Restoring headlights

riperoo · 03-24-2008, 01:47 PM

The clear headlight covering of donor set of headlights for my halo install are a little rough, anyone have any tips on making them clear as new?? They were pretty scratched up, nothing major just ragular road damage, but while I have them apart, might as well take the time, so I took it down to a 2000 grit, and then some polishing compound, but they still aren't quite there, they look 100 times beter than when I started, but I think they could be almost, if not as, good as new. Any miracle products out there?? thought about clearing them with some Krylon Acrylic, but if I can avoid painting all together that would be better.

Bigal470 · 03-24-2008, 01:50 PM

i would go a bit further a polishing compound is still ruff I would go back over with a high quality plastic polish that should zip it into shape

**HemiLover** · 03-24-2008, 02:15 PM

I'm curious to know how this works out for ya.....mine are pretty bad too.

Good you're doing it now 'cause I'll tell ya those flourecent halos amplify EVERY imperfection in the lens!

FloridaRT · 03-24-2008, 03:50 PM

Visit a few motorcycle stores, they usually have some good products for buffing out scratches in plastic (plastic windshields)...............

Bob..............ex cycle rider

czervika · 03-24-2008, 07:33 PM

Don't know this company or if you can find it cheaper butthis is the same kist the stealerships use...

Headlight / Plastic Polish Kit

NOTPAID4MSRT8 · 03-24-2008, 07:49 PM

I got a BUG on mine this weekend and thought I'd go CRAZY! I'm out there with the windex and a soft as a baby's bottom cloth on my hands and knees cleaning it off. Yup, too fussy, I know!

magnum05 · 03-24-2008, 07:53 PM

Some of the top end polish companies have a plastic lens cleaning compound which seems to work very well on headlight assemblies. I hope this helps

JamminWagon · 03-24-2008, 08:25 PM

ALso look in the phone book for Plastics. These are the guys that make acryllic stuff. They will have the polish there too. They were usually the cheapest place I would get it from.

Mr. J · 03-24-2008, 10:18 PM

The Eastwood Company has plastic headlight restoration kits.

Eastwood Company: Auto Tools, Body Repair, Classic Car Restoration, House of Kolor Paint, Powder Coating_

Hemissary · 03-25-2008, 09:21 AM

There is only one way...the path you are already on; If you still have pits/scratches go back down in grit (400-600) and block-sand while watching TV or something. It just takes time. The cleaner you keep the paper the better (read - if you sanded while under running water it cuts that much quicker and cleaner).

Then work your way back up to 3000, then rubbing compound. You can make them look better than new (more optically clear) actually...

Clearing with off-the-shelf product yellows the more UV it is exposed to. This become real evident at night when the hedlights are operating. One advantage of clearing it that relatively minor pitting/scratches flow out to some degree, thereby giving the illusion that they are not as severe. This is a result of light being refracted/attenuated to a lesser degree (not as sharp an edge to the anomoly).

The best clear would be a 2-stage (basecoat/clearcoat type) with either built-in UV inhibitors or as an additive.

03-24-2008, 01:47 PM	#1
riperoo Hemi-sphere Dancer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bucks County PA Posts: 1,213 iTrader: (2)	Restoring headlights The clear headlight covering of donor set of headlights for my halo install are a little rough, anyone have any tips on making them clear as new?? They were pretty scratched up, nothing major just ragular road damage, but while I have them apart, might as well take the time, so I took it down to a 2000 grit, and then some polishing compound, but they still aren't quite there, they look 100 times beter than when I started, but I think they could be almost, if not as, good as new. Any miracle products out there?? thought about clearing them with some Krylon Acrylic, but if I can avoid painting all together that would be better.
	riperoo's Sig: Riperoo, Bucks County PA. WWVMD? 2006 Magnum R/T AWD, "The Blue Mule" Haulin' ass and suckin' gas!

03-24-2008, 01:50 PM	#2
Bigal470 One wicked azz car! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 4,552 iTrader: (0)	i would go a bit further a polishing compound is still ruff I would go back over with a high quality plastic polish that should zip it into shape
	Bigal470's Sig:

03-24-2008, 02:15 PM	#3
HemiLover "Modder"-8R Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 4,822 iTrader: (0)	I'm curious to know how this works out for ya.....mine are pretty bad too. Good you're doing it now 'cause I'll tell ya those flourecent halos amplify EVERY imperfection in the lens!
	HemiLover's Sig: Click my Sig for pics and mod list

03-24-2008, 03:50 PM	#4
FloridaRT Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 1,105 iTrader: (0)	Visit a few motorcycle stores, they usually have some good products for buffing out scratches in plastic (plastic windshields)............... Bob..............ex cycle rider
	FloridaRT's Sig:Bob in Florida (68 yrs young), 05' Magnum RT, Flowmaster Mufflers, MoPower Shaker Hood, Superchips, RED painted calipers, tinted front windows, Cuda' side stripes, Danko Grill, underhood light, no side strips. SXT headlights. ,180 Thermostat and automatic COOL-IT fan control by NOESP. Glove Box Light. BFG KDW tires 255x55x18. 3rd brake light pulsar installed. TuTone Tinted tails & mud guards by Ernie(402 Motoring), chin spoiler by Danko / MoPower. AAC Halos on headlights and fogs.

03-24-2008, 08:25 PM	#8
JamminWagon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cheyenne, WY Posts: 971 iTrader: (0)	ALso look in the phone book for Plastics. These are the guys that make acryllic stuff. They will have the polish there too. They were usually the cheapest place I would get it from.
	JamminWagon's Sig: KENWOOD HU: DDX-7017; ALPINE Gear : PKG-1000 10.2" Overhead DVD SPEAKERS: SPS-080A, SPS-170A, SPS-690A, SWR-1542D, AMPS: MRV-M345, MRD-M605, Removed Roof Rack, Badges & Wiper, Silver headlights, OEM Fogs & Painted Bezels, Autohatch Mod (strutwise struts and trunk release button) Rear Goodyear EAGLE RS-A 255/55R17, Flowmaster 50, AirRaid CAI, Eibach Sportlines 2"

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03-24-2008, 07:33 PM	#5
czervika Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northglenn, CO Posts: 9 iTrader: (0)	Don't know this company or if you can find it cheaper butthis is the same kist the stealerships use... Headlight / Plastic Polish Kit

03-24-2008, 07:49 PM	#6
NOTPAID4MSRT8 CMOM FOR DEC 08 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salisbury, North Carolina Posts: 4,054 iTrader: (0)	I got a BUG on mine this weekend and thought I'd go CRAZY! I'm out there with the windex and a soft as a baby's bottom cloth on my hands and knees cleaning it off. Yup, too fussy, I know!

03-24-2008, 07:53 PM	#7
magnum05 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baltimore Md Posts: 760 iTrader: (0)	Some of the top end polish companies have a plastic lens cleaning compound which seems to work very well on headlight assemblies. I hope this helps

03-24-2008, 10:18 PM	#9
Mr. J Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Palm Springs, CA Posts: 265 iTrader: (0)	The Eastwood Company has plastic headlight restoration kits. Eastwood Company: Auto Tools, Body Repair, Classic Car Restoration, House of Kolor Paint, Powder Coating_
	Mr. J's Sig:

03-25-2008, 09:21 AM	#10
Hemissary Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 168 iTrader: (1)	There is only one way...the path you are already on; If you still have pits/scratches go back down in grit (400-600) and block-sand while watching TV or something. It just takes time. The cleaner you keep the paper the better (read - if you sanded while under running water it cuts that much quicker and cleaner). Then work your way back up to 3000, then rubbing compound. You can make them look better than new (more optically clear) actually... Clearing with off-the-shelf product yellows the more UV it is exposed to. This become real evident at night when the hedlights are operating. One advantage of clearing it that relatively minor pitting/scratches flow out to some degree, thereby giving the illusion that they are not as severe. This is a result of light being refracted/attenuated to a lesser degree (not as sharp an edge to the anomoly). The best clear would be a 2-stage (basecoat/clearcoat type) with either built-in UV inhibitors or as an additive. Last edited by Hemissary; 12-12-2008 at 02:16 PM..
	Hemissary's Sig: HEMISSARY

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