coupe
05-15-2007, 06:47 PM
I finaly got some free time and had nothing else to do so i decided to wetsand and buff out my stock headlights. Since i see alot of people having the common problems of most headlights ageing i figured i would take pics and try to do a tutorial on how to fix it instead of buying new expensive headlights.
Tools, this is what i am equiped with, you may or may not need all this, its better to be a boyscout/girlscout and be prepared than find your missing an important part of the process.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6735.jpg
Megs 3000 unigrit
Megs 2500 unigrit
3M 2000 grit
3M 1500 grit
3M 600 grit
2 different sized 3M rubber Squeegees
Megs wetsanding backing pad E-7200
What i started with:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6738.jpg
I tried my best to get good pics of their condition and no matter how hard i tried the pics did NOT show how bad these buggers really where.
Fill a bucket with water and carwash soap.
Soak you paper/s and backing pad for minimum of 15 minutes.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6740.jpg
You want good lubricity so water alone will not work, well it will but you will have trouble keeping a steady sanding pattern.
You need to start at a high grit and work your way down. I started at 1500 then 2000 then 2500 then 3000. What you need to start with depends on the condition of your headlights. Start with a high grit and if that dont work then step it up to the next lowest grit. If that happens you will have to step back down. ALWAYS try to do your last sanding step at the highest grit you have, prefferably 2500+ grit. You will understand why soon. Sand in ONE direction. Then on your next sanding step sand in the opposite.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6742.jpg
This is after 1500 then 2000 then 2500 then 3000.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6748.jpg
Now this is where most people get into trouble. Once you wet sand you have to compound/polish out the sanding marks.
I hit this with my Porter Cable 7424 and a 4" light cut pad with megs #83. You can also do this with megs plastX and mothers power ball or power ball mini or megs plastX by hand. The highest grit you stop wetsanding at will determine how aggresive you will have to be so the lowest grit you can end with the better.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6796.jpg
Tools, this is what i am equiped with, you may or may not need all this, its better to be a boyscout/girlscout and be prepared than find your missing an important part of the process.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6735.jpg
Megs 3000 unigrit
Megs 2500 unigrit
3M 2000 grit
3M 1500 grit
3M 600 grit
2 different sized 3M rubber Squeegees
Megs wetsanding backing pad E-7200
What i started with:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6738.jpg
I tried my best to get good pics of their condition and no matter how hard i tried the pics did NOT show how bad these buggers really where.
Fill a bucket with water and carwash soap.
Soak you paper/s and backing pad for minimum of 15 minutes.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6740.jpg
You want good lubricity so water alone will not work, well it will but you will have trouble keeping a steady sanding pattern.
You need to start at a high grit and work your way down. I started at 1500 then 2000 then 2500 then 3000. What you need to start with depends on the condition of your headlights. Start with a high grit and if that dont work then step it up to the next lowest grit. If that happens you will have to step back down. ALWAYS try to do your last sanding step at the highest grit you have, prefferably 2500+ grit. You will understand why soon. Sand in ONE direction. Then on your next sanding step sand in the opposite.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6742.jpg
This is after 1500 then 2000 then 2500 then 3000.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6748.jpg
Now this is where most people get into trouble. Once you wet sand you have to compound/polish out the sanding marks.
I hit this with my Porter Cable 7424 and a 4" light cut pad with megs #83. You can also do this with megs plastX and mothers power ball or power ball mini or megs plastX by hand. The highest grit you stop wetsanding at will determine how aggresive you will have to be so the lowest grit you can end with the better.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/detailing/100_6796.jpg