Headlight Makeover / Wet Sanding Job

[audioguy99]

The weather has been bad here the last couple of days. It's not raining today, but overcast and much colder so I thought I'd spend some time on my sister-in-law's Dodge Stratus (1996 I think). I've been planning on using it as a photo-op for an extreme makeover for my detailing business.

Anyway, spent about 1 1/2 hours on the headlights. I used the small drill pads, Plast-X, M85, 1000 & 1500 papers, and some leftover Gold Class Soap for soaking and spraying the paper. Here's a pic of the products:

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Products.jpg

Here's what the headlights looked like before:

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Left_1.jpg
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Right_1.jpg

A closer pic of the right side shows that it was much worse and had "cracks" all in the surface.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Right_Cracks.jpg
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Right_2.jpg

I began by taping off the left headlight to see what process I would use. I tried 2 passes of Plast-X on the yellow polishing pad with little change. I then tried a pass of M85 on the wool pad. In the following pic you can see that it looks pretty good, but the line of oxidation (or whatever it is) is still there.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Left_Taped.jpg

So I proceeded to try my hand at a little wet sanding with Megs 1500 unigrit paper. I soaked the paper in water with Gold Class Soap (just b/c I had some left over and thought I'd use it up instead of my Hyper Wash), followed the techniques described in the video and MOL. By the way, this is basically the Megs process/product package available at ADS.

It took quite a bit of work, but I was happy with the results. I probably could have used 1000 grit, but didn't until I got to the right side. 1500 did very little on the right, so I went with 1000, followed by 1500.

After sanding, I did 2-3 passes with M85 on the wool pad and then followed with 2 passes with Plast-X on the polishing pad. The headlights came out nearly perfect. There were still some spots that could be better, but I was afraid to keep sanding too much. I tried to get those spots in the pics, but they were really too light for the pics even...so I guess I'm happy:xyxthumbs .

So without further delay, feast upon these pics!! Left first, then right.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Left_1.jpg
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Left_2.jpg
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Left_Close.jpg

Now the right and a close-up with no more "cracks"!!

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Right_1.jpg
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Right_3.jpg
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Right_Close.jpg

I will hopefully be getting to the paint and interior in the coming days. Man, this is fun!!

Jonathan

[BlueZero]

Great job! I have had good luck with wet sanding headlights also. Thanks for taking the time to post photos and share your process with everyone. I didnt have a cool buffer pad for my drill when I did it, just PlastX by hand. Now I have 4" pads for my G100. I will be trying it out some more when the weather warms up.

[Tom Weed]

Nice job, that is a huge difference... :xyxthumbs

[J. A. Michaels]

:iagree: They look brand new. Great writeup and pics.

[TrufflePig aka Calogero]

LOOKS AWESOME!!!

like they're brand new.good job.

what video do you speak of that shows headlight restoration?

[audioguy99]

Thanks for all the comments.

TrufflePig: I am referring to the Megs Paint Defects video that outlines the techniques for wet sanding. It doesn't demonstrate headlight restoration. Sorry if that was a little confusing.

Jonathan

[BlueZero]

Thanks for all the comments.

TrufflePig: I am referring to the Megs Paint Defects video that outlines the techniques for wet sanding. It doesn't demonstrate headlight restoration. Sorry if that was a little confusing.

Jonathan

And just a FYI, those videos are available to watch here... Meguiar's How to Remove Paint Defects (http://www.guidetodetailing.com/articles.php?articleId=31)

[TrufflePig aka Calogero]

ah sweet. thanks. those ones.

to bad you can't rewind and pause these ones though. i've seen some before. i thought you were talking about a new DVD.

[Max U.S.A]

Very impressive! well done:coolgleam

One Q? ur not afraid to collect sand on your pads when you lay them on the ground like that?:eek:

[irsankao]

Jonathan, where did you get the wool and foam pad from?
Man, I love your job, I am gonna try it as soon as I got my missing bits and pieces to get the job done like yours.

[audioguy99]

One Q? ur not afraid to collect sand on your pads when you lay them on the ground like that?:eek:

That was for the pic...I'm usually pretty careful about it. I never let the face of the pad touch the ground though. I actually had a sheet on the ground to place everything on while I was working.

Jonathan, where did you get the wool and foam pad from?


irsankao - got them online from autodetailingsolutions. I think I like them on the drill better than the smaller pads on the PC or rotary - especially if you're going to work on the lights while they're still on the vehicle.

Thanks for all the comments.

Jonathan

[agentm]

Great job. Are the headlight made with glass or plastic cover? It looks like glass to me.

[acsuppa]

Nice job! I can't believe they came out so good. :xyxthumbs

[audioguy99]

agentm: They are plastic.

Thanks again for the comments. They still seem to be holding up just fine.

[the eltij]

damn man thats a very good job man i wish i could do it on mine like that
!

[Carfire]

Nice job!!
What an improvement!
I can not wait to see the other pictures.

[LaRgO]

awesome. what is those "cracks" caused by?! i had them on the surface of mine! it took 600 grit to remove them, they where really nasty

[Mike Phillips]

awesome. what is those "cracks" caused by?! i had them on the surface of mine! it took 600 grit to remove them, they where really nasty

The cracks could be from impact with road debris? I don't know, I went back and read through the thread and no cracks jumped out at me?

Just to note, the OP of this thread hasn't posted since this thread time stamped on Apr 28th, 2007, 08:57 AM


http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20532


Not sure if he'll reply to your question....

:)

[Mister B]

I think this may be the photo with the cracks that was being referred to. You have to look close to see them all.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/Right_Cracks.jpg

They may not actually be cracks in the headlight itself, but possibly cracks in the original factory coating on the headlights. I know some headlights have a UV coating on them. In the previous picture it looks like maybe that coating could have failed, resulting in what looks like small cracks throughout the headlight. After the sanding and buffing process to restore the clarity of the headlights, the old coating was probably removed, which is why the cracks are no longer visible.

[Mike Phillips]

Makes sense.

Thanks for clarifying for myself and everone...

:xyxthumbs

[Eddie6th]

Good work.looks brand new!