Restoring plastic headlamps

Marcwithac · 07-12-2016, 08:28 AM

Hi all,

Just started sorting the headlights on my puma. Have wet sanded them back, finishing with 2500 grit.
In order to polish them I'm having to use a backing plate on a corded drill and a combo of white/yellow rupes pads and Megs 105/205.
Problem is that although the sand marks are coming out I seem to have swirl marks that I can't remove. Am I causing them??

Have now also done several passes with my DA using an orange hex logic with some 205. It's removed almost all the marks now but the swirls still remain. Am stumped!

pantypoos · 07-12-2016, 09:36 AM

you need this

https://www.autoglym.com/headlight-restoration-kit

Makes the job so quick and easy.

Before :

After:

Marcwithac · 07-12-2016, 06:36 PM

Thanks. I've got mine looking like that- until you put them under a light. I've done everything that kit can do, just trying to finish them off.

tosh · 07-12-2016, 07:45 PM

If you're absolutely sure you took all the pitting out, then you just need to step up to a harder pad with the same polish, or a more aggressive polish with the same pad. I know 205 is usually enough, but I use it on rotary.

Polish a small area again, and use your swirl spotter to see if it's any better, if it's not, you may have to resand again, or the swirls may be on the inside!

I've had this before when I didn't sand down the last step properly (2500) - I probably spent 40 mins on one side, and 30 mins on the other, and the 30 min side still shows swirls no matter how much I polish it. It was my first car, so didn't make that mistake again.

Keep at it - you're nearly there!

If you're going to coat them with something afterwards (Nanolex Si3D Headlight, or Sonax Headlight), you'll probably get some slight filling to your swirls as well.

Marcwithac · 07-12-2016, 08:54 PM

Thanks Tosh. Have also just tried another small section with a wet sand of 2500 with very light pressure, in a cross hatch, then a couple of passes with PlastX on an orange hex pad. It's removed the sand marks but the swirls remain...
Either I've not sanded enough (which I struggle to believe), I've induced more swirls or, as you say they are on the inside. Am honestly stumped.

As far as sealing goes, assuming I get that far, was hoping to use some Gtechniq C4- is that suitable?

Thanks for your help.

tosh · 09-12-2016, 12:55 AM

Personally, if you have C4 already it will work (it's the same as C1 and GTechniq have confirmed that's ok).

Don't use Si3D, as that doesn't work well with polished headlights; the headlight version is ok.

If you're going to buy something specifically, Sonax Profiline headlight is good (50ml aerosol), meguiars headlight g17710 is about 12 quid a bottle (only lasts 1-2 months though), or you can get a sachet of stuff for a tenner (lots of them out there, I used Twenty20 Crystalite)

You get these sachets in 3M and AutoGlym kits for UV protection.

Saying that, I did a 10yr old 1 Series, didn't seal it and still hasn't yellowed after 2 years.

I haven't bought the Si 3D headlight yet, but I will do at some point to complete my Nanolex collection.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Marcwithac · 09-12-2016, 03:54 PM

Nice one, many thanks for that.

Marcwithac · 10-12-2016, 01:41 PM

I've now done several passes with a yellow Rupes foam pad and the PlastX, I think the swirls are reducing. Think I'll try a more aggressive pad and maybe some m105.
Am also wondering if my speed setting is right on the DA- been on 4/5...

tosh · 10-12-2016, 02:06 PM

Try the zenith technique and a finishing pad for refinement

Good that you're making progress; would have been strange to have those on the inside

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Marcwithac · 10-12-2016, 04:51 PM

Am I expecting too much to be able to remove theses swirls before refining?
Could I be causing them with the wrong pad/compound choices? It's taken a bloody long time to get to where I am now- these are only plastic! I'd imagined it would be a relatively quick process, compared to a rick hard paint, for example.

07-12-2016, 08:28 AM	#1
Marcwithac Sponge Jockey Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 68 Thanks: 32 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Restoring plastic headlamps Hi all, Just started sorting the headlights on my puma. Have wet sanded them back, finishing with 2500 grit. In order to polish them I'm having to use a backing plate on a corded drill and a combo of white/yellow rupes pads and Megs 105/205. Problem is that although the sand marks are coming out I seem to have swirl marks that I can't remove. Am I causing them?? Have now also done several passes with my DA using an orange hex logic with some 205. It's removed almost all the marks now but the swirls still remain. Am stumped!

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07-12-2016, 09:36 AM	#2
pantypoos OCD Sufferer (Obsessive Car Detailer) Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Rugby Posts: 1,046 Thanks: 388 Thanked 583 Times in 413 Posts	you need this https://www.autoglym.com/headlight-restoration-kit Makes the job so quick and easy. Before : After:

07-12-2016, 06:36 PM	#3
Marcwithac Sponge Jockey Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 68 Thanks: 32 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Thanks. I've got mine looking like that- until you put them under a light. I've done everything that kit can do, just trying to finish them off.

07-12-2016, 07:45 PM	#4
tosh OCD Sufferer (Obsessive Car Detailer) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Leamington Spa Posts: 2,261 Thanks: 656 Thanked 699 Times in 601 Posts	If you're absolutely sure you took all the pitting out, then you just need to step up to a harder pad with the same polish, or a more aggressive polish with the same pad. I know 205 is usually enough, but I use it on rotary. Polish a small area again, and use your swirl spotter to see if it's any better, if it's not, you may have to resand again, or the swirls may be on the inside! I've had this before when I didn't sand down the last step properly (2500) - I probably spent 40 mins on one side, and 30 mins on the other, and the 30 min side still shows swirls no matter how much I polish it. It was my first car, so didn't make that mistake again. Keep at it - you're nearly there! If you're going to coat them with something afterwards (Nanolex Si3D Headlight, or Sonax Headlight), you'll probably get some slight filling to your swirls as well.

09-12-2016, 03:54 PM	#7
Marcwithac Sponge Jockey Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 68 Thanks: 32 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Nice one, many thanks for that.

10-12-2016, 01:41 PM	#8
Marcwithac Sponge Jockey Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 68 Thanks: 32 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	I've now done several passes with a yellow Rupes foam pad and the PlastX, I think the swirls are reducing. Think I'll try a more aggressive pad and maybe some m105. Am also wondering if my speed setting is right on the DA- been on 4/5...

10-12-2016, 02:06 PM	#9
tosh OCD Sufferer (Obsessive Car Detailer) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Leamington Spa Posts: 2,261 Thanks: 656 Thanked 699 Times in 601 Posts	Try the zenith technique and a finishing pad for refinement Good that you're making progress; would have been strange to have those on the inside Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10-12-2016, 04:51 PM	#10
Marcwithac Sponge Jockey Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 68 Thanks: 32 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Am I expecting too much to be able to remove theses swirls before refining? Could I be causing them with the wrong pad/compound choices? It's taken a bloody long time to get to where I am now- these are only plastic! I'd imagined it would be a relatively quick process, compared to a rick hard paint, for example.

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