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  1. #1
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    Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    Ever since I restored my headlights,I have had a lot of friends and family asking if I can do there headlights. I use my Dewalt cordless for my headlights,but I really don't want to use it for numerous headlight restorations.
    So I'm looking for either a compact cordless drill (lithium ion,12v,18v,etc) or an Orbital polisher. I already have a Griots Random Orbital polisher,so maybe getting a backing plate and a few pads to use it is what I was also thinking. What do you guys think? Let me know.Thanks

  2. #2
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    Re: Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    i would stay with the drill all companies that use sand paper and polish has the kit ti go with a cordless or corded drill.

  3. #3
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    Re: Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    Buy a 2 7/8" backing pad and Meguiar's 3" Sanding Interface Pad for your DA.

    You will get the headlights done more quickly & you will also now have the ability to use 3-4" polishing pads on your DA for paint.

    You can buy 3" sanding discs on AGO and the sanding discs that are available at your local retailer are also 3".
    Beware of those giving suggestions without evidence of their results.

  4. #4
    Regular Member kaliagent2001's Avatar
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    Re: Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    Quote Originally Posted by Red97Z28 View Post
    Ever since I restored my headlights,I have had a lot of friends and family asking if I can do there headlights. I use my Dewalt cordless for my headlights,but I really don't want to use it for numerous headlight restorations.
    So I'm looking for either a compact cordless drill (lithium ion,12v,18v,etc) or an Orbital polisher. I already have a Griots Random Orbital polisher,so maybe getting a backing plate and a few pads to use it is what I was also thinking. What do you guys think? Let me know.Thanks
    Im looking into getting a drill right now. Why don't you want to continue using your drill?

  5. #5
    Super Member Calendyr's Avatar
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    Re: Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    For sanding and compounding steps I use a drill with a 3" drill backplate. For polishing I use my 3" Griot Garage DA.

    A drill is basically a very small rotary, it will correct faster than a DA. And the DA will give you a better finish for the polishing step.

    Side note, once you have the backing plate for your drill, get yourself orange and red foam pads for it. It's also very useful to compound and polish small areas like door jambs and other places where a DA doesn't fit.

  6. #6
    Super Member Mantilgh's Avatar
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    Re: Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    I always thought a cordless 90deg angle drill would be good for this. That and some small Flex backing plates and pads.

    FLEX Rotary Backing Plates 1, 2, 3 Inch Diameter

    FLEX PE8 Rotary Foam Pads 1, 2, 3 Inch Diameter

    The one inch set up would be nice for some of those tight corners.
    ____________
    "The more answers I seek, the more questions I find."

  7. #7
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    Re: Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    Quote Originally Posted by Mantilgh View Post
    I always thought a cordless 90deg angle drill would be good for this. That and some small Flex backing plates and pads.

    FLEX Rotary Backing Plates 1, 2, 3 Inch Diameter

    FLEX PE8 Rotary Foam Pads 1, 2, 3 Inch Diameter

    The one inch set up would be nice for some of those tight corners.
    I agree and recommend this.
    I just purchased the 2" setup because the 3" wouldn't get into the corner of the headlights. Now I wish I got the 1" also

  8. #8
    Super Member jwgreen6's Avatar
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    Re: Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    I've restored headlights using the GG 3" mini polisher with sanding disks and polishing pads. The downside is the product sling and dusting from the sanding. I'll spend another 15 minutes just cleaning the car afterwards.

    Now I sand/polish by hand using a Meguiar's 3" sanding pad. Remember the headlight lenses are soft plastic, not painted metal like a car's surface so you don't need an aggressive ablative method. As my grandfather once said (he was a Swedish carpenter) "power tools allow you to make mistakes MUCH faster than by hand".

  9. #9
    Super Member Rsurfer's Avatar
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    Re: Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    [QUOTE=jwgreen6;1372093. The downside is the product sling and dusting from the sanding. I'll spend another 15 minutes just cleaning the car afterwards.



    Have you tried wet sanding?

  10. #10
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    Re: Cordless drill or Orbital polisher for headlight restoration

    I sometimes use a cheap ryobi cordless or my Rupes mini
    Mini does better as the ryobi doesnt hace the Rpms

    Plan to get this
    https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-...rdless/2705-22

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