Composite Headlight Repair!
#1
Composite Headlight Repair!
Having problems with your Composite Healights not being clear due to rock chips in the lense?
here is the fix!
You need grits 320,600,800, and 1500 of Wetodry sandpaper, Mother's metal polish, a rag, Plastic polish, and a buffing wheel (I used a plug-in Black&Decker 7" 2 speed, 3/4 HP buffer).
Start off by removing the entire headlight housing from the car. Begin wetsanding the surface with the 320 grit and KEEP IT WET. Take your time and make sure you sand equally over all of the lense. Keep at it with the 320 until the rockchips are gone. Next, move on to wetsanding with the 600 grit, then to 800, and 1500. I took at least 7-10 minutes with each grit for best results. Now, the lense should look really fogged up and way worse than when you started. This is normal!
Take a cotton rag and use it to rub metal polish across the lense. Begin buffing it by hand using the rag. Be generous with the metal polish and put some muscle into it. Take at least 10 minutes with this stage.
Now the lense should look clear, but no very glossy. Take another rag and use it to smooth plastic polish over the surface of the lense. Now use the powered buffing wheel to buff the lense until all the polish is gone and the lense is looking glossier. With an amazing 3/4 Horsepower-powered wheel, I had to secure the headlight housing between my feet. Do this 3 or 4 times.
If you completed all of the above the headlight lense should look as good as new. Stick the housing back in, switch on your lights, and be amazed.. It looks clean!
Here's a before/after comparison shot taken on an Eclipse.
[IMG]local://upfiles/890/1C2693EB28284C86AF8BF5C3800939B1.jpg[/IMG]
here is the fix!
You need grits 320,600,800, and 1500 of Wetodry sandpaper, Mother's metal polish, a rag, Plastic polish, and a buffing wheel (I used a plug-in Black&Decker 7" 2 speed, 3/4 HP buffer).
Start off by removing the entire headlight housing from the car. Begin wetsanding the surface with the 320 grit and KEEP IT WET. Take your time and make sure you sand equally over all of the lense. Keep at it with the 320 until the rockchips are gone. Next, move on to wetsanding with the 600 grit, then to 800, and 1500. I took at least 7-10 minutes with each grit for best results. Now, the lense should look really fogged up and way worse than when you started. This is normal!
Take a cotton rag and use it to rub metal polish across the lense. Begin buffing it by hand using the rag. Be generous with the metal polish and put some muscle into it. Take at least 10 minutes with this stage.
Now the lense should look clear, but no very glossy. Take another rag and use it to smooth plastic polish over the surface of the lense. Now use the powered buffing wheel to buff the lense until all the polish is gone and the lense is looking glossier. With an amazing 3/4 Horsepower-powered wheel, I had to secure the headlight housing between my feet. Do this 3 or 4 times.
If you completed all of the above the headlight lense should look as good as new. Stick the housing back in, switch on your lights, and be amazed.. It looks clean!
Here's a before/after comparison shot taken on an Eclipse.
[IMG]local://upfiles/890/1C2693EB28284C86AF8BF5C3800939B1.jpg[/IMG]
#2
RE: Composite Headlight Repair!
You have waaay too much work involved for just making dull lenses clear. Doing autobody and paint for many years I have gotten to perfect this. The only time I have really needed to sand is to remove the road rash on motocycle headlights.
Rub it with a medium compund then finish with a glaze. (finesse)
Its as easy as that.
Road rash
Depending on how bad it was would depend on what grit I would use to get it out. I would always finish with 1000-1200 grit wet. (Sanding the gouges out I would use a DA and dry) The a course compound. Maybe hit it with a medium then glaze.
I would use the 3M perfect -it compound and finnese
Rub it with a medium compund then finish with a glaze. (finesse)
Its as easy as that.
Road rash
Depending on how bad it was would depend on what grit I would use to get it out. I would always finish with 1000-1200 grit wet. (Sanding the gouges out I would use a DA and dry) The a course compound. Maybe hit it with a medium then glaze.
I would use the 3M perfect -it compound and finnese
#3
RE: Composite Headlight Repair!
Wal-Mart has a kit for $20 that works wonders, no buffing so the headlight does not need removed, just sanding with two different types of sandpaper, wipe it with the cleaner and then the sealer. Takes about 30 minutes total. Here is their web site. Check the testimonials.
http://www.crystalviewchemicals.com/myheadlight/
http://www.crystalviewchemicals.com/myheadlight/
#4
RE: Composite Headlight Repair!
I would not reccomend using anything lower in grit # than 1,000 unless your composite headlights are chipped severly.
The mother's powerball works excelent w/ some of the 3m compound.
The mother's powerball works excelent w/ some of the 3m compound.
#5
RE: Composite Headlight Repair!
Ive recently used the walmart kit, It dont work like it should. Heres my testimonial, I wet sanded my headlight and for about 45 min with the three different grit sandpapers, used their solvent and sealer, and this is what my headlight looks like. Let the proof speak for its self. I wouldent waist the money on the kit.
[IMG]local://upfiles/14565/CBAA111C011F49B9B1F21C75A1A5D993.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/14565/CBAA111C011F49B9B1F21C75A1A5D993.jpg[/IMG]
#7
Wal-Mart has a kit for $20 that works wonders, no buffing so the headlight does not need removed, just sanding with two different types of sandpaper, wipe it with the cleaner and then the sealer. Takes about 30 minutes total. Here is their web site. Check the testimonials.
http://www.crystalviewchemicals.com/myheadlight/
http://www.crystalviewchemicals.com/myheadlight/
Last edited by michaelross; 09-30-2009 at 03:19 AM.
#8
went to wal-mart and bought the PlasticX $5.00 and a pack of 2,000 grit sand paper $4.00 took my headlights outs wet sanded them untill i got the yellowish tint off of them and put PlasticX on and hit it with a buffer heres the before and afters. the glare down low is just the snow in the backround there crystal clear!