polishing headlight lenses

[twooldfarmers]

I decided on the spur of the moment to do something about the slight cloudiness of my headlight lenses. Given that I am a long ways from anywhere I decided to see what I had on hand.

The first thing I tried was 3M medium cut polishing compound on an old truck lens, not fine enough as it was going to leave scratches behind so .....

after rooting though some drawers I came up with a tube of what is sub-labeled as the 'coffee drinkers toothpaste' called Plus+White.

It worked like a charm and followed with a finish coat of Meguires Plastix that I have for motor cycle windshields they look good. All it took was some elbow grease and about 15 minutes.

[abadssr]

Originally Posted by twooldfarmers

I decided on the spur of the moment to do something about the slight cloudiness of my headlight lenses. Given that I am a long ways from anywhere I decided to see what I had on hand.

The first thing I tried was 3M medium cut polishing compound on an old truck lens, not fine enough as it was going to leave scratches behind so .....

after rooting though some drawers I came up with a tube of what is sub-labeled as the 'coffee drinkers toothpaste' called YyePlus+White.

It worked like a charm and followed with a finish coat of Meguires Plastix that I have for motor cycle windshields they look good. All it took was some elbow grease and about 15 minutes.

Yep creamy toothpaste works great

[Dragon2U]

With most of the cars that I have done it to, once you polish a lens it yellows again much faster. If these do too you might want to apply an automotive clear coat over them to protect them longer.

[Antique]

"With most of the cars that I have done it to, once you polish a lens it yellows again much faster. If these do too you might want to apply an automotive clear coat over them to protect them longer. "

I have some friends iwho do this for a living with many of the automotive dealers arround the area. Once they clean them they clear coat. They said the key is to make sure the edges of the plastic are preped too and clear coated or the clear will eventually deteriorate arround the edges.

[twooldfarmers]

I would think then that removing the reflectors to prep prior to clear coating would be about the only sure way to ensure the clear coat doesn't begin to peel around those outer edges?

anyone got the inside skinny on why these reflectors tend yellow more so after polishing.

is there then a manufacturer applied protection on the lens that breaks down over time?

Originally Posted by Antique

"With most of the cars that I have done it to, once you polish a lens it yellows again much faster. If these do too you might want to apply an automotive clear coat over them to protect them longer. "

I have some friends who do this for a living with many of the automotive dealers around the area. Once they clean them they clear coat. They said the key is to make sure the edges of the plastic are preped too and clear coated or the clear will eventually deteriorate around the edges.

[Antique]

I have not had much of a probllem with them yellowing again as long as they are garaged. The 03 SSR I traded for had always been parked outside and only one side was yellowed. Guess the other side was in the shade or had been replaced. Since polishing it I have had no yellowing but it spends its time in the garage except for when I drive it. I have seen some stuff lately on TV that you just wipe on and it looks like it clears up instntly but it has yet to make it to the parts houses. I have my doubts about it and don't intend to buy mail order.

[Scott 0168]

Wally World has some stuff that comes in a foil bag. The guy there in the auto dept. says it works good. Never tried it, but its around $15.00.

[Dragon2U]

Originally Posted by twooldfarmers

I would think then that removing the reflectors to prep prior to clear coating would be about the only sure way to ensure the clear coat doesn't begin to peel around those outer edges?

anyone got the inside skinny on why these reflectors tend yellow more so after polishing.

is there then a manufacturer applied protection on the lens that breaks down over time?

I have heard that the OEM plastic lens has a layer of UV protection.

[Slingshot Lou]

I just use good old wax to keep mine from yellowing.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by twooldfarmers

I would think then that removing the reflectors to prep prior to clear coating would be about the only sure way to ensure the clear coat doesn't begin to peel around those outer edges?

anyone got the inside skinny on why these reflectors tend yellow more so after polishing.

is there then a manufacturer applied protection on the lens that breaks down over time?

I think we are talking lenses here, not reflectors. Clear plastics tend to be affected by UV unless they had a UV protectant on them. That would be the purpose of the clear coat.

[twooldfarmers]

Yes Dwight I was referring to the lenses in terms of polishing but I was thinking that it would be easier to do a proper job of prepping/spraying around the edges/corners of the lenses to avoid potential peeling of the clear coat if the entire reflector assembly was removed from the vehicle.

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I think we are talking lenses here, not reflectors. Clear plastics tend to be affected by UV unless they had a UV protectant on them. That would be the purpose of the clear coat.

[DOOPHUS]

Pardon the Hi-Jack, Richard, but . . .

Whatever happened to those good old GLASS SEALED BEAMS?

Another example of "New and Improved" not being so . . . ? Walking around town or just walking through a parking lot (I always park in the shade no matter how far I'm forced to walk) it amazes me how many vehicles have totally "frosted" headlights. So "frosted" it must be like driving with candles instead of headlights.

Definitely NOT SAFE.

! ! ! ! ! !

[Achias]

A couple years ago, I used the 3M headlight Lens Restoration System. It's a pad on the end of a drill (which you supply) and a set of discs to put on the pad which get progressively finer in their abrasiveness.

Lordy, Lordy, don't do this!

The first pad was actually sandpaper - just think what this will do to your lenses. After I finished with that step, I was sickened at seeing Ilsa's lenses so severely scratched up. I spent a LOT of time going through the progression and finally got them back to looking normal. I think I used polishing compound as the last step.

I did this on our Lexus too and never quite got all of the scratches out.

White toothpaste, eh?

[twooldfarmers]

Yes as i remember them, they would be very much like the good old glass sealed beams you where just talking about:~)

Originally Posted by doophus

pardon the hi-jack, richard, but . . .

Whatever happened to those good old glass sealed beams?

Another example of "new and improved" not being so . . . ? Walking around town or just walking through a parking lot (i always park in the shade no matter how far i'm forced to walk) it amazes me how many vehicles have totally "frosted" headlights. So "frosted" it must be like driving with candles instead of headlights.

Definitely not safe.



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