New DIY Head light Polishing.

Do It Yourself. Feeling game try some of the mods outlined in here. Some of these can be peformed by novices others require a substantial amount of knowledge before attempting them

If you are not sure about something ASK

Moderators: IMC, Club Staff

User avatar
aza013
NSW Coordinator
Posts: 9087
jedwabna poszewka promocja
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:00 pm
Location: The Shire
Contact:

New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by aza013 »

Head light polishing

Ok first thing you will need is to get some things from the auto shop if you don’t already have them.
List of things:-
• Brite Shine Wadding polish
• Scratch X 2.0 polish
• Autosol Metal Polish
• Wet and dry sand paper ( 600–1000-1200-1500-2000 grit )
• Buffing wheel
• Drill
• Polish applicator for the drill
• Spray bottle for water or bucket
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
There is a polish applicator pad that screws into this

Image
Image

BEFORE PIC
Image
Step 1.
Now that you have all your bits and pieces let’s get started.
Take some of the 600grit and your spray bottle/bucket with water, wet the sand paper and light (this must be done at regular intervals). Start at one side of the light using a circular motion over the lights, this will be to take off the film that is pealing of the lights giving it that faded tacky look. Keep the circular motions small don’t try to do all the light in one hit.
The light will start to get a milky look to it don’t worry about that as it will come clear once you have finished all the steps. Pending on how bad your lights are this step can take some time, just keep going until all the film is removed.
As you can see by the pic bellow you need to keep sanding until the world map is gone :lol:

Image
Image
Step 2.
Repeat step 1 with 1000 grit paper and water ( don’t forget to keep wetting sand paper and lights every 30 seconds or so ). This step should be done until all the bigger scratches have been removed.
Follow this up with the 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit papers using the same patterns.
After you get to the 2000 grit the lights should start to look smooth and clear, if not repeat the 2000 grit again.
Image

Step 3.
Time to start with the polish.
Get some of your Brite shine wadding and apply some metal polish to it cover the lights with this the same way you did the sanding (no water this time). Once the light has had a good covering of the polish get your drill and polish applicator and go over the light, keep in mind that the polish should still have a wet look to it, if not add some of the scratch X polish to the light. At this point yes your car will start to get polish splatters all over it, this will wash of later.
The lights will now start looking like new :D

Step 4.
Grab your buffing pad and drill and give the light a good buffing to remove the polish.
Now apply some of the scratch X polish (not a lot) and spread it over the lights with your fingers. Give it a hit with your polish applicator and drill again then buff off.
This should now leave your light as it was when it was put on the car at the factory :D

Step 5.
Repeat all steps to the other light :?

The imperfections you can see in the lights are on the inside of the cover :(
Image
User avatar
aza013
NSW Coordinator
Posts: 9087
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:00 pm
Location: The Shire
Contact:

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by aza013 »

At the next DIY day I will try to get a video done of the proses as well to add to this.
silverGPX
9.5"
Posts: 6793
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:00 pm

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by silverGPX »

Do i have to use a buffer?

I have scratch X and all the required Sandpaper, but i think i need a coarser polish, i cant find those brands you mentioned.

Any well known polish brand names you suggest to use? Should i use just a cut or a cut AND polish before the scratch X
User avatar
Eltnot
Mechanic
Posts: 422
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:00 pm
Location: Stafford, Brisbane, QLD

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by Eltnot »

If people have problems locating 2000 grit sand paper, go to a paint shop. I tried Bunnings and various other stores and in the end found it at the local paint shop.
User avatar
Gholdwayne
Oldtimer
Posts: 2657
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:00 pm
Location: The edge of Woodcroft. Edgewood!
Contact:

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by Gholdwayne »

Matt, a buffer will give it that nice clean transprent look. I've tried the hand version :evil:
97 GPX Icelle Blue

I cant stop driving her!
...and when im not, im looking at her!
... ...and when im not, im freakin thinking about her!

FTO[For The Orgasm]
like For The Win!, but more hardcore...
silverGPX
9.5"
Posts: 6793
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:00 pm

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by silverGPX »

Well actually i just got some rubbing compound and did it without and sandpaper on one of them lol and its clear as f**k
User avatar
mosti
Mechanic
Posts: 500
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:00 pm
Location: Melbourne

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by mosti »

Just wondering how many times this can be done? I polished up my headlights about 8months ago and they came out like brand new. They're fucked again now :roll:
Don't want to try it again to find i've rubbed so much material off i end up with a hole :lol:
User avatar
aza013
NSW Coordinator
Posts: 9087
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:00 pm
Location: The Shire
Contact:

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by aza013 »

You would only need to polish them to bring them back now. No sanding needed after you have done it before.
Unless you did not get all the sh*t off them the first time that is.
User avatar
mosti
Mechanic
Posts: 500
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:00 pm
Location: Melbourne

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by mosti »

Got the polish out today. took me 30seconds each light. Both look mint again :twisted:
User avatar
payaya
Oldtimer
Posts: 3670
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:00 pm

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by payaya »

Mine use to always dull up but the last time I did it I used Meguires Speed Cutter, Meguires wet look polish and Meguires NTX Tech Wax and they have remained clear for ages!

Not sure which product it was but I am pretty sure the wax has kept the lens clear.
clif
Apprentice
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:11 pm

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by clif »

Good job dude!

I used a buffer but put a dent in it as it got too hot, so will try by hand next time, cheers.
User avatar
Daniel2019
Oldtimer
Posts: 7957
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 12:25 pm
Location: Sydney!
Contact:

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by Daniel2019 »

I actually used furniture polish on mine, turned out pretty decent I must say :D
I fix cars.
Bennoz wrote:I got Bali beli & sharted on my phone. But it was fun :D
bjk wrote:you old people are no help at all.
User avatar
gabs
Apprentice
Posts: 40
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:11 pm
Location: Merrylands,Sydney

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by gabs »

I used meguiars plastix with a buffing pad takes about 5-6 applications and turns out pretty good :)
User avatar
the real technikhaus
Apprentice
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:58 pm
Location: Dunedin/ Auckland - NZ
Contact:

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by the real technikhaus »

Such a big difference.

I did mine a while back and shot some video, will edit it one day haha :P
User avatar
Technikhaus
Oldtimer
Posts: 3656
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2011 4:45 pm
Location: Dunedin - NZ
Contact:

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by Technikhaus »

About that editing part....
Man '96 FTO GPX
Man '89 Legacy RS Rally car
Man '90 MR2 GT
Auto '08 Fairmont Ghia
User avatar
Sahin
HULK
Posts: 5518
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:38 pm
Location: Up to me nuts in boys guts

New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by Sahin »

Before: Image
After:
Image
User avatar
Sahin
HULK
Posts: 5518
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:38 pm
Location: Up to me nuts in boys guts

New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by Sahin »

Needs moar polish though
User avatar
PHIL069
Oldtimer
Posts: 4719
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:00 pm
Location: Central Coast > South Australia

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by PHIL069 »

What the headlights or the toe nails?
Last edited by PHIL069 on Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Sahin
HULK
Posts: 5518
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:38 pm
Location: Up to me nuts in boys guts

New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by Sahin »

You drop a grand piano on your toes and see how they look after it... That's what happened lol
User avatar
PHIL069
Oldtimer
Posts: 4719
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:00 pm
Location: Central Coast > South Australia

Re: New DIY Head light Polishing.

Post by PHIL069 »

Sahin = :cry:
Phil = :lol:
Post Reply