Headlight Restoration( Wet Sanding )
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Join Date: Nov 2006
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It is a good start Jim, but if you just leave them like that, what you have done is remove the outer coating and open pored.
FdJordan let me recommend that you think about using a clear coat, designed for plastic that has UV protection like the link below, it will provide years of protection, and a finish you can buff with polishing compound.
Fusion for Plastic® Clear - | Krylon
FdJordan let me recommend that you think about using a clear coat, designed for plastic that has UV protection like the link below, it will provide years of protection, and a finish you can buff with polishing compound.
Fusion for Plastic® Clear - | Krylon
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Join Date: Feb 2014
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Well done FdJordan!
For the benefit of other members, could you please tell us the sequence of sandpaper grits you used and what product you used for the final polish?
Also, before you wax your clear coat, check the can for clues as to how long it takes the product to fully cure. For example, the Krylon product David recommended states that it is "Fully chip resistant after 7 days." Cure times typically depend on ambient temperatures and humidity.
When I've had paint work done on our autos the body shops have usually advised me to wait 30 days before waxing to allow the paint and clear coat to fully cure.
Cheers,
Don
For the benefit of other members, could you please tell us the sequence of sandpaper grits you used and what product you used for the final polish?
Also, before you wax your clear coat, check the can for clues as to how long it takes the product to fully cure. For example, the Krylon product David recommended states that it is "Fully chip resistant after 7 days." Cure times typically depend on ambient temperatures and humidity.
When I've had paint work done on our autos the body shops have usually advised me to wait 30 days before waxing to allow the paint and clear coat to fully cure.
Cheers,
Don
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This kit from 3M
3M Lens Renewal Kit 39014 - 3M Auto
comes with everything needed aside from the final clear coat.
3M Lens Renewal Kit 39014 - 3M Auto
comes with everything needed aside from the final clear coat.
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I haven't done the SV8 yet but I did my wife's Dodge minivan headlights with 3M wet-or-dry sand paper purchased in packets from walmart for a few bucks; 600, 1500, & 2000 grit in progression used with water and followed up with a rub down of Meguiars cleaner polish. Worked quite well on the van's cloudy headlight lenses so I'll do the same on the jag eventually.
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Thanks FdJordan for sharing your headlight restoration method. Your cost of materials was probably quite low compared to the kits.
For comparison with your 400, 800, 1000 abrasive sequence, the 3M kit uses 500 and 800, which are used dry, then 1000 and 3000 used wet. The sanding is followed by 3M "Perfect-It" rubbing compound on a foam compounding pad, which restores optical clarity to the lens. For lenses that are not badly oxidized 3M recommends starting with 800 grit, and for lenses that are heavily oxidized they recommend starting with 320 or 400. I generally try to buy the 3M kits when they're on sale for about $20 including sales tax, and one kit will usually do two lenses, though on one vehicle with large lenses I needed to use some 500 grit pads from a second kit to get rid of all the thick oxidation before moving on to 800 grit. 3M does not include a UV resistant coating in its kits and does not recommend the use of coatings (see their online FAQ for their reasons).
Since you stopped sanding at 1000 grit, I assume the lenses were still foggy before you sprayed them with clear coat, but that the coating restored clarity by filling in the fine sanding marks?
Did you do all your sanding by hand, or with a drill or power sander?
Thanks again for sharing your success report!
Cheers,
Don
For comparison with your 400, 800, 1000 abrasive sequence, the 3M kit uses 500 and 800, which are used dry, then 1000 and 3000 used wet. The sanding is followed by 3M "Perfect-It" rubbing compound on a foam compounding pad, which restores optical clarity to the lens. For lenses that are not badly oxidized 3M recommends starting with 800 grit, and for lenses that are heavily oxidized they recommend starting with 320 or 400. I generally try to buy the 3M kits when they're on sale for about $20 including sales tax, and one kit will usually do two lenses, though on one vehicle with large lenses I needed to use some 500 grit pads from a second kit to get rid of all the thick oxidation before moving on to 800 grit. 3M does not include a UV resistant coating in its kits and does not recommend the use of coatings (see their online FAQ for their reasons).
Since you stopped sanding at 1000 grit, I assume the lenses were still foggy before you sprayed them with clear coat, but that the coating restored clarity by filling in the fine sanding marks?
Did you do all your sanding by hand, or with a drill or power sander?
Thanks again for sharing your success report!
Cheers,
Don
Last edited by Don B; 07-07-2016 at 11:48 PM.
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