New Headlights for under $20!
07-19-2004, 02:59 PM
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New Headlights for under $20!
I finally got the balls to sand my headlights. I have heard it works good, but I was afraid to f-up my lights. It looks awesome! They look brand new, but it does take some patience. I will post what I did when I get home tonight! A $20 bill is all you need...
get back to us player
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07-19-2004, 09:02 PM
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Here it is guys: I am not responsible for f -ups.
Bucket of Dawn and Water
Sandpaper- 320 Grit, 1000 grit , and 2000 grit.
Masking tape
Plastic and plexiglass cleaner
Wax
First, mask the headlight off. make sure the sand paper doesnt hit the paint!
It would be better to take off the headlight to work on it (I didnt)
A sander would work, but I did it by hand.
The 320 grit will take off the yellow. You will see it actually coming off in your hand. make sure you wet sand it! It will keep the sandpaper form clogging up. I made straight strokes with the 320 grit and constantly rinsed it off to check progress.
The light will be very scratched when doing the 320 grit, but that is takes the yellow off. I did that about three times and then moved to the 1000 grit.
Same thing. 2x and kepp checking progress. This time use some circles to start taking the lines out of the plastic. Keep rinsing and checking progress.
Last, move to the 2000 grit. This will take out the scratches for the most part. Make sure to use circles on this step. Straight strokes will make lines in the plastic. Be patient and take your time. Keep doing this until you see the clear light and no more scratches.
Keep in mind it will still look a little scratched. Wipe the headlight dry and you will see what I mean. It will look very cloudy and you will think you f'd-up your light. Relax.
Take the plastic cleaner and apply (autozone $6). I put about 5 coats and kept buffing my light. Everytime it got clearer. After you are happy with what it looks like, then move to the wax.
I put two coats of wax on mine and it looks great.
I hurried the second light and it still looks a little yellow to me. I went a little faster, so I plan to go back and finish it when I have more time. I am thinking about using a hand sander this time, not sure yet.
Take your time and do both headlights the same way.
Please do at your own risk, I am just letting you know how I did mine. I am very pleased with the outcome. IM me if you need help.
TJ
Bucket of Dawn and Water
Sandpaper- 320 Grit, 1000 grit , and 2000 grit.
Masking tape
Plastic and plexiglass cleaner
Wax
First, mask the headlight off. make sure the sand paper doesnt hit the paint!
It would be better to take off the headlight to work on it (I didnt)
A sander would work, but I did it by hand.
The 320 grit will take off the yellow. You will see it actually coming off in your hand. make sure you wet sand it! It will keep the sandpaper form clogging up. I made straight strokes with the 320 grit and constantly rinsed it off to check progress.
The light will be very scratched when doing the 320 grit, but that is takes the yellow off. I did that about three times and then moved to the 1000 grit.
Same thing. 2x and kepp checking progress. This time use some circles to start taking the lines out of the plastic. Keep rinsing and checking progress.
Last, move to the 2000 grit. This will take out the scratches for the most part. Make sure to use circles on this step. Straight strokes will make lines in the plastic. Be patient and take your time. Keep doing this until you see the clear light and no more scratches.
Keep in mind it will still look a little scratched. Wipe the headlight dry and you will see what I mean. It will look very cloudy and you will think you f'd-up your light. Relax.
Take the plastic cleaner and apply (autozone $6). I put about 5 coats and kept buffing my light. Everytime it got clearer. After you are happy with what it looks like, then move to the wax.
I put two coats of wax on mine and it looks great.
I hurried the second light and it still looks a little yellow to me. I went a little faster, so I plan to go back and finish it when I have more time. I am thinking about using a hand sander this time, not sure yet.
Take your time and do both headlights the same way.
Please do at your own risk, I am just letting you know how I did mine. I am very pleased with the outcome. IM me if you need help.
TJ
07-20-2004, 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by BlackCL3.0
Why do you need pics. I did mine without pics. It is not that hard...
so we can see how good it looks!
:imwithstupid:
02-22-2005, 08:06 AM
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Originally Posted by BlackCL3.0
OK! I'll get some pics!
T
T
I know this is an old thread but where are the pics Black3.0?
:shakehead
I wonder how they look after a couple of months?
BTW - Is wetsanding the best way to clear a dull lense?
02-22-2005, 10:15 AM
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u could use never dull. not as good as sanding but you will not scratch up your head light. and it brings it to bout 90% new. and its cheap. but u have to keep polishing it until you get your hl the way you want it. ive dont it on my eagle talon, and it looked thousands xxx better.
02-22-2005, 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by wilp99
u could use never dull. not as good as sanding but you will not scratch up your head light. and it brings it to bout 90% new. and its cheap. but u have to keep polishing it until you get your hl the way you want it. ive dont it on my eagle talon, and it looked thousands xxx better.
Where can I get never dull? Is Novus
( http://www.noscratch.com/novus/ ) 2 better?
My left headlight looks a little yellow from the time I blacked out my housings. I accidetally droped some poxy glue on the
lense and tried cleaning it up but it left my headlight looking kind of yellow instead of clear. Help a brotha' out.
02-22-2005, 11:03 AM
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never heard of that stuff. i suppose it would work better. never dull is just a metal polisher. its pretty cheap maybee 5$ a can. u could also use mothers alluminum wheel cleaner. thier both slightly abrasive but will not leave any swirl marks. i have used both but never dull worked the best. fyi the yellowing on the headlights are an algei.
02-22-2005, 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by wilp99
never heard of that stuff. i suppose it would work better. never dull is just a metal polisher. its pretty cheap maybee 5$ a can. u could also use mothers alluminum wheel cleaner. thier both slightly abrasive but will not leave any swirl marks. i have used both but never dull worked the best. fyi the yellowing on the headlights are an algei.
Its not algae. What happened is that when the glue fell on the lense I tried cleaning it up and when I was done I put
the lense & headlight together. Then I put them back in the
oven so that the lense and the headlight can stick properly.
When I did this my lense kinda got a little yellow from the
the heat. Now I'm trying to clean this problem and restore the lense. Its either this or having to spend $250 on a new headlight ( Acura ).
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