Tweet
I just almost completed a headlight restoration on my car. About a year ago I tried the 3m kit with my drill, and there was improvement but not up to par at all.
So I went out a bought a Dewalt 849x Rotary which I lover better than my old Porter Cable rotary since when it has the RPM speed setting on it and electronic controls to keep that speed once the motor is under load.
The Headlights werent scratched but has tiny defects that made a christmas light effect when the lights were on.
I started with m205 at 600 rpm on a 9000 pad and didn't achieve much correction
I moved up to m105 at 1000 rmp on a 8000 pad, better but far from ideal
Next m105 at 1400 rpm on a wool cutting pad. Finally correction but amazingly slow.
Are these plastic mercedes headlight part iron or what. I spent and hour between 2 headlights and have almost achieved perfection. I found that working on one and then switching to the other allowed the plastic lens to cool. Trust me I didnt wanna take a chance blowing this with and burns.
Since I had to call it quits for today, I used a Porter Cable Wool finishing pad with 205, followed with the 9000 pad also with 205.
I will post some pics (did it with the headlights on since that's when i really see the problems.)
Thinking of wetsanding some problem areas with 800, then 2000, then 3000 if needed.
Any different suggestions, or comments?
BTW I learned how to use a rotary on a old red ford (I think an escort) bought for $1000 for my son as a first car. It was a mess and I was amazed at what I achieved with a wool cutting and then a wool polishing pad. I also did the hood on an old Mercedes the guy down the street has. Also amazing. Thanks to this forum and the Meguiar's video's online I finally learned something about how to CORRECTLY do a car.
What got me into it again is my sons BMW was sideswiped with a tiny crease in the rear quarter panel, but all the other cars paint on it and the scratches made it look horrible. Needless to say he was amazed what a little rotary work could achieve. Its no longer noticeable unless you look for it (thank God for silver cars
So I went out a bought a Dewalt 849x Rotary which I lover better than my old Porter Cable rotary since when it has the RPM speed setting on it and electronic controls to keep that speed once the motor is under load.
The Headlights werent scratched but has tiny defects that made a christmas light effect when the lights were on.
I started with m205 at 600 rpm on a 9000 pad and didn't achieve much correction
I moved up to m105 at 1000 rmp on a 8000 pad, better but far from ideal
Next m105 at 1400 rpm on a wool cutting pad. Finally correction but amazingly slow.
Are these plastic mercedes headlight part iron or what. I spent and hour between 2 headlights and have almost achieved perfection. I found that working on one and then switching to the other allowed the plastic lens to cool. Trust me I didnt wanna take a chance blowing this with and burns.
Since I had to call it quits for today, I used a Porter Cable Wool finishing pad with 205, followed with the 9000 pad also with 205.
I will post some pics (did it with the headlights on since that's when i really see the problems.)
Thinking of wetsanding some problem areas with 800, then 2000, then 3000 if needed.
Any different suggestions, or comments?
BTW I learned how to use a rotary on a old red ford (I think an escort) bought for $1000 for my son as a first car. It was a mess and I was amazed at what I achieved with a wool cutting and then a wool polishing pad. I also did the hood on an old Mercedes the guy down the street has. Also amazing. Thanks to this forum and the Meguiar's video's online I finally learned something about how to CORRECTLY do a car.
What got me into it again is my sons BMW was sideswiped with a tiny crease in the rear quarter panel, but all the other cars paint on it and the scratches made it look horrible. Needless to say he was amazed what a little rotary work could achieve. Its no longer noticeable unless you look for it (thank God for silver cars
Comment