Giving headlights a new life..

[koda6966]

Well I was checking out a couple videos I've seen and so far I've found out that dirty yellowed headlights can be made to sparkle like brand new ones in a half hour or less.

Here's the stuff they said I need

Sandpaper-1500, 1000, 6000.
Polisher/rubbing compound/Tri Cut
Turtle Wax.

And here's how they said to do it.
Wet the sandpaper and headlight.
Sand with each sandpaper, progressing from 600 to 150o.
Clean/Dry headlight.
Polish with rubbing compound.
Polish with Tricut.
Polish with wax.

Now, what I was wondering is if there were any substitutes for tricut compound and the rubbing compound? Since they're pricey and only come in big bottles.

 

[Super95]

Hazed headlight lens?
if you want to keep it simple, just rub the hell out of it with Turtle Wax Chrome Polish on a towel, or a power ball. repeat as desired. Wont be quite as nice as brand new but you may be surprised at the difference. $3 gets more than enough chrome polish and it may only take 15 minutes.

 

[Thumper113]

Well I was checking out a couple videos I've seen and so far I've found out that dirty yellowed headlights can be made to sparkle like brand new ones in a half hour or less.

Yup, a cowworker of mine that recons used cars has a kit he uses with buffing pads on his drill with 3 different compounds/liquids. Mine were yellowed so bad that at night, all it did was put a dull glow in front of the truck. I tried polishing them but it didn't work out good.

My coworker wanted to test out his new kit on my truck. I gotta tell ya...........They look like new. Very clear, no yellowing at all, no scratches anymore, I hardly even use the high-beams anymore. Took him about 15 minutes to make 'em like new again. That was back in Febuary & they still haven't yellowed or dulled up. I recommend polishing them before replacing them.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I have also heard that toothpaste works very well.

 

[RobbieD]

I have also heard that toothpaste works very well.

It actually does. Used it one time when I couldn't find anything else. If you've got a buffing wheel and electric drill you can polish them like new in no time.

 

[koda6966]

So basically what your saying is I could substitute the polishing compounds with toothpaste?

I'll try this out on a old headlight off the trashed Escort before I do it to my Ranger.. sounds a little fishy.

 

[avlis83]

I found a kit at Walmart for $20 and it did a great job on both my lights, and had enough left over to do my mothers Buick Rendezvous, also a fine job. I forget the name of the stuff. I have only seen it at certain stores though.

 

[sprtyboy]

4000 grit automotive sandpaper and soapy water
sand until haze is gone
use scratch removal polish with a orbital polisher/buffer
then use liquid wax with polisher
The key is the orbital polisher due to the high rpms(3000).
Takes about 10mins per headlight.

 

[Jason]

Mothers mag and aluminum polish and a buffing wheel on a drill. 15 minutes and done.

 

[Bill G]

Mothers mag and aluminum polish and a buffing wheel on a drill. 15 minutes and done.

That's what I have used in the past. Works great for many different things.

 

[tbirdsps]

When using power tools remember to not overheat the lens. Just keep it moving and don't concentrate in one spot.

I've used the liquid (white) rubbing compound with great results. Don't forget to at wax. The wax protects them for a few months.

 

[koda6966]

Well I cant seem to find the polishing bit for my drill.. must have misplaced it.
My options are to use a low rpm scrubber, or a dremel polisher. It's better than doing it by hand!

I'm going to try with the scrubber first, but if it doesn't work ill have to spend some time with the dremel..

 

[fabman_52]

You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you polish your lights with pepsodent!
It really works!

 

[keith0486]

i had to do this to one of my cars before and all i used was rubbing compound and a good stiff pad on a drill and it worked great for me.

 

[TayCo 7s]

i had my neighbors 95 ram 2500 headlights polished by some guy at the autozone parkinglot he did them both for 5 bucks left them incredibly new looking i saw what he did. he sanded them and then sprayed clear coat on them from an aerosol bottle