Headlight Restoration Process Improvement

[Route246]

I'm fine-tuning my headlight restoration process now. So far:



Hand wet-sand with 1000-grit 3" sanding disc
Hand wet-sand with 3000-grit 3" sanding disc


At this point I am using CG V32,V34,V36,V38 in sequence to polish the 3000-grit scratches with great results with my DA. So, I have a process that works well but it is a 6-stage process plus sealer.

I'm trying to refine and polish the process with existing products (i.e. I don't have McKee's headlight AIO).

Is M105 and M205 going to have similar or better results to CG V32->V38? If so, I can reduce my 6-stage process to 4-stage plus sealer.

[Mike@ShineStruck]

I'm fine-tuning my headlight restoration process now. So far:



Hand wet-sand with 1000-grit 3" sanding disc
Hand wet-sand with 3000-grit 3" sanding disc


At this point I am using CG V32,V34,V36,V38 in sequence to polish the 3000-grit scratches with great results with my DA. So, I have a process that works well but it is a 6-stage process plus sealer.

I'm trying to refine and polish the process with existing products (i.e. I don't have McKee's headlight AIO).

Is M105 and M205 going to have similar or better results to CG V32->V38? If so, I can reduce my 6-stage process to 4-stage plus sealer.

since it seems like you're not doing a resurface(1k isnt enough nor is 600grit half of time) you can skip allot of steps

mckee headlight AIO compound(any heavy compound will work too FG400, fast correction creme, gyeon compound/sonax compound etc
either LC purple foam wool, LC blue foam wool or carpro hybrid wool
panel/coating prep like carpro eraser or similar
ceramic coating
shouldnt take no more then 5-10 mins per pair


if you do 2 passes and headlights look hazed or crazed(think crow feet in clear) you'll need to sand
may get away with 600grit/1500/compound/uv coat.. but lately ive been needing to do 320-500-800-1000-3000 then i use a wipe on UV coating

[Route246]

since it seems like you're not doing a resurface(1k isnt enough nor is 600grit half of time) you can skip allot of steps

mckee headlight AIO compound(any heavy compound will work too FG400, fast correction creme, gyeon compound/sonax compound etc
either LC purple foam wool, LC blue foam wool or carpro hybrid wool
panel/coating prep like carpro eraser or similar
ceramic coating
shouldnt take no more then 5-10 mins per pair


if you do 2 passes and headlights liked hazed or crazed(think crow feet in clear) you'll need to sand
may get away with 600grit/1500/compound/uv coat.. but lately ive been needing to do 320-500-800-1000-3000 then i use a wipe on UV coating

Thanks. Is your 3000 final? My 3000 is still not crystal clear. When I polish it clarifies nicely.


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[Mike@ShineStruck]

Thanks. Is your 3000 final? My 3000 is still not crystal clear. When I polish it clarifies nicely.


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I stop at 3000 grit, because the UV coating needs bite to adhere..its restore gloss and clarity to headlight when applied....if for some reason id go ceramic coating id compound after 3k..but i think thr UV coatings do better then the ceramic coatings

[Route246]

I stop at 3000 grit, because the UV coating needs bite to adhere..its restore gloss and clarity to headlight when applied....if for some reason id go ceramic coating id compound after 3k..but i think thr UV coatings do better then the ceramic coatings

I know nothing about coatings. I'll study the forums. What coatings do you recommend?


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[Tasmania]

Opti- Lens coat by Optimum.

[DBAILEY]

Sylvania UV Block Clear Coat and then some type of coating or LSP on top of that.

[Mike@ShineStruck]

For what I use both ceramic coating and UV coating I'll pm you the names