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#3522091 - 02/28/09 04:03 PM Just finished my brother's headlight
Longy887 Offline
Jr Member


Registered: 02/19/08
Posts: 518
Loc: Knoxville, TN
My brothers v-dub has had a cateract headlight since he got it about 2 years ago. Initially we though it was on the inside of the lens, but figured out it was on the outside later. So on this rainy Saturday morning we decided to fix it. Supplies were:
1000, 1500, and 2000 Wet/Dry Sandpaper with soapy water
Painter's tape
Menzerna Intensive and Micro Polishes
Porter Cable 7424 Random Orbital Buffer

Here's a couple of before work shots:



We pretty much cleaned it off and taped around it. Next we wet sanded with the 1000 grit for about 5 min, keeping the light and paper constantly wet with car wash soap and water. This is the most important step IMO since it gets the majority of the major imperfections out. Here's the after:


Next we did the same with the 1500 grit. Not much visible change after this step:


Last was the same with the 2000 grit:


Then to the polishing with Menzerna Intensive Polish. Only took about a minute:


And last with the Menzerna Micro Polish. Here's the finished product:



Not 100% perfect, but infinitely better than the initial product. Not bad for a 30 min job though. A little more TLC and they would look brand new
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"Better to pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age."

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#3526624 - 03/02/09 12:25 PM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: Longy887]
CORONA.ESQ Moderator Offline
Post Master Supreme


Registered: 09/14/00
Posts: 30013
Loc: Orange County, CA
Nice job! That's a huge improvement.
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#3527697 - 03/02/09 04:58 PM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: CORONA.ESQ]
2000CheetahStud Moderator Offline
Post Master Supreme


Registered: 02/10/03
Posts: 49206
Loc: Cincinnati, OH
Good work man!

-Matt
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2016 4Runner Trail Edition | 2000 Honda S2000 | 1976 Honda CB360T | 1979 Suzuki GS750 | 1978 Suzuki GS1000 Restomod

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#3542182 - 03/07/09 12:26 AM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: 2000CheetahStud]
00civicsiboy Offline
Sr Member


Registered: 04/18/06
Posts: 1208
Loc: Tennessee
How can you tell if the inside or outside of the plastic is the one that needs to be sanded?
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#3543149 - 03/07/09 06:31 PM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: 00civicsiboy]
Longy887 Offline
Jr Member


Registered: 02/19/08
Posts: 518
Loc: Knoxville, TN
Basically just by looking really close and running your hand across it to see if it feels rough (it shouldn't). Also, most headlights come as a sealed assembly that are glued; therefore, it would be pretty difficult for the inside to get messed up. I'm not sure how this headlight got this bad, it looked much worse than the pictures showed. Anyway, it happens, just try working on the outside, it won't hurt and it doesn't take too long.
_________________________
"Better to pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age."

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#3576580 - 03/19/09 10:44 AM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: Longy887]
SiAdam Offline
Post Master Supreme


Registered: 07/22/01
Posts: 19262
Loc: West By God Virginia
Where did you get the polishes? Also what pad did you use?
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05 Berlina Black S2000 700whp / 500wtq
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#3579830 - 03/20/09 08:18 AM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: SiAdam]
Longy887 Offline
Jr Member


Registered: 02/19/08
Posts: 518
Loc: Knoxville, TN
These may not be the exact pads that I used since they were given to me as a gift; however, I think these are them and if not then they will work:
http://www.autogeek.net/ceramic-polishing-kit.html

Here are the polishes:
http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-intensive-polish.html
http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-micro-polish.html
_________________________
"Better to pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age."

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#3591276 - 03/24/09 05:09 PM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: Longy887]
2000CheetahStud Moderator Offline
Post Master Supreme


Registered: 02/10/03
Posts: 49206
Loc: Cincinnati, OH
 Originally Posted By: GenericCivicSIusername
These may not be the exact pads that I used since they were given to me as a gift; however, I think these are them and if not then they will work:
http://www.autogeek.net/ceramic-polishing-kit.html

Here are the polishes:
http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-intensive-polish.html
http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-micro-polish.html


All this is correct. \:\)

-Matt
_________________________
2016 4Runner Trail Edition | 2000 Honda S2000 | 1976 Honda CB360T | 1979 Suzuki GS750 | 1978 Suzuki GS1000 Restomod

photobucket.jpg

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#3834309 - 06/18/09 11:58 PM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: 2000CheetahStud]
bb2prelude Offline
Newbie


Registered: 12/17/07
Posts: 8
hows the headlight holding up?
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#3904951 - 07/15/09 03:19 PM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: bb2prelude]
2000CheetahStud Moderator Offline
Post Master Supreme


Registered: 02/10/03
Posts: 49206
Loc: Cincinnati, OH
Still looking good, I saw it last weekend.

-matt
_________________________
2016 4Runner Trail Edition | 2000 Honda S2000 | 1976 Honda CB360T | 1979 Suzuki GS750 | 1978 Suzuki GS1000 Restomod

photobucket.jpg

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#3920891 - 07/21/09 12:02 PM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: 2000CheetahStud]
PurduinaSi Offline
Post Master Sr


Registered: 04/16/04
Posts: 7857
Loc: Westchester, NY
Good write up. I've been using this process on my cars for years and it works great!
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#4218552 - 11/04/09 12:05 AM Re: Just finished my brother's headlight [Re: PurduinaSi]
AvidAZ Offline
Newbie


Registered: 09/13/09
Posts: 42
Awesome. I hope you sealed it well, so it doesn't happen again.
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Pm me for the the hookup on a fingerprint door lock or any type of Sentry Safe

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