headlight restoration with 1500, 2000, PLastX

[mmrfr]

Use the orange pad instead of the white and then one last time with the white.

[EFMJR]

I used Mothers® PowerPlastic™ on my GS400 and it took the cloudyness away, but it came back like two months later. It worked pretty good, and relitively fast. Its not gonna work to polish out scratched, more of a cleaner/polish.

http://www.mothers.com/products/

On my wifes Honda accord the headlights looked almost sandblasted. I hand sanded with 400 wet, 600 wet. 1000 wet, 1500 wet, (could not find 2000 so the polishing took longer), I dont recommend using a power sander here, too easy to mess up. just cut the paper into quarter sheets and trifold and do it by hand that way you can control pressure ect and actually feel the surface. I also recoomend masking off everything sarounding the headlight since it only takes one slip with the paper across a painted surface to ruin a day.

I then broke out the Porter Cable and used; If you dont have a polisher, you can do this by hand, but take lots of advil/tylenol beforehand cause your arms and sholders will be sore. You can buy a cheap buffer at most discount tool store (harbor freight) or auto parts chain, I got one at walmart for like $13. They dont work as well as the Porter Cable, but will do the job, and save your arms.

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,4,13

After that one you shouldnt be able to see scratches at all, it will be almost clear, but not quite crystal clear. Just kinda milky look to it. Then when all looks as good as it gets you move on to;

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,4,14

Make sure you cange your pad (or cover) and polish till its as clear as you desire. When all is done you can use the mothers, plast-x or just put a good coat of wax on it. By sanding you have removed the uv/scratch resistance coating (you can sometimes see it as you sand through it.) so the wax will help protect from the UV/ect and keep them from clouding up.

Hope this helps. the turtle wax above has always been availible, cheap and done the job well for me. I know there are probably better products out there, but you can pick these the turtle wax at wallmart or almost any parts chain store (autozone, Kragens) ect. Ive used it many times and it seems to work well on plastic.

hope this helps someone. Its not that big of a job, just take your time and be patient for best results. this is not a 15 min job. took me like two hours. just turn on your favorite tunes, grab a drink or two of your choice and tell the kids/wife/girlfriend/mom/ect to leave you alone and have some one on one time with your baby. It a good feeling to do something this easy and see the before after, and know you did that, and it greatly improves the look of your car.


EFMJR

[MrG4Life]

What a difference

[Lexizm]

Great results man !!! I'm going to try this one; I'm afraid of using the orbital buffer though. I don't want to sand it unevenly and mess up. I think I'm going to do it by hand first.

[GSteg]

Originally Posted by Lexizm

Great results man !!! I'm going to try this one; I'm afraid of using the orbital buffer though. I don't want to sand it unevenly and mess up. I think I'm going to do it by hand first.

As long as you dont stay in one spot for long, you shouldn't have a problem. If you have a random orbital buffer, then you have almost no chance of ruining the plastic. Using 2000 grit sand paper takes out a very thin layer of the plastic lens. Just go side to side. No circular motions allowed!

[GUNRU-GS4]

Wow, thats a great improvement

[Jewcano]

Originally Posted by Lexizm

Great results man !!! I'm going to try this one; I'm afraid of using the orbital buffer though. I don't want to sand it unevenly and mess up. I think I'm going to do it by hand first.

Are you talking about using the Orbital buffer to sand? If so thats a big NO NO. Use the orbital buffer to polish and just go in swirling motions all along the lense.

[GSteg]

Originally Posted by Jewcano

Are you talking about using the Orbital buffer to sand? If so thats a big NO NO. Use the orbital buffer to polish and just go in swirling motions all along the lense.

I just realized he probably meant using the orbital to sand.

Lexizm, do not use the orbital buffer to sand !!!

[Lexizm]

Originally Posted by GSteg

I just realized he probably meant using the orbital to sand.

Lexizm, do not use the orbital buffer to sand !!!

Thanks guys, I'm goig to do this in a couple weeks. Don't worry sanding by hand, I would have confirmed before I touched the lens.

[chrispy]

Try some 3M rubbing compound after the 2000 grit. I'm sure the buffer will help a lot more though.

[PushinLEX]

Incredible results!!!!

I agree with whomever said to use rubbing compound between the 2000 grit and plastix. After plastix, I would use plastic polish then finalize w/ a coat of wax.

[Chenzo26]

Anyone know where to get 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper? I went to lows and the finest they got there is 600.

[chrispy]

Any autozone or pepboys should carry high grit wetsanding paper.

[GS300Rich]

that is a huge difference, great job

[1SICKLEX]

Stuck, tons of Lexus owners ask about yellowing or dirty headlights...gonna merge some threads...