headlights

[BFEINZIMER]

bring it on over!

haha dont u live on the east coast jeff?

[mzarifkar]

for plastic i use 1500grit with soapy water
then high speed rotary polish with 3" buffer attached to my drill
with the plastic i find it better to remove material and get the dirt out of the crevices prior to polishing.
You could try a painted applique, but that would trap the dirt and not take away any yellowing.

I do this (plastic headlamp restoration) as a side gig. Its pretty good as the overhead isn't high at all and I usually charge about $50, $75w/ new bulbs installed. My customers love it (seeing at night, that is)

The casings haven't yellowed, just pitted a lot. how would i go about getting the trappings out?

[RallyD]

a detailing clay bar works pretty good at sucking filth from the small crevices.
If they aren't that bad then clay them first, then use plastic polish by hand with some effort to generate a little friction heat.
Any clay bar will work fine but i prefer the mothers bar. meguiars plasticX or mothers plastic polish work well also but you can use a regular car polish with reduced results.

[jnmip]

are your headlights crappi? I even did the 5005/5006 swap deal, still not good lighting. Mine are so sandblasted I wanted to buy new ones to replace them then the idea of just replacing the lenses came about.

After I remembered the old Winfred trick! (who is Winfred?) I used this on the foglights that came from Germany, didnt want rocks to bust them. After spraying they became clear, IE: no sandblasting.

Get a can of SEM chip guard clear, #39803 I was going to tape the things off and I realized, the car isnt worth the tape to I shot a coat on em...WOW they are clear as glass (imagine!). 30 seconds and 5 bux of clear paint and I can fix about 100 cars worth of headlights and they shouldnt chip more.

the SEM chipgard will hopefully prevent further sandblasting but who cares...I can respray and fill them chips.

Instead of staring at them cloudy lookin things every few minutes (We smoke in the garage instead of the house) and wanting to spend a ton of money or tedious work it's done.

Hope this saves some of you some pain.

I got a can of SEM Chip Guard and sprayed it on my cloudy, pitted RH LB and HB and the difference is unbelievable. I had already replaced my LH set and now the RH looks so good that I won't have to replace them. Its tips like this that make me love this site. Thanks Jeff.....U da Man!!!!

[632 Regal]

I stole the idea from a post Winfred posted from the old format of this site.

I got a can of SEM Chip Guard and sprayed it on my cloudy, pitted RH LB and HB and the difference is unbelievable. I had already replaced my LH set and now the RH looks so good that I won't have to replace them. Its tips like this that make me love this site. Thanks Jeff.....U da Man!!!!

[Alexlind123]

I stole the idea from a post Winfred posted from the old format of this site.

still, kudos. i am going to try it.

[ironie]

are your headlights crappi? I even did the 5005/5006 swap deal, still not good lighting. Mine are so sandblasted I wanted to buy new ones to replace them then the idea of just replacing the lenses came about.

After I remembered the old Winfred trick! (who is Winfred?) I used this on the foglights that came from Germany, didnt want rocks to bust them. After spraying they became clear, IE: no sandblasting.

Get a can of SEM chip guard clear, #39803 I was going to tape the things off and I realized, the car isnt worth the tape to I shot a coat on em...WOW they are clear as glass (imagine!). 30 seconds and 5 bux of clear paint and I can fix about 100 cars worth of headlights and they shouldnt chip more.

the SEM chipgard will hopefully prevent further sandblasting but who cares...I can respray and fill them chips.

Instead of staring at them cloudy lookin things every few minutes (We smoke in the garage instead of the house) and wanting to spend a ton of money or tedious work it's done.

Hope this saves some of you some pain.

I am wondering what you think of it almost a year down the road?
Does it hold up well, discolour?
Thats for sharing your tips.
This site has been a treasure trove for those that can search.
Grateful Regards (anyone like the Dead.?)
Ron

[Springfield1952]

My daughter has a 2000 Mitsu Eclipse with these huge light covers that look terrible. Since she doesn't have any money for new covers, I might give this try. Thanks for the tip.

Curt.

[attack eagle]

meguiars (or is it mothers?) metal polish works excellent. The kind without the wadding.

That and a foam pad on your buffer will have them looking like new in no time



EDIT: The comment above only applies to plastic lenses not glass ones. Wanted to throw that in for the record.

[ironie]

meguiars (or is it mothers?) metal polish works excellent. The kind without the wadding.

That and a foam pad on your buffer will have them looking like new in no time

I will definately look into that mate.
Or at least some simular product.
I have been needing a excuse to buy a buffer.
Well thunk.
Thanks

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch...
Heinlein's social theories have thier attactions...
But sadly I think Heinlein was far too optimistic about his fellow man.