RoniN
RMS Regular
- Messages
- 4,386
Today I decided to restore the headlights as they were cloudy and very dull.
Remember @Nicky posting about doing the headlights of his Merc.
So I took some photo's as it might help anyone if they wanted to do the same.
Passenger side headlight
Close-up of the cloudy plastic, it's that bad you can't even see the headlight bulb.
Taped off the paintwork to protect it when sanding and machining.
Couldn't find any masking tape so used duct tape instead, as this is very sticky I stuck it to my jumper first before sticking it on the paintwork as it would be easier to remove later.
Used 3m Aluminium Oxide Coated wet and dry for the sanding.
This is very fine, you could use 2000, 2500 or 3000 grit wet and dry but it would probably take abit more machining to remove any sanding marks.
Wet and dry soaked in a bucket of soapy water.
Started sanding in circular motions
Finished sanding in straight lines across the headlight
Buffing the headlight I used a medium spot pad and Menzerna Intensive Polish but you could use any cutting polish really, 3m, Meguiars, Scholl, Sonus even t-cut will work.
Have even heard toothpaste works.
A few drops of polish on the pad and start buffing the headlight, I used the slowest speed on the Milwakee which is about 900rpm as to not generate to much heat.
Three or four passes were enough to refine the finish to a standard I was happy with.
The finished restored headlight.
I was in no hurry and stopping to take photo's probably ate up abit of time but say about 30 minutes to do one headlight.
Hope this is some help to anyone wanting to restore their own headlights or taillights.
Cheers
Remember @Nicky posting about doing the headlights of his Merc.
So I took some photo's as it might help anyone if they wanted to do the same.
Passenger side headlight
Close-up of the cloudy plastic, it's that bad you can't even see the headlight bulb.
Taped off the paintwork to protect it when sanding and machining.
Couldn't find any masking tape so used duct tape instead, as this is very sticky I stuck it to my jumper first before sticking it on the paintwork as it would be easier to remove later.
Used 3m Aluminium Oxide Coated wet and dry for the sanding.
This is very fine, you could use 2000, 2500 or 3000 grit wet and dry but it would probably take abit more machining to remove any sanding marks.
Wet and dry soaked in a bucket of soapy water.
Started sanding in circular motions
Finished sanding in straight lines across the headlight
Buffing the headlight I used a medium spot pad and Menzerna Intensive Polish but you could use any cutting polish really, 3m, Meguiars, Scholl, Sonus even t-cut will work.
Have even heard toothpaste works.
A few drops of polish on the pad and start buffing the headlight, I used the slowest speed on the Milwakee which is about 900rpm as to not generate to much heat.
Three or four passes were enough to refine the finish to a standard I was happy with.
The finished restored headlight.
I was in no hurry and stopping to take photo's probably ate up abit of time but say about 30 minutes to do one headlight.
Hope this is some help to anyone wanting to restore their own headlights or taillights.
Cheers
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