It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

Hello all, yesterday i decided to wetsand my headlights.. I went out and bought the following:
1) Pack of 1,000/1,500/2,000 Grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper
2) Meguiar's PlastX
3)Foam Applicator Pads (dont have a machine yet)

Here is what i did...
1)Soaked the sandpaper in water for 15 minutes
2)Hosed headlights
3)Sanded for about 4-5 minutes with each grit, drying after sanding
4)After all 3 grits, headlights became cloudy, then used a foam applicator w/ PlastX and rubbed in circles along headlights.

The final result was not super clear.. It still is a bit foggy. And my headlights werent that bad to start with.

My question is.. WHAT DID I DO WRONG?

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

starting with lets say 800 grit if there is..

sand this way.. ----->

next with 1000 grit... sand this way <------

next with 1500 grit.. sand this way ^^^^^

next with 2,000 grit.. sand this way vvvvv

get it?

and i used 3M rubbing compound and rubbed that in hard.. then used Megs polish to clear it up more... never have i even touched plastic X cuz that thing sucks... for me...

and you must keep the sandpaper wet.. even headlights...

and i usually use warm water to soak my sandpaperrss

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

ooh.. i get the rubbing part.. I sanded like this

1,000 >>>
1,500 ^^^
2,000 >>>

Then went str8 to plastX

fsttyms1

^ actually if you go all one direction its easier to hide the scratches.

Op. You just didnt polish hard and long enough. It will take a lot of elbow grease to polish that out. You could start out with something a little more aggressive as for polishing first then go to what you used.

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

Any suggestions on what i can use? And since i have to repolish my headlights, will i have to re-sand em too?

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

try using megs polish.. thats a little more aggressive.. plastic x would be something for last...

or better yet, try the 3m rubbing compound..

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

iite, ill give it a try... Damn, ima need to buy some polishing tools

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

i use microfiber pad.

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

how much work you got to put in using MF pads?

And last question

If i buy the rubbing compound, can i get rid of my plastX or will i still neeeeed it?

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

what?

it'll work alot better than that foam pad since you don't have a PC...

just rub that shit it... rub it like its somebody's face you hate and you're rubbing dookie onto their face

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

hahahaha.. will do.. And i wont need my plastX or to resand my headlights.. Right?

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

jjust try the 3M product first and the megs polish before you go and resand everything.. if not.. just re wetsand with 2000 grit and polish it up.

mlrskn06

iTrader: (2)

i didn't go in any direction when i wetsanded mine and mine came out fine

Bearcat94

It's the polish. You've really got to work it to get to break down and do it's job.

As mentioned, when wet sanding, keep the area wet the whole time you are working.

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

OK thanx.. And @ jashaa, will i need to do both polishing/rubbing compound or should the compound be good enuff

Bearcat94

Here's a DIY:

G-085: DIY: Restoring Hazed/Cloudy Headlights
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/g-085-diy-restoring-hazed-cloudy-headlights-710313/

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

spanx

fobstylez

iTrader: (3)

I think its the plastic x thing you used. I just did mine a last week when I blacked them out. I used 1500 and wet sand, then switched to 2000 and wet sand. I didnt soak it in water. Once it dried up, it was foggy as heck. 3m rubbing compound removed the fog and polish to well.......polish it up. I highly doubt you will need to resand, just 3m/polish. I'm sure you can just get 3m if you are limited to funds, that should clear up your headlights but it wont be as polished. Before on my old car I did the same thing and all I had was NUfinish car polish and I used that, it got out all the foggy on the lens. You can pick that product up at any auto store.

fsttyms1

dont wetsand again, use something more aggressive to polish.
I use the middle 2 when i do headlights

SLushhYYY

iTrader: (8)

Try out Megs Ultimate Compund too.

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

Thanx GUys.. Shoot, Pepboys is selling the compound for 21$ where i live.. thats all they have.. Any other AUto Stores i can get for aroound 10$?

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

btw, which middle 2, there are 5 things in the pic

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

^ 85 and 83...

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

^thanx.. Btw jjashaa, sent u a pm

JRhodes88

iTrader: (2)

I just did my friends mom's car. They came out brand new. I started with 600 and then moved up. They were EXTREMELY YELLOW

Also a buffer with a wool bonnet helps alot. If you buy one, you can do other people's headlights and charge them a decent fee like $30

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

^ ya.. when i was buying the supplies @ pepboys, they told me it is usually 90$ to clear headlights.. and a guy was offering me half off for 45$... so if i get good at it, maybe 40$ should do it. The best part is, you can do this on any car and not just one = MORE $$$$

wdptls88

This is good information. I should do this on my mom's car.

JRhodes88

iTrader: (2)

Wait until a holiday so you dont have to get her a gift, just clear her headlights up, lol

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

^lol.. i just get my mom a coach purse

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

writing a card > buying things..

maybe even cookin breakfast

anyways... you find your products? and finish up? go to walmart.. they have 3M rubbing compound

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

i went to autozone and heres what i picked up.


1) PlastX $6.99
2) Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound $3.99
3) Turtle Wax Polishing Compound $3.99

And then from Costco i got a 50 pack of Green MF towels

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I polished and rubbed as hard as i could, and still not satisfied.

TLin401

Buy a buffer.

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

dun have much money.. guess ill borrow from a friend.

JRhodes88

iTrader: (2)

Make sure you pick up a wool bonnet, i would say re-wetsand them to get rid of that haze

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

argg.. kk

SLushhYYY

iTrader: (8)

Wetsanded and washed my dads 98' Ford Winstar headlights, 30 mins ago, for his birthday.
Steps: 1000 grit wet sand
1500 grit wet sand
2000 grit wet sand
Dry
Buff with Turtle wax Polishing compund
Finish imperfections with Megs Ultimate Compund
Remove with microfiber cloth
wax
done!

Took these pics just for you. The right headlight is PRE-SANDING!

(Yes that is a Cold Air Intake in my dads minivan, lulz!)

SLCpunk69

^^ love the CAI on the minivan haha. nice job on the headlight

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

thanx slushyyy.. btw, you did this by machine or hand? LOL at the intake. Before you do the other one, i need like a vid on EXACTLY how you did it after you sanded em. I keep getting a lil cloudy at the end result.

SLushhYYY

iTrader: (8)

I did this by hand. There were akward bumbs on the headlights which couldnt be reached with the buffer. Just place the polish on a polishing towel. Spread in circles, with overlapping movements on one section. And then move on to the next section. Doesn't take too much pressure, just remember to overlap, and reapply.

*The sandpaper has to be constantly wet when sanding. Not just soaked for 15 mins.

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

Ya, i keep trying with some MF pads. I did the compound 1st, then polished it up. (Both turtle wax products).. Arg why doesnt this work. Vids make everything easier, especially since you did it by hand