slick Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 How would one go about polishing plastic headlamp lenses? Mine show a bit of wear and tear from being on the road, and they're is a bit of hazing. I know it could all come out, but what do I use? Thanks! Quote
Psych0matt Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 turtle wax polishing compound, or similar Quote
greencutlassdrvr Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 meguiars plastix works great 4.99 at autozone Quote
digitaloutsider Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 Psh. Meguiars Plastic-X with a white scotch-brite pad. Buff it with a microfiber towel. Quote
Robby1870 Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 Chris, if you just want to clean them up, what I always did with use some 3M rubbing compound (brown girtty stuff). Rub that stuff in a couple of times, then wipe off with a wet towel, then use some polishing compound. I got to where I did that about once a year and it kept the yellowing off and kept them fairly clear. If you want to redo the finish on them, do like I said in that PM. Quote
97loudcut Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 Psh. Meguiars Plastic-X with a white scotch-brite pad. Buff it with a microfiber towel. Best way to do it, right there Quote
5speedz34 Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 There was also a kit that Wal-Mart sold it's like $20 bucks. I've never used it but yea. Quote
IRONDOG442 Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 Lexan is easy !!! Meguiars Plastic-X with a white scotch-brite pad. Buff it with a microfiber towel on an orbital buffer at around 1,500 rpms, which I have... if you want help id love to do it for you Quote
slick Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Posted March 21, 2007 Lexan is easy !!! Meguiars Plastic-X with a white scotch-brite pad. Buff it with a microfiber towel on an orbital buffer at around 1,500 rpms, which I have... if you want help id love to do it for you Well... I went ahead and started Robby's sand paper process on the one lense, but I might bring them both over. I'll go ahead and finish up the one lense mostly, then i'll bring the other lense as is. I have the Scratch X now, so I guess I need to find a white scotch-brite pad. Where can I get one of these at? Quote
slick Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Posted March 21, 2007 So where do I get this White Scotch-Brite pad at? I'm gonna give a hand at my one lense today that I already started on. Quote
Brian P Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 post the sandpaper method. I'm doing the camaro lenses (among other things) in this order: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, cleaner compound, polishing compound, sealer. Quote
slick Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Posted March 21, 2007 post the sandpaper method. I'm doing the camaro lenses (among other things) in this order: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, cleaner compound, polishing compound, sealer. Definately post pictures! Quote
slick Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Posted March 21, 2007 Ok, so I got the white buffing pads at Home Depot in the cleaning aisle. I ended up walking through the tool aisle just to see if I could find any good deals on any tools. I ended up finding some buffing wheels (for coarse buffing then for polishing). So... I came home, used the sratch x and white scotch brite pad, and did that. I then took the coarse buffing wheel to it, and WOW, sooooo much clearer! I put another coat of scratch x on it then took the polishing wheel on, and went to town. Even more clear! These lights look 100x better. Still not the crystal clear stock, but close. A few more times with the buffer, and they should look perfect. BTW, I need to post pics from before and after. Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 I used a bench buffer, it's like magic! I posted pics awhile back, not sure if they're still around... Quote
slick Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Posted March 21, 2007 Yeah, the buffer really did the trick for mine. Once I have the lamps apart, I might go at them more just to see if I can get them clearer. Quote
Robby1870 Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 post the sandpaper method. I'm doing the camaro lenses (among other things) in this order: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, cleaner compound, polishing compound, sealer. That's what I did. I started with 220 though (it's what came in the multipack). Quote
Brian P Posted March 22, 2007 Report Posted March 22, 2007 was there a clearcoat that you had to sand past? My d/s headlight had a "faded thru" spot where it looks like clearcoat that chalked up, and even after doing 400 grit, then moving up I could see this spot. I have un pic: See the top right? One more after taken apart, where it's obvious (this was after using 400ish grit) Quote
MonteCarloChick Posted March 22, 2007 Report Posted March 22, 2007 Did you paint the housing black while they were apart? Quote
slick Posted March 22, 2007 Author Report Posted March 22, 2007 Yep, mine had a few spots like that. I pretty much had to even them out with the sandpaper. I have to re-apply clear coat before I install them on the Bonneville. Quote
Robby1870 Posted March 22, 2007 Report Posted March 22, 2007 Yeah, Brian, there was a layer of clear coat I had to get through. However, being it was a 15 year old cover, most of the clear coat was already gone. Quote
Brian P Posted March 22, 2007 Report Posted March 22, 2007 Did you paint the housing black while they were apart? I'm doing them in charcoal metallic or black metallic. haven't decided. Thanks, yeah I MIGHT reapply clearcoat to them too, before going back on. Quote
slick Posted March 22, 2007 Author Report Posted March 22, 2007 I plan on re-applying clear coat for added protection. Quote
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