FTO AUSTRALIA

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





There is a polish applicator pad that screws into this




BEFORE PIC

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



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.


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

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

Step 5.
Repeat all steps to the other light

The imperfections you can see in the lights are on the inside of the cover

At the next DIY day I will try to get a video done of the proses as well to add to this.

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

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.

Matt, a buffer will give it that nice clean transprent look. I've tried the hand version

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

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
Don't want to try it again to find i've rubbed so much material off i end up with a hole

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.

Got the polish out today. took me 30seconds each light. Both look mint again

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.

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.

I actually used furniture polish on mine, turned out pretty decent I must say

I used meguiars plastix with a buffing pad takes about 5-6 applications and turns out pretty good

Such a big difference.

I did mine a while back and shot some video, will edit it one day haha

About that editing part....

Before:
After:

Needs moar polish though

What the headlights or the toe nails?

You drop a grand piano on your toes and see how they look after it... That's what happened lol

Sahin =
Phil =