Hi Carl, I tried a wool polishing pad instead of foam, and it seemed to get more of the tiny scratches out. I think you can get the kit that comes with the PlastX and a wool pad. Thanks for the feedback! Typically whenever removing larger scratches, the more faint less noticeable scratches are left behind by compounds or polishes. It definitely takes some work, but stepping down how abrasive the polish is can help remove some of the lighter ones left by the polish.
Good luck! I use the cheapest Colgate toothpaste i can find for this. Acts as a great polish for plastic housing and copper contacts, like in my rear Suburban door. What You Will Need Contrary to what I originally thought, this process was a a lot messier and time consuming than I originally expected. What is this white dust anyway? Step 3 — Wet sanding with grit sandpaper This is where it gets fun.
Tip: Sand in the opposite direction for each phase This is a crosshatching technique that can help remove scratches as you work. Step 4 — Apply polishing compound After you rinse and dry the surface after your last phase of wet-sanding, the surface may still be somewhat hazy, but smooth.
Apply a decent amount to a clean pad, and evenly apply it to the headlight lens. Once you have applied compound, the next step is to polish. Step 5 — Apply polish The next step is to wipe down the compounded surface with a microfiber towel and apply a polish. Step 6 — Apply isopropyl alcohol After you have removed the polish and buffed the surface, everything should look pretty clear.
Rub in the polish for a few minutes using circular motions. Wax the lens like you would a car. This will thoroughly clean and protect the lens in preparation for the final step. You need to apply UV sealant to your headlights because you removed all of the old oxidized sealant when you sanded. All of your hard work will be for naught if you skip this step, because the sealant is the protective layer that keeps lenses from hazing over again. This step consists of wetting a paper towel and applying the sealant in sweeping broad strokes.
Full coverage is the key here, but pay attention to the instructions of the kit you buy. The general rule of thumb is to only apply one layer of sealant unless the instructions explicitly tell you otherwise. Allow the sealant to cure after application by parking the car in a dry space. However, some lenses might just be too far gone and need either professional help or to be replaced entirely. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Take your compound pad and rub the compound on the headlight without turning the drill on.
This helps to keep the compound from splattering all over the place when you begin. Making sure to start slowly , turn on the drill and begin polishing the headlight.
When the compound has spread, turn the drill onto full speed, making sure to cover all areas of the headlight. This process helps to get rid of the grit scratches and gets the headlight shiny and new. Make sure to polish the whole headlight , using more compound if needed. The headlights should now shine and, depending on how well you did on the grit step, should start to look brand new.
You are almost done. We can now move on to the next step. Celebrate for the hard work is done. Now that you know how much hard work you did, we want to protect the headlights from turning back into the way they were.
This is where the Minwax spar urethane comes in. Take the urethane and pop the top. Pour half an ounce or an ounce depending on how accurate your measuring cup goes of urethane into your measuring cup. Now take your mineral spirits and add the exact same amount as you did for the urethane into the measuring cup. The mixture should be , so 0. Stir the urethane and mineral spirits mixture. After doing this step, use a shop towel and the rubbing alcohol, and wipe the headlights clean.
This will get rid of any compound left on the headlights. If you would like, you can wash the car now, as after we apply the urethane, you won't want to touch the headlights for a good while. Take a shop towel and fold it into a small square. Dip the towel into the urethane mixture and make sure to get rid of any excess urethane from the towel. Begin applying the clear coat , starting at the top of the headlight and going in a horizontal movement, making your way down.
Use the tape as guides, making sure you follow through with each stroke. Make sure you apply a nice thin coat, making sure there are no runs.
After you apply, the clear coat will begin to become thick very fast, so try not to make any mistakes. Don't panic if you do. The clear coat will come off with mineral spirits. Just wet a shop towel with spirits and take all the clear coat off to start over.
You should get a nice, even coat on the headlights when you are finished. If not, take some spirits and strip the clear coat off and start over. The clear coat helps to add the finishing shine on the headlight, as well as seal up the headlight for protection. Let the clear coat dry for 30 minutes before driving. After 30 minutes, the top of the clear coat will have become thick, and not so sticky.
The layer under the top is still wet. To be safe, let the clear coat sit for 4 hours before touching the headlight, Overnight is the safest bet. If you didn't wash the car before applying the clear coat, I suggest not washing the it for at least a day, making sure that if you are to wash your car, you hand wash it. Urethane takes time to cure, so sticking your car in the sun to show off your headlights wont hurt. After about three days of sun exposure and curing, you are safe to wash the car as normal.
You have finished. You now have the expertise, and leftover paper to do more headlights if you so feel. My first coat on my own car lasted about a year and a half, which, in between the time it came off and the time I noticed, no haze had appeared feel free to make some more clear coat mix and put another layer on.
While this solution may not be completely permanent, if done correctly, it can add years of haze free headlights to come. To do this, open up the bag, cover the headlight with it and tape it onto the body panels. Then, roughly cut out a hole for your headlight and tape around it as per image.
Between coats, allow the clear coat to dry five minutes is enough before applying a second and third coat. Please confirm you agree to the use of tracking cookies as outlined in the Cookies Policy. Sign in or register. Alex Kersten 6 years ago. Remind me later. Share Tweet Email Whatsapp.
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