Waxing Scratches out on Headlights?

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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 09:01 PM
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From: Ocoee, TN
Waxing Scratches out on Headlights?

Alright guys when I first got my car I smoked the headlights using VHT Nightshades, since then I have taken my headlights apart and blacked them out. I used cleaner wax to remove the Nightshades. BUT you can see in a few spots where I wet-sanded using 2000 grit paper. I've tried and tried and tried getting this garbage off to bring them completely back to crystal clear. Does anyone have any suggestions? It's not noticeable to your average Joe but drives me crazy.
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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 10:37 PM
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From: Space Coast, FL
Originally Posted by Smokd05
Alright guys when I first got my car I smoked the headlights using VHT Nightshades, since then I have taken my headlights apart and blacked them out. I used cleaner wax to remove the Nightshades. BUT you can see in a few spots where I wet-sanded using 2000 grit paper. I've tried and tried and tried getting this garbage off to bring them completely back to crystal clear. Does anyone have any suggestions? It's not noticeable to your average Joe but drives me crazy.
You can't get rid of it with wax, you need a light polish to get rid of it. I suggest you go to your local auto store and buy some Meguiars Plastic X if the surface is unpainted plastic (headlight lense) or if it's painted (like your fenders/hood/trunk/doors) Meguiars Scratch X
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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 10:39 PM
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I've used the Meguiars Scratch X and no such luck.. Hell I forgot all about the Plastic X lol Do you think I should maybe wet-sand these spots a little more with a 2k grit or just leave it and go to town on it with the Meguiars?
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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 10:42 PM
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From: Space Coast, FL
Originally Posted by Smokd05
I've used the Meguiars Scratch X and no such luck.. Hell I forgot all about the Plastic X lol Do you think I should maybe wet-sand these spots a little more with a 2k grit or just leave it and go to town on it with the Meguiars?
Scratch X is designed to remove light scratches and such, how much did you exactly sand with 2000 grit sandpaper? You might need to get something slightly more aggressive such as Optimum Polish II.
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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 10:44 PM
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From: Ocoee, TN
Just enough to make them look "foggy", not really a lot. It's only in 2 spots on each headlights where it seems I put a little more "umph" into the sanding.. I'm definitely picking up some Plastic X tomorrow and giving it a shot though. Anyway, you seem to know a lot about these cars. Can you check my other help question https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/quick-question-about-3rd-cat-delete-764381/
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Old Feb 19, 2010 | 08:52 AM
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From: Trail BC CanaDUH
If that fails you might need to find someone with a Porter Cable Orbital and a mild cutting pad to reduce the haze then a finer polish ( Opt 11) omn a polishing pad.

Sometimes doing it by hand with OTC products just doesn't have the bite needed to take it out.

I have wet sanded lots of headlights with 2000/2500 wet and polished them out.
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Old Feb 19, 2010 | 09:41 AM
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Apparently the UV coating is already gone since you sanded the VHT off. So you should try the 3M headlight polishing kit. It has everything you'll need. You won't need to use the heavier grit sandpaper, but start somewhere in the middle of the range. And then polish it out with the supplied polish. I used this on another car and the headlights are super clear. It comes with a drill attachment that saves a bunch of time. You can also use the attachment for polishing other surfaces on the car in the future.

Just spend 5 or more minutes on the finest grit sandpaper before polishing to guarantee you got all the scratches out.
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Old Feb 19, 2010 | 10:22 AM
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From: Ocoee, TN
Alright I'll just pick up the 3M Kit and be done with it, might as well do it right the first time lol Thanks a lot guys!
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