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STEP: 1
tape off around the headlight so you dont sand your precious paint job
STEP: 2
wetsand the headlight
(use 800 grit if the lens is really bad)
(use 1000 grit if lens has normal issues)
STEP: 3
wipe headlight dry
STEP: 4
wetsand the headlight
(use 1000 grit if your first sanding was 800 grit, then move on to 2000 grit)
(use 2000 grit if your first sanding was 1000 grit)
STEP: 5
wipe headlight dry
STEP: 6
buff headlight using plastic polish/cleaner
(i used a drill attachment to speed the process)
the headlight in the first pic didnt look like it needed to be recondition but damn urs came out real nice and smooth...last time i try mine came out shitty and u can still see some scratches lol
Another way you can do this same thing to your headlights, I've done it before on a different car, you can sand everything like you did, then just spray a clear coat over the whole thing, it comes out crystal clear.
Slowwitecivic, you might see scratches because you didn't use a fine enough grain, or you didn't sand enough. those would be my guesses.
Don't sand or buff too hard or you have the chance of warping the lens which in turn would make the light come out the lens the wrong way.. or create 'grooves' in the lens.
the headlight in the first pic didnt look like it needed to be reconditioned
true, but im very picky and after seeing some of the fine scratches starting to appear, it was time...also, the passenger side was yellowing due to the way the sun hits it when i park at work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by slowwhitecivic
last time mine came out shitty and u can still see some scratches
what grit levels were you using? you may need to go lower and then work your way up to 2000 or higher.
should you sand more with the higher grit, rather then more with the lower grit?
The more you sand with the lower grits, the more "layers" come off. It may be necessary to sand longer with the lower grits if your lens is deeply pitted. Just make sure that you sand the whole lens evenly and work your way through the higher grits. The lens should be very smooth right before you start to polish.
That is pretty similar to what I did, but I started with 1500 then moved to 2000. I also used Menzerna intensive polish via rotary on a megs burgundy pad, menzerna final polish via porter cable on a megs yellow pad, then plastic x via porter cable on a LC ccs white pad. It came out perfect. The only reason I went that in depth is because I detail cars as my job.
wolfgang clear plastic sealer. i use it on my lights every month or so. it beads water and protects from sun. very good for $40 the big bottle is worth it. i still have mine for over two years its still not empty. hmm cargeek used to sell but i cant figure out what the site url is
I used to do a lot of auto body work and the easiest thing we used and the cheapest was the mothers clearcoat polish...the ultra fine stuff...its like $10 a bottle but it works the best in my opinion
__________________ 2001 miata totalled
2006 RSX-S NHBP totalled
2004 Civic LX coupe SSM sold... ....i miss it...
1984 AE86 sold
1987 AE82 corolla fx-16 (redtop swapped) no longer have
1993 K20A2 swapped EG sedan
1995 Eclipse (sold)
1986 AE86 Corolla (sold)
^^ what did you do wrong? i just did it and it came out fine! .. you probably didnt let enough water under the headlight while you were sanding. i used a sponge to squeeze on top of the area i was sanding [while sanding] to have water constantly fall under the sandpaper so it never gets dry. so sponge in one hand and sandpaper in the other for laymans terms. the most important thing is the final grade of sanding. i probably sanded with 2000 grit for 10 minutes on each headlight just to make sure everything was smoothened out then used the plastix and it came out very nice. the outside of the headlight is flawless now but the inside is kinna messed up for some reason. just redo the final grade sandpaper sniper and make sure there is always water under the sandpaper!
is it smooth? you need rubbing compound to smoothen the plastic and then you can go ahead with the plast-x to polish it up to clear. dont worry they cant be ruined and you have tons of plastic left to mess with lol. if you are lazy get an orbital polisher for the last two things to put on. it will shine up dont worry.
i sanded with 2000 for a long time and i know to keep it very wet. it seems to be extremely smooth before i polish...i am using polishing compound and then plastx.
it pisses me off cause i am normally good with this sort of stuff.
i am starting off with 600 then 800 then 1000 then 1500 then 2000
....i miss it...
just redo the final grade sandpaper sniper and make sure there is always water under the sandpaper! 
