Table of Contents
Step 1: Tape off the headlights and cover the paint. Step 2: Start with dry sanding. Step 3 – Wet sanding with 800-2500 grit sandpaper. Step 4 – Apply polishing compound. Step 5 – Apply polish. Step 6 – Apply isopropyl alcohol. Step 7 – Evaluate & repeat if necessary. Step 8 – Apply UV protective coating.
What grit sandpaper do I use for headlight restoration?
1,000 Grit: Should be used after 800 grit sanding paper, or as the first choice if headlight lenses have mild oxidation. 1,500 Grit: Should be used after 1,000 grit sanding paper, as second to last step. 2,000 Grit: Should be used after 1,500 grit sanding paper, as the final step in headlight restoration process.
What sandpaper Do I need to sand my headlights?
In short, when it comes to headlight restoration you’ll want to use anywhere from a 400 – 600 grit silicon carbide sandpaper sheet to remove the initial layer of headlight oxidation. After that, you’ll need to use an 800 – 1000 grit followed by a 3000 – 5000 grit to attain the best finish possible.
How do you sand scratched headlights?
Use the wet 1200 grit sandpaper to get rid of the pits and scratches. Move the sandpaper in the same direction that you used with 600 grit sandpaper. Continue sanding until you get rid of all of the scratches. Clean the headlights again with clean water.
What grit wet and dry for headlights?
for heavily pitted lenses, spray water onto the headlight and start with 1000-grit wet and dry paper in a back and forth motion. Anything harsher than 800-grit tends to heavily score the lens and is best avoided. rob then moves onto 1500-grit wet and dry paper.
Can you sand headlights too much?
You can move up to 3000 grit, but its not necessary. After the sanding, polish the headlight. If you ended with 1000 grit as the final stage of sanding, you may have to use a light rubbing compound and then a medium polishing compound if you don’t have any finer sandpaper at hand (1500 and above).
Should you clear coat headlights?
After sanding and polishing the headlights, it is best to apply two or three coats of clear coat. This will not only protect the headlights from future UV damage, but it will give the lenses unsurpassed clarity.
How do you wet sand plastic?
How to Wet Sand Plastic Wash the plastic that you will be sanding. Fill a bucket with water. Cut a piece of 200-grit wet/dry adhesive sandpaper to fit a circular foam sanding pad. Sand very lightly using circular motions. Switch to 400-grit paper once you have lightly sanded the entire surface with your 200-grit paper.
How do you permanently clean foggy headlights?
Sanding is the best, most efficient way to restore auto headlights permanently. Sanding headlights strips away the foggy layer, revealing the once shiny light lenses you loved.
Can you Wetsand glass headlights?
Fill a bowl with water and soak a piece of 1000-grit sandpaper in the bowl for ten minutes. Sand the headlights lightly, stroking in a single direction. Wet the surface as you work.
How many times can you sand headlights?
Now comes the deeper effort: buffing, which we recommend every three to six months. It’s all about protecting the paint. Sanding can get rigorous, which can touch upon that beautiful paint job. Make sure you’re using painter’s tape and place it securely around the edge of each headlight.
Does 3M rubbing compound work on headlights?
This works great if your headlights aren’t too yellow/hazy. If yours are really bad I would probably opt for one of those headlight restoration kits and then to use this 3M rubbing compound afterwards to keep them looking good. Make sure to tape off the headlight (I used blue painter’s tape).
What is wet sanding?
Wet sanding is a process where we use special sandpaper that is supposed to be wet with water. The water acts like a lubricant plus helps remove tiny particles so that the sandpaper does not get clogged and create deep scratches. Granted, the act of sanding does create small scratches.
How do I stop my headlights from oxidizing?
Park your car in the shade: If possible, park in the garage or under a shady tree. If you don’t have that option, face your headlights away from the sun when parking outside to reduce UV exposure and slow the oxidizing process.
How do you keep plastic headlights from yellowing?
The lenses on the front lights are made of clear plastic, which starts yellowing when exposed to excess sunlight. One way to protect them from UV rays is to use a UV protectant spray, and another great method is to apply a clear vinyl film on them.
Is it better to wet sand or dry sand?
Wet sanding, which is sanding with the addition of water to act as a lubricant, is less abrasive than dry sanding, and results in a smoother finish. It’s best to wet-sand the final finish of a project. Dry sanding removes more material, and smooths rough material quickly.
Should you wet sand plastic?
Because plastic scratches easily, coarse sandpaper grits aren’t recommended. The best strategy is to begin wet sanding with 220-grit sandpaper and make additional passes with progressively finer paper until you’re happy with the appearance.
How do you wet dry sand?
In order to thoroughly wet the sandpaper, many people recommend soaking it in liquid overnight. This ensures that the paper won’t absorb any more moisture during the sanding process. If you don’t have time to soak the paper overnight, aim for at least 15 minutes of immersion prior to sanding.
