headlight restoration with 1500, 2000, PLastX

[Dinomon]

They look awsome!! It might come handy for me for my other cars.

[UncleRay]

That stuff!

[cliffud]

to make it super clear, pick up a set of clear overlays from xpel or 3m or some other brand and it will give your headlights that "wet look" 24/7.

[UncleRay]

Wth Cliff? I want to get RID of it, not hide it.

[cliffud]

huh? what amber part are you talking about? the small headlight? that's just a normal halogen bulb that needs to be replaced with diff blue bulb.

[UncleRay]

Sorry, I think I'm not clear on my part ^_^

The circled piece in red

[splitter]

awesome... till date I always got the headlamp glasses changed after some time of they getting scratched...
now on I will give them a shot

[cpone]

Here is the thing though, how do you keep it like that?
With the Plastix it removes the UV protection on the plastic so it turns yellowish in a few months.

Is there like a clear UV protectant available?

[ridah]

Originally Posted by cpone

Here is the thing though, how do you keep it like that?
With the Plastix it removes the UV protection on the plastic so it turns yellowish in a few months.

Is there like a clear UV protectant available?

I would like to know too.


When sanding did you using a sanding block? The only one I saw for sale was huge, like the side of a nintendo DS and it weighted a lot. I don't know how that would do on the curved surfaces of the lights.

Is that what you guys used for those who sanded by hand?

[cpone]

Okay so I tried this on Saturday and I did not get the same results as posted above. They still look hazy.

Should I be doing straight back and forth motions?
Circular?
Both?

I was doing straight back and forth motions.
Started with 1000 Grit.
Move up to 1500 Grit.
Then onto 2000 Girt.

I Tried looking for 2500 Grit and 3000 Grit but could not find any.

Last step was Plastix.

I did one side with the above method and the other with JUST plastix.

Before Sanding:
Right Side-



Left Side (this is the side I sanded)




During:

1000 grit


1500 grit


2000 grit



Plastix




Final Results:


What did I do wrong here?
I thought I buffed long enough. I wet sanded with the water pouring over the sanding every step of the way but the Results clearly show that JUST the plastix right side alone looks clearer then the left side with sanding and plastix.

[subwoofers]

does the scratches come back after months? how many times do you folks use plastix?

[pitmanr200]

Ok Im going to try 1000 /2000/ plastx this weekend. I have a cheap ROB and I was wandering if I should use terry cloth bonnet or what to polish plastx.

[Jewcano]

Cpone, if you are ever going by Jacksonville, hit me up, I'll make them look new . I'll post a pic tomorrow of mine. I just cleaned them up again the other day .

As promised:
Here are my simple tools that I use for polishing my headlights (minus the sandpaper, because everyone knows what that is)


Here is what the headlights look like when you dab on the product with the the drill:


Then you proceed to buff it all over the headlight, and go over it a few times. Once done you pull out the Microfiber cloth and give it a good rub down. The end result is this:


I have more photo's if anyone needs them for reference. Just ask, I'll also guide folks through who want results like these, just let me know.

[pitmanr200]

I would like to see pics before and the whole process of sanding and all.

[pitmanr200]

whats the mothers plastix for. did you use both