Headlight restoration kit?

[WhiskeyRock-a-roller]

Who has used it?

What is the polishing attachment for your drill? I havn't seen one personally, but from the glimpse I can see in the picture on the Product info page it looks like a yellow "powerball"

Is it???? or is it a different type of foam?

Just wondering whether to just buy Plastic-X on its own, or cross the border to get the kit... Or to save the trip and just buy Plastic-X and a powerball, or some 3" pads (though that gets expensive)
Like everyhting else we don't get it up here....

I was considering heading down to get some other goodies anyways... So who knows. I just don't wanna waste my time or money (though i have never been disappointed with a Meguiars product)

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Headlight restoration kit?

Here's a Mike showing it at the April 2 TNG
Pictures from Thursday Night Open Garage - April 2nd, 2009

[wildfoxsr]

Re: Headlight restoration kit?

The little yellow thing you see is a Buffing pad it attaches to any drill. because I have one.Haven't used it yet because the weather hasn't been good yet.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Headlight restoration kit?

The kit comes with a wool drill attachment which will offer pretty decent cutting ability. The Mothers Powerball is a gentle foam. Not sure if the Powerball will have the cut needed for heavy oxidation.

You could always try buying the PlastX and using the Powerball you already have- if that isn't enough, then go for the full kit.

[captaincog]

Re: Headlight restoration kit?

The kit comes with a wool drill attachment which will offer pretty decent cutting ability. The Mothers Powerball is a gentle foam. Not sure if the Powerball will have the cut needed for heavy oxidation.

You could always try buying the PlastX and using the Powerball you already have- if that isn't enough, then go for the full kit.

Actually I have tried several methods as different ideas arose. Here is what I have learned:
1. Many of the plastic headlights have UV coatings to help prevent the plastic from fogging over a period of time. If/when the coating fails, the only way is to remove the failed coating. Any of the following methods work to some degree, depending on the severity of the damage to the headlight.
2. The first method I tried was using PlastX using several applicator types by hand. Some haze was removed, but since the damager was really severe on my PT (I bought this one used), not much improvement was noticed.
3. Tried a competing product with the same results. Only difference was the competing product also gave directions for wet sanding and then using their product afterwards. My experience tells me that the wet sanding was the real method that removed the coating.
4. I then tried the powerball and PlastX. Not real good results, so onto the Meguiars DA and the PlastX. Better since I had already wet sanded the headlamps and this removed the fine sanding marks. Not perfect though.
5. Using the Meguiars headlamp restoration kit. I also used a more powerful 1/2 drive corded drill that has the side handle (this gave me more control). I did notice on the fresh polishing bonnet a lot of discharge of loose fibers as the bonnet broke in. Several patient passes on each headlight produced the best results.
6. I used the restoration on my wife's one PT headlamp that is also showing damage from the sun (the other was replaced after an accident, so it is still to new yet). Damage to the coating is still visible, but the kit made it much easier to clean up. Again, not perfect, but better than it was.
7. Finally, about once a month, I take and work in some PlastX by hand to each headlight. From my observations, it seems that the PlastX also conditions and cleans the headlamp more thoroughly than just car wash.
I do recommend the kit. The only other product that I have not tried is a kit that claims to use a clear coat compound that replaced the previously removed clear after wet sanding.
Why all this trouble? Why not replace the headlamps? IMHO there are too many cheap knock offs and I enjoy trying these things out.
I hope that this helps.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Headlight restoration kit?

Actually I have tried several methods as different ideas arose. Here is what I have learned:
1. Many of the plastic headlights have UV coatings to help prevent the plastic from fogging over a period of time. If/when the coating fails, the only way is to remove the failed coating. Any of the following methods work to some degree, depending on the severity of the damage to the headlight.
2. The first method I tried was using PlastX using several applicator types by hand. Some haze was removed, but since the damager was really severe on my PT (I bought this one used), not much improvement was noticed.
3. Tried a competing product with the same results. Only difference was the competing product also gave directions for wet sanding and then using their product afterwards. My experience tells me that the wet sanding was the real method that removed the coating.
4. I then tried the powerball and PlastX. Not real good results, so onto the Meguiars DA and the PlastX. Better since I had already wet sanded the headlamps and this removed the fine sanding marks. Not perfect though.
5. Using the Meguiars headlamp restoration kit. I also used a more powerful 1/2 drive corded drill that has the side handle (this gave me more control). I did notice on the fresh polishing bonnet a lot of discharge of loose fibers as the bonnet broke in. Several patient passes on each headlight produced the best results.
6. I used the restoration on my wife's one PT headlamp that is also showing damage from the sun (the other was replaced after an accident, so it is still to new yet). Damage to the coating is still visible, but the kit made it much easier to clean up. Again, not perfect, but better than it was.
7. Finally, about once a month, I take and work in some PlastX by hand to each headlight. From my observations, it seems that the PlastX also conditions and cleans the headlamp more thoroughly than just car wash.
I do recommend the kit. The only other product that I have not tried is a kit that claims to use a clear coat compound that replaced the previously removed clear after wet sanding.
Why all this trouble? Why not replace the headlamps? IMHO there are too many cheap knock offs and I enjoy trying these things out.
I hope that this helps.

Good to know- thanks for sharing your experiences!

(I bolded it for the Cliff Notes version...)

[allencarey]

Re: Headlight restoration kit?

If the headlight is real bad by pass that wet Sand and hit it with 3M plastic cleaner and 3M polish and they come out almost perfect . wet sand by hand so you dont Burn throu . Them use the 3 M products with ur polisher they have great results .

[WhiskeyRock-a-roller]

Re: Headlight restoration kit?

Thanks for the replies!

I'll have to grab a kit when I cross the border...