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  1. #1
    Super Member david b's Avatar
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    Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Did an interior detail recently and noticed the vehicle's headlights were in need of some TLC. Figured the owner wouldn't mind as she's a friend of mine.

    Used the 3 inch Mirka sanding discs(1k, 2k, 3k, & 4k grit) on my PC 7424XP. Then followed it up with McKee's 37 AIO Headlight Restoring Polish and a LC 3 inch orange thin pad. Applied Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant which I got as a freebie a while back.

    Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish-dsc_6799-jpgHeadlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish-dsc_6800-jpg

    The owner was thrilled!

    Thanks for looking,
    David

  2. #2
    Super Member Eldorado2k's Avatar
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    Re: Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Looks great.
    Did you wetsand or drysand? Reason I ask is because the 3M kit that I recently picked up says to dry sand @500, 800, and 1000 grit, then wetsand @3000 grit. What do you think?

  3. #3
    Super Member TTQ B4U's Avatar
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    Re: Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Quote Originally Posted by Eldorado2k View Post
    Looks great.
    Did you wetsand or drysand? Reason I ask is because the 3M kit that I recently picked up says to dry sand @500, 800, and 1000 grit, then wetsand @3000 grit. What do you think?
    IMO you can do either. Dry sanding the initial oxidation off is fine but as you move into the finishing grades like 2-3k grit or higher wet sanding will help keep the paper and abrasives clean and doing their job more effectively and does serve to provide a better finish. I do both. Typically 800 then 1000 then 2000 then 3000, the last two being wet.
    2019 Pearl White Accord 2.0T Touring (mine)
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  4. #4
    Super Member Eldorado2k's Avatar
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    Re: Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Quote Originally Posted by TTQ B4U View Post
    IMO you can do either. Dry sanding the initial oxidation off is fine but as you move into the finishing grades like 2-3k grit or higher wet sanding will help keep the paper and abrasives clean and doing their job more effectively and does serve to provide a better finish. I do both. Typically 800 then 1000 then 2000 then 3000, the last two being wet.
    I’ve also heard that dry sanding kills the discs alot faster?

  5. #5
    Super Member TTQ B4U's Avatar
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    Re: Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Quote Originally Posted by Eldorado2k View Post
    I’ve also heard that dry sanding kills the discs alot faster?
    It does. I do it mainly because it's easier for me to see the end/dry results of oxidation removal. Once I'm into clear/white plastic I can move to wet.
    2019 Pearl White Accord 2.0T Touring (mine)
    2023
    Snowflake Pearl White CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus(wife)
    2010 Urban Platinum Metallic CRV EX-L & 2014 Mica Black Metallic Toyota Corolla S (kids)

  6. Thanks Eldorado2k thanked for this post
  7. #6
    Regular Member MTLean's Avatar
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    Re: Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Quote Originally Posted by david b View Post
    Did an interior detail recently and noticed the vehicle's headlights were in need of some TLC. Figured the owner wouldn't mind as she's a friend of mine.

    Used the 3 inch Mirka sanding discs(1k, 2k, 3k, & 4k grit) on my PC 7424XP. Then followed it up with McKee's 37 AIO Headlight Restoring Polish and a LC 3 inch orange thin pad. Applied Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant which I got as a freebie a while back.

    Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish-dsc_6799-jpgHeadlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish-dsc_6800-jpg

    The owner was thrilled!

    Thanks for looking,
    David
    Awesome results!!

    How long did such a process take you?

  8. Likes iced98lx liked this post
  9. #7
    Newbie Member iced98lx's Avatar
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    Re: Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant - does that have UV blockers in it? I get requests to do this frequently and I'm happy to do it but I am always looking for a better coating to avoid future yellowing as I don't want folks coming back X months later going "My headlights only took 6/12/months to get as bad as they did after 10 years from new!!"


    Great work by the way, such a difference for that person at night too.
    2014 Grand Cherokee Oil Burner | 2007 Rav 4 | 2008 Corvette | 1996 Mariah Shabah Z202 Limted Edition

  10. #8
    Super Member Eldorado2k's Avatar
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    Re: Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Quote Originally Posted by iced98lx View Post
    Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant - does that have UV blockers in it? I get requests to do this frequently and I'm happy to do it but I am always looking for a better coating to avoid future yellowing as I don't want folks coming back X months later going "My headlights only took 6/12/months to get as bad as they did after 10 years from new!!"


    Great work by the way, such a difference for that person at night too.
    Try the new McKee’s Headlight Coating. It’s supposed to last 3yrs.

  11. #9
    Super Member david b's Avatar
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    Re: Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Quote Originally Posted by Eldorado2k View Post
    Looks great.
    Did you wetsand or drysand? Reason I ask is because the 3M kit that I recently picked up says to dry sand @500, 800, and 1000 grit, then wetsand @3000 grit. What do you think?
    I wetsanded using a QD as my lubricant. Mike's YT video on headlight restoration showed him using soapy water but the QD was handy and close by so I went with that. Took me maybe 15 minutes per headlight. I was kind of cautious because I never used the Mirka sanding discs before or it would have taken less time.

    David

  12. #10
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    Re: Headlight Restoration using Mirka discs & McKee's 37 Polish

    Quote Originally Posted by david b View Post
    I wetsanded using a QD as my lubricant. Mike's YT video on headlight restoration showed him using soapy water but the QD was handy and close by so I went with that. Took me maybe 15 minutes per headlight. I was kind of cautious because I never used the Mirka sanding discs before or it would have taken less time.

    David

    David,

    Did you utilize the 3" Mirka Soft-Faced Interface pad or the 3" Multi-Interface pad on the BP of the PC?

    Thanks!

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