Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

It will most likely be available online before you find it at your local jobber, but ultimately it will be available through almost any channel that currently handles our Mirror Glaze line.

[96Lude]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

This is just the same 3M kit that is re-branded with some Meguiar's pads thrown in the mix. In my opinion, it's extremely expensive for even a weekend detailer.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

This is just the same 3M kit that is re-branded with some Meguiar's pads thrown in the mix. In my opinion, it's extremely expensive for even a weekend detailer.

Yes, it is very similar to the 3M kit, no doubt about it. Our sanding/finishing disks are a bit different, our pads most definitely are, as is our use of M105/M205. MSRP is virtually the same, too, meaning you'll likely find it at a street price very comparable to the the 3M kit.

If you break down the cost compared to price charged for a correction on a pair of headlights the kit actually makes a lot of sense, especially if you're doing a lot of headlight restoration. Even if you pay full MSRP for the kit, it will pay for itself after doing just 9 cars, assuming you're charging an average of $79/pair of headlights. If you charge less it will take longer to amortize the cost of the kit. Charge more and you'll pay for it sooner.

Only after correcting 10 or more pairs of headlights do you need to start ordering replacement materials, and even then all you need to order to complete another handful of headlights is a few of the sanding disks.

If you do a lot of headlight restoration, or have seen a need for it but haven't really jumped into the service, this kit just might be perfect for your needs.

[Jeff Brown]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

This is just the same 3M kit that is re-branded with some Meguiar's pads thrown in the mix. In my opinion, it's extremely expensive for even a weekend detailer.

The Meguiar's Professional Headlight and Spot Repair Kit features several additional items over and above the 3M's system and other competitive systems:

Additional Components:
W63 Professional Rotary Backing Plate 3"
S3HP Professional Hand Pad- capable of hand sanding, application of Meguiar's Cleaners, Polishes,Waxes and Dressings
Unigrit 320- 320 grit allows for more efficient repair of severe headlights
Unigrit 1500 Sanding Disc- capable of removing dirt nibs and isolated defects on fresh paint
Ultra Cut Compound and Ultra Finishing Polish provides the ultimate paint defect removal products.
Our economical Unigrit 320, 500 and 800 offer high value and effective defect removal using aluminum oxide abrasives.

Versatile Application:
Headlight and Tail Light repair
For light to severe defect removal on OEM paint (1000 grit followed by Ultra Cut Compound, Easy Buff Knitted Wool Pad, then Ultra Finishing Polish-W9204 Soft Buff Foam Finishing Pad)
Hand Sanding using all abrasives for both headlight and isolated paint defect removal -oem and fresh paint
Defect removal on fresh paint

The system can easily pay for itself after 9 pairs of lamps.

[TurboNed]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Just to get few things right before I order these new 3" & 4" pads, I'll ask few questions:

1. While having both M205 & PlastX laying around, which one will give us better results while using new 4" Soft Buff Polishing Pad?

2. Beside using 3" Easy Buff Knitted Wool Pad & 4" Soft Buff Polishing Pad during headlight restoration, there is no need for 4" Buffing & Finishing Pads, am I correct? If yes, then what for we should use them?

3. Instead of using Pneumatic Mini DA Sander or Polisher, can we achieve same results while G110 polisher?


thanks in advance

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Just to get few things right before I order these new 3" & 4" pads, I'll ask few questions:

1. While having both M205 & PlastX laying around, which one will give us better results while using new 4" Soft Buff Polishing Pad?That sort of depends on how you're using the product and what the condition of the lens is. We packaged the kit with M105/M205 because the intent is to pull out sanding marks, which M105 does beautifully. M205 is just a logical follow up to M105 and a lot of pro detailers will likely have that in their arsenal anyway.

2. Beside using 3" Easy Buff Knitted Wool Pad & 4" Soft Buff Polishing Pad during headlight restoration, there is no need for 4" Buffing & Finishing Pads, am I correct? If yes, then what for we should use them?Do you mean 4" cutting pads since you already mentioned the polishing pads? If you're dealing strictly with headlight restoration then you probably don't need the cutting and finishing pads - the wool will pull out the sanding marks and the polishing pad will refine the finish. But the cutting pad and finishing pads can come in quite handy for spot work, or working on tight/thin/narrow areas via rotary or D/A, whether for correction or wax application.

3. Instead of using Pneumatic Mini DA Sander or Polisher, can we achieve same results while G110 polisher?Yes, we've seen excellent results using a G110/G110v2. Just keep in mind that, even though you're only damp sanding and not truly wet sanding, neither of these tools is rated for wet use. Just so you know.


thanks in advance

Answers in red above - hope they help!

[TurboNed]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Thanks Michael,

Do you know off the hand what the rpm on those mini sander/polisher's?

Also by looking at your review when you guys did headlight restoration, it seems that those are Chicago Pneumatic power tools, am I correct?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

They are indeed Chicago Pneumatic tools.

Speed is variable on both, of course, but I'll have to get back to you on just what the range limits are. Let me see how quickly I can get that info for you.

[TurboNed]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Thanks, I just received email from Meguiars Customer Support about CP's rpms, sander is rated @ 15000 RPM's, while Polisher @ 2500 RPM's.

Few months back friend of mine received Astro Pneumatic 3050 DA Mini Air Sanding & Polishing Kit as a gift, like the one on Amazon's link:

http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-3050-Sanding-Polishing/dp/B000Z97UMC

You think that his tool should be able to do same or near same job as Chicago Pneumatic sander & polisher tools? Because he only has one, while Meguiar's kit includes two?


Nedim

[Jeff Brown]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Thanks, I just received email from Meguiars Customer Support about CP's rpms, sander is rated @ 15000 RPM's, while Polisher @ 2500 RPM's.

Few months back friend of mine received Astro Pneumatic 3050 DA Mini Air Sanding & Polishing Kit as a gift, like the one on Amazon's link:

http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-3050-Sanding-Polishing/dp/B000Z97UMC

You think that his tool should be able to do same or near same job as Chicago Pneumatic sander & polisher tools? Because he only has one, while Meguiar's kit includes two?


Nedim

Hey Bud,
The CP Tools are far superior to the Astro Tool. The tool you are referring to is a Astro DA Sander. The Meguiar's MHSRKIT features a CP DA and a CP Polisher. My suggestion would be to purchase the MHSRNT (No Tools) kit and utilize the W63 Professional Backing Plate and associated pads on a 5/8 Professional Rotary Buffer. This way, you could accomplish the DA Sanding using the Unigrit Sanding and Finishing discs with your Astro Sander, followed up with the Electic buffer for sanding mark removal.
Hope that gives you some clarity....
Thank You
Jeff- Meguiar's

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Thanks, I just received email from Meguiars Customer Support about CP's rpms, sander is rated @ 15000 RPM's, while Polisher @ 2500 RPM's.

Just so that everyone else knows, there is a bit more to it than just these "rated speeds" (and by the way, the speed of the mini DA sander is in OPM's, not RPM's - huge difference there):

Mini Rotary = 2500 RPM’s
Mini DA = 15,000 OPM’s

However, actual speed depends on several variables:

• Compressor CFM and PSI
• Diameter air hose
• Downward pressure from the user
• Type of abrasives/pads on the tool
• Used with foam interface or not
• Smoothness of surface it is being used on

Basically, tool speed ratings are “no load speeds” meaning the speed of the tool spinning in the air with nothing restricting the motion. One can safely assume that actual speeds will be lower than what is stated on the tool or on a spec sheet.

Beyond that, both tools do have speed adjustment knobs on them so you can infinitely adjust the speed, up to their max rated (taking into account all other variables as noted above).

[TurboNed]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Thanks for clearing that up, Michael.

[TurboNed]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Jeff & Michael,
how long will these sanding & foam polishing discs normally last?


Last night I got this kit with the tools, or should I say me and Rick @ ADS custom pieced kit what I need and saved me money there as well plus some other Megs products.

I'm trying to figure out how much I will be charging my customers once I get this kit and get some practice with it, but to be able to do it I need to know life span of these discs.


Doing headlight restoration with this type of process instead of Megs drill attachment wool & PlastX, my expenses will be much higher so should pricing as well.
That's what most pro detailers do when it comes to this process, right?

[Jeff Brown]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Jeff & Michael,
how long will these sanding & foam polishing discs normally last?


Last night I got this kit with the tools, or should I say me and Rick @ ADS custom pieced kit what I need and saved me money there as well plus some other Megs products.

I'm trying to figure out how much I will be charging my customers once I get this kit and get some practice with it, but to be able to do it I need to know life span of these discs.


Doing headlight restoration with this type of process instead of Megs drill attachment wool & PlastX, my expenses will be much higher so should pricing as well.
That's what most pro detailers do when it comes to this process, right?

Responding to your questions:
This process is far more advanced and will provide superior results to the consumer kit on moderate to severe headlights. Hence, you should be able to charge more. Average sized headlamps will typically require the following discs:
S3320- 2-3 discs
S3500- 2 discs
S3800- 2 discs
S31000 ~.50 discs
S3F3000~ .50 discs
.25oz M105
.25 M205

I have a more thorough labor/materials analysis I will try to post later. I would charge anywhere from $75 - $100 per pair. Average Materials cost should run around $15 or so.
Hope this helps. Remember, smaller lenses may require less , larger lenses....more.
Good luck. Please post results of your experience as soon as you do some lenses.

[TurboNed]

Re: Professional Headlight & Spot Repair Kit

Thank you Jeff,
I will post some pics of it once I get it next monday, my brother should be coming in sometimes soon so I'll practice on his semi truck's headlight & fog lights

You said average material cost should run around $15, that's for 2 average size headlights, am I correct?

I believe that was you that demonstrated how to use this kit at one of Megs shows with the lady filming you (youtube's video clip that I watched a couple of times)

BTW if you get a chance please post more labor/materials analysis