me. "Work smarter not harder"