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Author sanding headlamp lenses.
Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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12th Apr 14 at 19:18   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Is this the only way to remove cloudiness on plastic headlamps?

O/S one looks awful, whereas N/S is perfect. Don't really trust myself with sandpaper tbh

I've tried Internet myths such as toothpaste and autosol and they didn't work

Meguiars do a kit but it's just an abrasive polish and buffing pad.
SXI - Matt
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Registered: 8th Jul 07
Location: Leicestershire Drives: Corsa C SRI
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12th Apr 14 at 19:25   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
I've got the megs kit and worked perfect for me, comes with sand paper to. Be much cheaper to buy separately but for convinence I just got the kit. Was very surprised at just how good they came out .
Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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12th Apr 14 at 19:27   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Oh, didn't realise it came with the paper.

3m also do a kit which gets great reviews.

Some appear to be able to be used with a drill, which is ideal as I have no angle grinder.
_Allan_
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Registered: 24th Mar 04
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12th Apr 14 at 19:28   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Belt sander 80 grit, no probs.
BeetleGav
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Registered: 27th Jun 10
Location: lancashire, nelson
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12th Apr 14 at 19:30   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
I used plastx or whatever it is with a magic sponge. Seemed to work really well with it being mildly abrasive.
Mine had gone crazed in the top inner corners
BeetleGav
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Registered: 27th Jun 10
Location: lancashire, nelson
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12th Apr 14 at 19:32   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Think mine was the meguires kit. Don't remember getting paper with it. But the magic sponge worked a treat
Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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12th Apr 14 at 19:45   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
I don't trust those sponges gav it's a bit witchcraft.
Jamie-C
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Registered: 3rd Jun 08
Location: Ballycastle
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12th Apr 14 at 19:57   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
as long as its not to coarse then there shouldnt be a problem. Toothpaste is meant to work but ive never tried it
djgritt
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Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
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12th Apr 14 at 20:08   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Meguiars Kit comes with like 3 or 4 tiny bits of paper - rubbish.

For mine, I used various Wet/Dry sheets I got from Halfords, plus some Plastic Polishes and rotary polishing bonnets.

The Meguiars Kit alone wouldn't touch mine, it's way too gentle.

You can get a 3M kit that is supposed to be good, it comes with sanding discs that you use with a Drill to do the polishing, plus polishing pads & compound.
This is the only kit that I believe (after trying 3 various ones) will do the best job on headlights with significant hazing/scratching/blemishes.
Tomnova16
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Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
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12th Apr 14 at 20:13   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
I've gone from 180 down to 3000 before then polished up no problem. That was for deep scratches though

http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
Ben G
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Location: Essex
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12th Apr 14 at 20:18   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
I shall take a pic of what mine are like tomorrow. Just looks clouded over and a bit mouldy
Robin
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Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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12th Apr 14 at 20:18   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
The 3m kit for an electic drill is supposed to be amazing
BeetleGav
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Registered: 27th Jun 10
Location: lancashire, nelson
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12th Apr 14 at 20:35   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
You won't need owt extreme to get rid of the clouding. I sorted mine easily
Ben G
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Location: Essex
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12th Apr 14 at 21:09   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robin
The 3m kit for an electic drill is supposed to be amazing


Think i'm gonna go for that kit, Robin

Only issue is it doesn't come with a sealant which people say is vital as the cloudiness will come back without applying any.

Would car sealant work? Or do I need a special product?
Robin
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Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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12th Apr 14 at 21:27   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
The clouding will come back, it's UV light which causes it so there's no way round it, unless you can find a UV blocker.

Factor 50?
Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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12th Apr 14 at 21:42   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
good idea.

I just don't understand why it's only the drivers side one that's gone like it. Passenger side is clear and looks as new.
Tomnova16
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Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
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12th Apr 14 at 21:47   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Probably is new lol

http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
Firestate88
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Registered: 10th Jul 08
Location: Northampton England
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12th Apr 14 at 21:57   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Take them to a bodyshop, get them to sand them down and re-laquer them with some proper uv headlight laquer job done
AndyCorsaSport
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Registered: 12th Feb 06
Location: Horsforth, West Yorkshire
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12th Apr 14 at 22:14   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
As above. We've just done a few. Kent headlamp UV repair kit.

Before.


After


Get sanded with 80 grit. Upto 3000. Then sprayed over with UV protectant spray.
dragon2309
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Registered: 1st Mar 09
Location: Strood, Kent
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12th Apr 14 at 22:18   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Would normal automotive clear-coat/lacquer rattle can work for protecting them after sanding? Not permanentl, but at least longer than just leaving them without protection?
Tomnova16
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Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
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12th Apr 14 at 22:47   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
All good clears have uv protection anyway.

I do a lot of Elise headlights this way

http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
FlaFFy_91
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Registered: 30th Sep 08
Location: Formby, Merseyside
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12th Apr 14 at 22:53   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Or just use a car sealant such at autofinnese tough coat. Pretty sure that's got a good amount of uv protection to it.
Quite a few sealants do..
If you do wetsand them Ben. Don't forget to change direction as you change paper grades
So go from top to bottom then when you change to a lower grit go from side to side.
kz
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Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
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13th Apr 14 at 10:47   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
Done this a few times now (it doesn't last forever!) and tbh I prefer hand over 3M kit... think I started with about 1000 up to 2500 or something, either way looks good at the end.
alan-g-w
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Registered: 9th Nov 07
Location: Glasgow
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13th Apr 14 at 12:05   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by AndyCorsaSport
As above. We've just done a few. Kent headlamp UV repair kit.

Before.
[IMG]http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad322/Andycorsasport/7BCC9FEE-B487-4C44-85BF-1F51138070F3_zpsbhoosmfh.png/IMG]

After
[IMG]http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad322/Andycorsasport/AD4D825A-E69C-4150-9754-88BAF9A4A8FF_zpsx0ytqngp.png[/MG]

Get sanded with 80 grit. Upto 3000. Then sprayed over with UV protectant spray.


80 grit?! By hand or with tools? I'm surprised there's any glass left
Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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13th Apr 14 at 12:10   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote
80 grit does sound a bit too low, but Andy must know what he's doing as he does bodywork for a living iirc.

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