Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)
 

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I chose to clean up my headlights today. My uncle gave me a 3M kit for Christmas, so after I purchased some clear coat and a nice day came up, I went to town. The kit gives you a couple 500 grit pads, a couple 800 grit pads, a 3000 grit pad, a foam thing for polishing/restoration (and some restoration polish), and an adapter to fit your 1200-1400RPM drill. I was committed to clear coating, so I taped and newspaper'd the crap out of the front of my car and did not use the foam thing/polish. Between each grit pad, I wiped down the headlights with a wet rag. Only the 3000grit called for wet sanding (very light wet; just a spray bottle). The headlights are pretty beat themselves so no amount of sanding is going to make them perfect, but I think they're much better now than they were before.

Total time: I started around 12:15 and started with clear coat at 1:45. It says 15 minutes per lamp; I guess I'm a little slow.

Here's the kit:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4164410_n.jpg
Here's the clear coat I got at Wal-Mart:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1885795_n.jpg

Here's what they look like before:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3741839_n.jpg

Here's what the driver's side light looked like after I took the 500grit to it:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._8107698_n.jpg

Here's what it looked like after I took the 800grit to it:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5089023_n.jpg

Here's what it looked like after I took the 3000grit to it:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7165495_n.jpg

Here's what it looked like after 2 coats with the clear coat. I was going to do three, but it started to run so I decided that was enough:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6417375_n.jpg

And the left side light with the lights on:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2501463_n.jpg

Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)
 

I was looking at that very kit yesterday. What is your verdict on it?

Does anyone have alternative products they would recommend?

Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)
 

Instead of buying the kit I did mine with 1000grit, 1500grit, and 2000grit wet sandpaper from an autopart store. For polish I used some 3m plastic polish we had at work.

See Post #33 in this thread for pics of it:
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54507

First time I did my lights I used "Mothers mag and aluminum polish" instead of sandpaper and polish. It worked ok for taking most of the yellow off. '
Pics here:
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...2&postcount=12

Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)
 

I have mentioned it before but I did my tail lights using a micro mesh kit. Google it. Fantastic stuff, i highly recommend.

Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)
 

The headlights are glass and the taillights are plastic, correct? Or are the headlights plastic too? They feel like glass.

Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)
 

No, unfortunately they are both plastic.

Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)
 

Its looks verry good.:) But i have a little qvestion. What are you useing this for?:rolleyes: Before or after?

Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)
 

I used this after I did the process of 500, 800, and 3000 grit sanding.

I think if you're a good rattle can sprayer then you can get one three coats without it running. I'm not very experienced, so after 2 it started to run a little.