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Headlight lens polishing
Have any of you any experience with headlight polishing kits for your Blazer headlights? Any good ones?
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I did it. Looked great but only lasted 6 months before they clouded up again.
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The kits basically include mild abrasive plastic polish(-es) and some kind of applicator(s). Some polishes are more aggressive and give results faster, some are milder so take longer but give a shinier finish. Other than that they're all roughly the same, so a $4 bottle of Plast-X etc. is roughly as good as a $25 kit, and a $2 tube of toothpaste will work if you're patient and have a lot of elbow grease lying around.
The basic problem with these kits is they remove the outer worn/oxidized layers but then leave the plastic lens material underneath exposed, so it quickly becomes worn and oxidized again. To make it last you really need to finish with several layers of a UV-resistant clear coat and protect it with wax now and then. And even so it's still not "permanent" and will still have to be touched up now and then. Because it's plastic that's exposed to the elements. Wet sanding with successive grits and finishing with clear coat and wax is about the best you can do. Avoid the internet guides that say you should use OFF or other DEET-based insect repellents. It will actually work, but it's difficult to gauge or control how much plastic gets dissolved and can yield uneven results that still need to be polished. Not a good idea unless the car is so far gone that you don't really care any more. |
I recently used the simple kit from the local W-mart. Wet sand with couple different grits, clean, coat with the “magic” bottle stuff they included and get fresh air. Fumes are quite strong. Results in my view, about 90% of new for say 20-30mins work per headlamp and had enough to do tail lights too. I used the 3m kit. Tips with that kit: painters masking tape a must. Used a old windex type bottle with water in it, keep surface very wet while sanding. Clean, repeat. Kit has several grit levels. You can tell when getting close to done sanding when the run off is clearish/white, looks golden yellow as you strip the oxidized layers. When applying you have to do it in as few passes as possible with very little overlap. Will streak if heavy overlap, wipe in different directions etc. (with my hands took me 2 passes on the horizontal left/right) Comes with the gloves, use em, soak the application clothe till almost dripping wet and make your pass thus the tape to protect everything else- including bumpers. It kinda reminds me of superglue, move fast, keep clothe soaked, get all the lamps done and dispose of it outside- fumes are nasty. Directions read like applying wax, not on hot surface nor in sun. Did mine in garage with door open then moved it outside to cure once done. Overall worth the effort and mine came out great. Took about 1 hour to “set”, was fully cured by next morn. How long it last for me unknown, just did this like 2-3 weeks ago. |
Originally Posted by Trukntigger
(Post 705383)
Tips with that kit: painters masking tape a must. |
Not sure what waxed tape is I just used blue 2” painters tape and worked fine. I can see removal but found was easy with it in place so it did not move while working it. How did you go about keeping it held still while working on it?
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The tape I've been using was this:
https://www.colad.co/product/aqua-dynamic-masking-tape/ A regular painter's tape. It's kinda soaked with wax, so we call it "waxed masking tape". Sorry if it wasn't an accurate term. ..and I've masked the hood, and then, eventually after removing I had an irregular strip of a clear finish layer gone. I don't know whether my hood was poorly painted in the past or it's just aging. But the headlights are easy to remove. Just a few clips and plugs. So I wouldn't risk masking in another place :D |
This worked well for me: george |
+1. I have had success with this.
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Similar but no drill version I used. https://www.walmart.com/ip/3M-Headli...n-Kit/23332131 |
With these kits you guys have been suggesting, how long do the effects last? I ask as RockAuto has replacement new headlamp assemblies for about $25 each.
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Originally Posted by christine_208
(Post 705477)
With these kits you guys have been suggesting, how long do the effects last? I ask as RockAuto has replacement new headlamp assemblies for about $25 each.
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About a year George |
Like George said, about a year. Btw, Christine, if you decide to replace rather than polish your existing headlamps, let us know how easy that was. Was it a direct replacement? I'm thinking of doing the same thing. I didn't realize the replacements were that inexpensive.
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So I took another look at my headlights (it is easier now with the snow almost gone and it warming up) and realized they must have been polished once before. But that would have been about 10 years ago before I purchased the truck! It is as if the main lenses were polished but the turn indicator on the drivers side was not. That one is yellowed and opaque unlike the new ones I've seen pictures of. I also noticed that the fog lights are yellowed and opaque too. All that said, the main lenses are pitted a bit but they are nowhere near as bad as my neighbor's car on which it is easy to see that one of the headlamp assemblies (on a Honda) has been replaced whereas the other one is very yellowed and opaque.
At the moment, I'm now thinking of only polishing the fog lamp lenses and saving my money for now. I keep telling myself to pace out any car expenses like my father told me as you never know when your vehicle might fail or get totaled. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...3249bed04d.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...f27577eb5a.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...6e52229eef.jpg |
Mine after doing them about a month ago with the 15$ 3m kit from W-mart. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...649242370.jpeg I did the lower marker lights and rear tail too https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...d79c94895.jpeg Came out ok, I figure good for a year or so. |
This may sound a little goofy but if I had to polish my headlight lenses I'd use tooth past and a buffing pad. You can sand with some wet 1200 grit paper and get good results. If it requires something more aggressive save yourself the frustration and just get a replacement lens.
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I have used the creams, and both the 3M hand & drill kits commented before.
I definitely lean towards the 3M kits. They work great. But like mentioned, results last for 6 months to a year. I once did my wife's old, old car....a 99 Nissan Altima. Could barely see out of them at night. They looked brand new when I got done, and looked good for almost 2 years. New headlamps for 25 each is a great deal! Might be on par or cheaper than the salvage yard. It all comes down to, do you wanna put the work in and spend half the money....or have it done for you for double the price. |
The old school way was use regular paint buffing compound and a micro cloth and polish as you would a paint job.
Removes the haze and adds a more or less a wax coat to the lens. I've had them last several years after polishing, On a side note your going to find the really bright white Halogen and such bulbs put out enough heat that they all will fast haze new or old. |
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