how do you clean the plastic headlight lens?

[Arts_1_8t]

so my headlights are starting to look, well starting to get foggy. my friend suggests wet sanding. he gave me a 800 and 2000 grit sand paper and told me to use a bucket of soapy water. anyways, i cut a small piece of the 2000 grit paper, and tried a little corner on my head light, and started a back and forth motion. it started fogging up, im like ohhh!!! grabbed mother's cleaner wax and its starting to clear up. i guess i have to keep going with the wet sanding.

any ideas on what i can do? anything thats not so harsh? i can feel all the rocks that hit the lens and all the pits and stuff. really bumpy. what about, "flitzing it?" lol saw an info-mercial on it.

thanks in advance,

Art

[SYNYSTAGLI]

so my headlights are starting to look, well starting to get foggy. my friend suggests wet sanding. he gave me a 800 and 2000 grit sand paper and told me to use a bucket of soapy water. anyways, i cut a small piece of the 2000 grit paper, and tried a little corner on my head light, and started a back and forth motion. it started fogging up, im like ohhh!!! grabbed mother's cleaner wax and its starting to clear up. i guess i have to keep going with the wet sanding.

any ideas on what i can do? anything thats not so harsh? i can feel all the rocks that hit the lens and all the pits and stuff. really bumpy. what about, "flitzing it?" lol saw an info-mercial on it.

thanks in advance,

Art Potterman ;) When mine started to cloud up i bought the GLI lights from him. Made the car look brand new!

[Arts_1_8t]

linky to pottermans?

[PWRPUFF]

Try Meguiars PlastX. Though it won't totally reverse the aging, it does help clear up the surface, which is where most of the damage is.

Afterwards, wax the lens. Let that take the UV instead.

-- Kane

[Greenwing]

Found this on Vortex.

Wet sand with 1500 grit in back and forth mouvement until the surface is smooth. Depending on how bad is the surface it may takes around half an hour of wet sanding for each one.

After that wash the lenses and continue with Turtle wax polish (heavy duty -red label) for another 15 minutes for each lense.Use always a dampen cloth.

The next step is polishing with Turtle wax polish (light formula- green label) for another 15 min or so.

Wash the lenses and dry them.

Use a metal polish (Mother's or Blue magic - smells like amonia).

Polish them with metal polish until the desired mirror look is obtained.

The result (depending on your patience) is like the original.

I didn't notice any haze or yellow film after this treatment.

And btw after the last polishing, wax them with a layer of good sinthetic carnauba wax. It makes miracles.

[mitssn]

linky to pottermans?

Potterman = www.parts4vws.com (http://www.parts4vws.com)

[Arts_1_8t]

thanks dood!!! :tup:

[Arts_1_8t]

doh...alittle pricey. looks like ima have to try wetsanding these

[creanium]

doh...alittle pricey. looks like ima have to try wetsanding these
Just get some e-codes. :)

[GTi_01]

doh...alittle pricey. looks like ima have to try wetsanding these

think we came across this before... Clicky (http://www.socaleuro.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10802&highlight=sanding)

.

[Arts_1_8t]

how long do i stay with the 1500, then to 2000, and then 3000. the 1500 is freaking me out cuz the lens is all scratched up and hazey. i only did a corner of the len

btw, went to kragen and pepboys, they only go up to 2000 grit. home depot only goes up to 400 grit. where can i get 3000?

[SYNYSTAGLI]

Just get some e-codes. :) :tup: :tup:

[Greenwing]

how long do i stay with the 1500, then to 2000, and then 3000. the 1500 is freaking me out cuz the lens is all scratched up and hazey. i only did a corner of the len

btw, went to kragen and pepboys, they only go up to 2000 grit. home depot only goes up to 400 grit. where can i get 3000?

hehehe, it's okay. The wetsanding will leave it a little hazy. I found another thread on vortex talking about a plastic wetsanding kit some people used.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2399085

The kit...
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=80939

From a couple of the posts in the thread, this kit worked miracles on the lenses. One of the things mentioned in the thread is that it is important to only sand in one direction, don't use a circular motion.

[Brk4Euros]

This is a really easy process, no matter which you choose. However it is imperative that you take your time! I have done many of my clients headlights and they were just amazed with the clarity that you can bring back on your aging plastic lenses. I am going to be doing mine here within the next month, so I will post a full "how to" on this with tons of pics. I am finally getting my new camera in the mail today!!

til' then here is a quick how to ....


Before you start make sure you have:

1. Various grades of wet sandpaper from 800 grade to 3000(if you can find it)
2. Sanding block of some sort
3. Bucket with water and a small amount of quality car wash disolved in it
4. A swirl removing car/plastic polish-- Meguairs, Mothers, 3M etc.
5. Metal polish
6. A power buffer (if you have one, save mondo time) or foam/100% cotton/microfiber
7. Microfibre cloths
8. Some good lighting
9. Maybe a beer once your all done!

Use the 800 grit sandpaper and start sanding the surface of the lights lengthwise in only a side to side motion. DON'T CHANGE DIRECTIONS (ie..up/down or circles). Spray the surface of the headlights with water to lube them, and start to sand, you don't have to push hard.

Repeat the above procedures with 1500, 2000, & if you have it use the 3000 (this just helps the finishing process, you don't NEED it)

Now check em out after you have wiped them dry. You will notice that there is a ton of micro marring. Inspect them to make sure that you have not missed any areas.

Your next step is to begin polishing. Apply with a waxing pad of your choice. You want to begin with the metal polish, buffing them from right to left etc, to remove most of the marring ( this is where a buffer comes in handy!)

Next, use your swirl removing polish and go at it the same way you worked the metal polish.

Both polishing steps are gonna inquire patience...especially if you plan on doing it by hand.

After you have done your final inspection and they are shiny and clear as can be, I would suggest that you throw a coat of wax/sealant on them for protection. Ok maybe 2 or 3 coats if you are anal like me!

[Arts_1_8t]

whoa!!! thanks guys

Thanks chris for the great write-up, i'll start this up this weekend or when i get some time.

:tup: :tup:

[Brk4Euros]

whoa!!! thanks guys

Thanks chris for the great write-up, i'll start this up this weekend or when i get some time.

:tup: :tup:
No problem Art! If you have any problems at all just give me a call or shoot me a pm.

[GTi_01]

how long do i stay with the 1500, then to 2000, and then 3000. the 1500 is freaking me out cuz the lens is all scratched up and hazey. i only did a corner of the len
btw, went to kragen and pepboys, they only go up to 2000 grit. home depot only goes up to 400 grit. where can i get 3000?

3000 grit will be "spongie" like. its just to smooth out. its made by 3M. maybe autozone has it. i used to work in a bodyshop (they'll have itfor sure) so i always had access to it.
on another note, after the areas you want done, you're gonna have to buff the hell outta it either with a rag and trizac (rubbing compound) or an electric buffer as chris pointed out which WILL save you lots of time.

[nanobot6]

Try Meguiars PlastX. Though it won't totally reverse the aging, it does help clear up the surface, which is where most of the damage is.

Afterwards, wax the lens. Let that take the UV instead.

-- Kane

I second this post.

Meguiars PlastX is the truth