vybz05

So a while back i managed avoid an accident with a cab. Barley touched him and ended up with a nice little graze on my passenger side headlamp. Its been liek that for over 2 years, but now I think id like to tackle it and do a headlight restore... Its a light graze and I think it can be sanded out, I just need some advice on techniques and what grit to use. I see a lot of posts here on the org relating to wetsanding the lamps for clarity, which is a great help, however, I am looking to firstly remove this gash if possible. Any Ideas? thanks!

nelledge

iTrader: (6)

You still need to wetsand the area. Just start with a coarser grit than you would when removing haze. Try something like 600 and see if that gets it. If not, you can go a little coarser. The best technique to use when wetsanding the lens by hand is to alternate up-down and left-right motion with left and right diagonal motion for each grit. +x+x+...

guarj17

I believe the guy that did my headlights started out with 500 then 800 dry. Then not sure what he went to with the wetsand, but he sanded a lot down it would have taken that out im pretty sure.

vybz05

is it uncommon for one to use an actual sander to do the headlights? or is it recommended to do it by hand?

guarj17

I am not sure what most people use, but the guy that did mine used a hand dremel like this but the tip stuck out a little more so your hand wouldnt be as close to the light:



He had a hole bunch of circular sanding pads that went on velcro in the front of the dremel. Looked like it was very easy the way he was doing it.

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

Using a power sander is a practiced art. It will cut through the plastic faster than hand sanding. You have to sand with less pressure and I use a finer paper then I would if doing it by hand. The other negative thing to using a sander is that you only need to do a small area and a power sander is more suited for large areas.

Chris Gregg

iTrader: (59)

I've used a power drill with the 3M kit. However, on lenses with greater haze or the kind of scuffing you show, I use a coarser paper by hand for greater control over that area.
You have to be extremely careful whatever drill/drimmel you use, if you go too slow or too much force, you will begin to melt the plastic lens and it will look like you've smeared modeling glue on the lens. Just makes finishing harder if not carefull. And exactly why with coarser paper you want to slow down and do that area by hand. Avoid more damage that way.

nsnrider

iTrader: (59)

if it was me, i'd hit it with 400 grit wet, then 600 grit, and slowly move up to 1200 grit wet. I use warm water with some dish soap to aid in sanding. mask of the bumper cover, fender and hood with good masking tape so you don't damage the paint.

then hit it with rubbing compound by 3m, and finish it of with polishing compound and foam pad.

And some wax to seal it off.

Its a bit of work but produces superior results.

Ghost_54

iTrader: (13)

When ever I have done any restoration on my head lamps I have always done them by hand so I can feel the lens and control the pressure being applied and always used wet sand paper. For the scuff you are going to be removing I would start with 400 grit wet paper (a little dish soap in the water helps the paper from getting clogged) and always sand in one direction, such as back and forth (never circular) and don't change directions (no up and down). Wash off the lens and dry and check your progress, then move to either 600 or 800 and repeat process. Wash dry off the lens check progress move up to 1000 grit same process and then 1500 grit same process and finish with 2000 grit. You should see a steady progress in reducing the scuff marks all the way to silky smooth. Do a final wash and dry, the lens should appear cloudy ... apply some Meguiars Plast-X polish with a sponge applicator by hand, (apply just as you would a car wax) here is where you can use a buffer or (continue by hand applying more pressure) I finish my Len's off using my Porta Cable polisher and the Len's come out crystal clear.

Good luck, your scuff doesn't look to bad and should come right out.

vybz05

^ Wicked good advice... I think ill do the aforementioned. Thanks!