Slight problem with 3m headlight polish
Always wetsand by hand. Also, headlight's come from the factory with a clear coat, just like paint. The clear coat contains UV inhibitors that prevent the plastic under it from yellowing and fading. Anyway, by wetsanding it twice you probably removed the clear coat, and unless you want to be restoring them ever so often, you'll need to get them re-cleared at a shop.
Why were you wetsanding the lights in the first place? Unless there are deep chips or yellowing, sanding really isn't necessary and a simple polish would have worked fine. EDIT: Did you use sandpaper with a drill? You might have some deep pigtails(uneven pressure causes the one side of the paper to dig in) from that, those would be very hard to get out. You might want to consider going to a detailer.
Why were you wetsanding the lights in the first place? Unless there are deep chips or yellowing, sanding really isn't necessary and a simple polish would have worked fine. EDIT: Did you use sandpaper with a drill? You might have some deep pigtails(uneven pressure causes the one side of the paper to dig in) from that, those would be very hard to get out. You might want to consider going to a detailer.
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You're Despicable
Joined: May 2008
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From: on a sand dune
No need to go back to the 500 grit.
Use the 800 grit. Wet sand the area all over. Til it hazes up.
Then use the headlight polish with a cotton towel and rub the entire area.
If that doesn't help, pick up a 1000 grit sandpaper and wet sand the headlights. Then use the polish.
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What I did on my old s2k was 800 grit and 1000 grit. 500 seems a little rough. You're not suppose to create more deep scratches, just even everything out. Always keep the sandpaper wet.. Rinsing it out every now and then. And you're suppose to wet sand by hand. Not sure wth you were doing.
Use the 800 grit. Wet sand the area all over. Til it hazes up.
Then use the headlight polish with a cotton towel and rub the entire area.
If that doesn't help, pick up a 1000 grit sandpaper and wet sand the headlights. Then use the polish.
---------
What I did on my old s2k was 800 grit and 1000 grit. 500 seems a little rough. You're not suppose to create more deep scratches, just even everything out. Always keep the sandpaper wet.. Rinsing it out every now and then. And you're suppose to wet sand by hand. Not sure wth you were doing.
I'll get my hand on some 800 and 100 grit and try it out tomorrow, I'm sure I can do a better job.
IF ANYONE HAS USED 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION PLEASE CHIME IN,
I need to know if u guys used the 500 & 800 grit sand paper provided without water (As the instructions say
)
I need to know if u guys used the 500 & 800 grit sand paper provided without water (As the instructions say
)
Maybe you applied too much pressure? I doubt 3m would sell something that makes things worse..
3m has an instructional vid.
Looks like on Step 3. You wet sand the area with the P3000 grit paper.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t1RBw0IGXA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t1RBw0IGXA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
3m has an instructional vid.
Looks like on Step 3. You wet sand the area with the P3000 grit paper.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t1RBw0IGXA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t1RBw0IGXA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Last edited by jibberjabbers; May 15, 2010 at 07:32 PM.
i have done this a good number of times and I will tell you it won't be perfect but go back to the 500. then go to the 800. The moisten the gray trizac pad. Spend some time on the headlights with that pad. The longer you go the clearer they will get. Then finally, go to town on them using their polish and the orange foam pad. That pad is a medium cut and is very important. It will take down many of those hairline scratches.
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You're Despicable
Joined: May 2008
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Likes: 33
From: on a sand dune
Maybe you applied too much pressure? I doubt 3m would sell something that makes things worse..
3m has an instructional vid.
Looks like on Step 3. You wet sand the area with the P3000 grit paper.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t1RBw0IGXA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t1RBw0IGXA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
3m has an instructional vid.
Looks like on Step 3. You wet sand the area with the P3000 grit paper.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t1RBw0IGXA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t1RBw0IGXA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
When I run my hand over the headlight it feels all smooth so it isn't badly scratched or something but I think I need to re-do it
i have done this a good number of times and I will tell you it won't be perfect but go back to the 500. then go to the 800. The moisten the gray trizac pad. Spend some time on the headlights with that pad. The longer you go the clearer they will get. Then finally, go to town on them using their polish and the orange foam pad. That pad is a medium cut and is very important. It will take down many of those hairline scratches.
I will be going over the headlight again today, hopefully with better results
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You're Despicable
Joined: May 2008
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From: on a sand dune
Well I could only get my hand on 600 - 800 - 1000 - 1200 and that's it
Do you think I'd be ok sanding up to 1200 and then using the 3000 grit that came with the 3M drill thing but this time using the round sandpaper by hand?
it should be ok right?
Do you think I'd be ok sanding up to 1200 and then using the 3000 grit that came with the 3M drill thing but this time using the round sandpaper by hand?
it should be ok right?
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You're Despicable
Joined: May 2008
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From: on a sand dune
yeah I'll try and take one today before I start working on it,
The scratches are not really deep, I can run my hand over the headlight and I don't feel any scratches or anything, it's smooth, but I just think I need to even things out. I got some 600 grit paper so I'll start there and work my way up.
I'm just wondering if its ok to use the 3M 3000 grit round paper to wet sand by hand?
The scratches are not really deep, I can run my hand over the headlight and I don't feel any scratches or anything, it's smooth, but I just think I need to even things out. I got some 600 grit paper so I'll start there and work my way up.
I'm just wondering if its ok to use the 3M 3000 grit round paper to wet sand by hand?
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You're Despicable
Joined: May 2008
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Likes: 33
From: on a sand dune
Hey guys I got around to sorting the problem out today, I only managed to get hold of 600-800-1000-1200 and I had the 3000 from the 3M kit.
So anyway I started at 7:40pm and was done 3hrs later, I started with 600 then 800, 1000 and 1200, then I got the 3M 3000 grit and wet sanded the headlight by hand. Finally added some 3M compound with the supplied bushy thing and also with a cloth to really work it in, and finished it off with PlastiX.
It came out great, looks much better than the passenger side headlight which I didn't even touch, the driver's side one has no pits or chips unlike the passenger side, now I gotta do it to the other side, but I'll do it another time they look perfect right now.
Appreciate the help guys
So anyway I started at 7:40pm and was done 3hrs later, I started with 600 then 800, 1000 and 1200, then I got the 3M 3000 grit and wet sanded the headlight by hand. Finally added some 3M compound with the supplied bushy thing and also with a cloth to really work it in, and finished it off with PlastiX.
It came out great, looks much better than the passenger side headlight which I didn't even touch, the driver's side one has no pits or chips unlike the passenger side, now I gotta do it to the other side, but I'll do it another time they look perfect right now.
Appreciate the help guys
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