Plastic headlight reconditioning

[A.J.]

I like many of you, I have yellowed or oxidized headlights. The shop that I work at has a chemical rep that came in and demonstrated this stuff to recondition headlights. I was skeptical but he made my bosses mid '90's Ford Ranger headlights look like new so I bought the kit and did mine, my g/f Mom's '90 N/A van, and my Mom's '89 turbo van. I only did the headlights (because I'm lazy) but it works on marker and tail lights too. I'm not trying to push this stuff, it's just what I used. I'm going to tell you how to do it so if someone wants to experiment with other stuff so be it. Also I have more before and after pics if these aren't enough.

First you wet sand the lens' with 400 grit sand paper. The kit comes with stuff to add to the water. I don't see why you can't just use tap water.
Second you wet sand with 1000 grit sand paper.
Third you wet sand with 2000 grit sand paper.
Fourth you rinse and wipe down with a lint free cloth.
Fifth you wipe down with an alcohol wipe.
Sixth you apply the clear coat with one of those foam brushes you would use to stain furniture. Then you turn on your lights and let dry.

The kit comes with all the stuff you need, my cost was $25. I don't see why you couldn't use clear coat spray paint. If you don't buy the kit and cut corners, don't cry to me if you mess up your lens' and have to by new ones.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/beforeboth.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/afterboth.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/before1-1.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/after1-1.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/package.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/packagecloseup.jpg

A.J.

[raccoon]

looks great, I don't know if the kit is worth 25 dollars, you get the same results from wet sanding and using some plastic polish.

[RoadWarrior222]

There's some other car sites have stickies on similar procedures, no clear coat though, usually use fine to really fine sandpaper, then fine steel wool, then cream cleanser, then brasso or something like that.

I have a spare set of lights I can play with for this when I get around to it.

[RoadWarrior222]

Oh, some people are using acetone on them for the rough job when the surface is kinda more sticky than chalky, you'll see what I mean if you scrape it with a thumbnail. Need to let it harden off again before final finish that way.

Edit: Another thought. When they're just starting to cloud you can often get them buffed out with brasso or other abrasive metal polish, rouge etc, without having to do the full bit.

[A.J.]

I worked for a junk yard that use to wet sand then polish the lights with a buffing compound and buffer, but they never came out good as with this clear coat I put on from the kit. Also the sales rep said this is suppose to last four or more years. We'll see.

A.J.

[stargazer7467]

where did you get it didnt see it on the site.

[A.J.]

I got it from the Granitize sales representative that comes into our shop. That's why I included a pic of the information on the package.

A.J.

[A.J.]

I got to try my cleaned up headlights this morning. What a difference. I was contemplating installing driving lights be cause my headlights were so dim. Not anymore.

A.J.

[mwrenn]

Thanks for posting the info. I tried to do the lenses on my wife's intrepid and screwed em up LOL. Wound up buying new assemblies for $260 each. OUCH!!

[raccoon]

^^ lol what did you use? 60grit?

[mwrenn]

No, I started with 1000 grit, then 2000, then I got some 3M finesse II polishing compound and a high speed buffer. I couldn't get rid of the 2k scratches though. If I would have clear coated them, they probably would have been fine, I didn't know that though. LOL The new ones look good, I would have rather spent the $$ on a calibration for my Lancer though.