Quenga
07-14-2010, 07:08 PM
So I'm in need of some extra cash, so I started offering detailing services to friends and friends of friends. I never had really crazy shots of headlights I've done and most have been moderate at most. I needed something that stood out, that most people believe can't be fixed (those unfamiliar with detailing obviously). My co-worker has some messed up headlights on her Jeep. Well, actually her entire car is horrible, but this was a freebie to test out my new "kit" I put together specifically to do headlight jobs. I don't want to spend a lot of time detailing cars, so this is a easy job that pays good enough for extra cash.
Anyways, I took my idea for this "kit" from Megiuars Proffessional Headlight/Spot Repair Kit. (http://autogeek.net/meguiars-pro-headlight-kit.html) I don't have an air compressor, so buying this kit wouldn't make sense. However, I just bought everything else in the kit and am using my PC as a sander and my super expensive...Harbor Freight rotary buffer. I'm hoping I get enough jobs to get either a Flex or Makita, but for $35...can't beat it.
I couldn't get it as perfect as I wanted and Autogeek has my 500 and 800 grit sandpapers on BKO right now. I have some 600/800 wet/dry 3m sheets that I used on the other headlight. I tried using the 320 grit and then following it up with 600 dry, but I didn't get the results I was looking for. Once my paper is in stock and I receive it, I'm going to redo it as the 320 left some "pigtails" or whatever it's called when you dry sand.
I am editing a video showing what I did. Minus the 500/800 grits, it's pretty much what I'll be doing. Previously I wetsanded by hand with 600, 800, 1000 and 2000. Then buffed it all with 105/205 using LC Orange/White pads. But, I like this process much better and I like these pads way more than the LC CCS pads, which I am now no longer going to buy.
Alright, enough jabber.........photo's:
This is what I started with. Tons of yellowing and oxidation. The headlight felt like lower grit sandpaper than my 320!
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2574.jpg
This is after just spraying some degreaser (Purple Power) and claying. All yellowing gone.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2575.jpg
And some final after shots:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2576.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2577.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2578.jpg
And, just because. When I said her car is horrible (but not the worst I've seen)...
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2579.jpg
Getting it to this point took me at least 10 minutes. I want to get a full detail on her car, but I told her she's gotta pay for it. Another thing I'm saving for...an extractor. Despite vacuuming, you could just feel the filth on her carpets. I felt like I had to sanitize my hands after just touching her carpet.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2580.jpg
Anyways, I took my idea for this "kit" from Megiuars Proffessional Headlight/Spot Repair Kit. (http://autogeek.net/meguiars-pro-headlight-kit.html) I don't have an air compressor, so buying this kit wouldn't make sense. However, I just bought everything else in the kit and am using my PC as a sander and my super expensive...Harbor Freight rotary buffer. I'm hoping I get enough jobs to get either a Flex or Makita, but for $35...can't beat it.
I couldn't get it as perfect as I wanted and Autogeek has my 500 and 800 grit sandpapers on BKO right now. I have some 600/800 wet/dry 3m sheets that I used on the other headlight. I tried using the 320 grit and then following it up with 600 dry, but I didn't get the results I was looking for. Once my paper is in stock and I receive it, I'm going to redo it as the 320 left some "pigtails" or whatever it's called when you dry sand.
I am editing a video showing what I did. Minus the 500/800 grits, it's pretty much what I'll be doing. Previously I wetsanded by hand with 600, 800, 1000 and 2000. Then buffed it all with 105/205 using LC Orange/White pads. But, I like this process much better and I like these pads way more than the LC CCS pads, which I am now no longer going to buy.
Alright, enough jabber.........photo's:
This is what I started with. Tons of yellowing and oxidation. The headlight felt like lower grit sandpaper than my 320!
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2574.jpg
This is after just spraying some degreaser (Purple Power) and claying. All yellowing gone.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2575.jpg
And some final after shots:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2576.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2577.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2578.jpg
And, just because. When I said her car is horrible (but not the worst I've seen)...
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2579.jpg
Getting it to this point took me at least 10 minutes. I want to get a full detail on her car, but I told her she's gotta pay for it. Another thing I'm saving for...an extractor. Despite vacuuming, you could just feel the filth on her carpets. I felt like I had to sanitize my hands after just touching her carpet.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/Detailing/CIMG2580.jpg