General: Headlight cleaning (to remove cloudy / hazy look)
July-16th-2002, 06:58 PM
#4
Protege Newbie
Join Date: May 2002
Location: East Coast US.
Posts: 21
Outside Procedure
I used a variation of these instructions:
http://home.hiwaay.net/~lbrewer/howt....html#on%20car
I did not remove my lenses. I used a scotch brite pad for the first sanding. Use the 3M name brand pad. You can feel the little cutting edges and they hold up well under wet sanding. I also used 1000, 1600, and 2000 grit paper. Use lots of water. I used a running hose, but you could use a sponge to constantly flush the grit from the surface.
The blue magic metal polish I found to be better than other metal polishes like semi-chrome I have used in the past.
The lenses are glued to the housing so you can't remove them.
http://home.hiwaay.net/~lbrewer/howt....html#on%20car
I did not remove my lenses. I used a scotch brite pad for the first sanding. Use the 3M name brand pad. You can feel the little cutting edges and they hold up well under wet sanding. I also used 1000, 1600, and 2000 grit paper. Use lots of water. I used a running hose, but you could use a sponge to constantly flush the grit from the surface.
The blue magic metal polish I found to be better than other metal polishes like semi-chrome I have used in the past.
The lenses are glued to the housing so you can't remove them.
July-16th-2002, 10:34 PM
#5
Rotor Head
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Indiana
Posts: 264
You guys don't need to bother wet sanding anymore.... I've discovered a better way to fix the hazy lenses. You'll need..
1) Rubbing Compound
2) Scratch Out or Haze Remover
3) Nail Polish Remover
4) A Good Wax
5) Some towels and rags
Since the outside of the lenses are smooth this makes more sense to me to just polish the lenses, instead of sanding them and making a mess. Plus, it works good, and it's really fast, and probably cheaper too.
Start by cleaning off the lens with the nail polish remover. This will take off the cloudiness instantly and it will look great, but you'll notice the haze reappears in a matter of seconds. Thus, the other products come into play...
After you have cleaned off the lens with the nail polish remover, get a rag and the rubbing compound and basically work the lens over with as much elbow grease as you can muster. After you get the rubbing compound applied, take it off with a clean rag. The lens will look pretty crappy at this point, as the rubbing compound has probably stained it another color, i.e. red or clay.
Take the scratch and haze remover and do the same as you did with the rubbing compound. The scratch and haze remover should take off the stains the compound left behind, and your lens should be clear at this point, but rather dull.
Take off the scratch remover, and wax the lens. This will take away the dull finish, and hopefully leave you with a clean, clear, shiny lens.
You can do this procedure to any of the lenses on your car and it really clears them up. I even did my dome light, and it looks great now. I did the tail lights too. You just don't know how bad some of them are until you clean them up...
Good luck all, hope it works for you as good as it did for me....
1) Rubbing Compound
2) Scratch Out or Haze Remover
3) Nail Polish Remover
4) A Good Wax
5) Some towels and rags
Since the outside of the lenses are smooth this makes more sense to me to just polish the lenses, instead of sanding them and making a mess. Plus, it works good, and it's really fast, and probably cheaper too.
Start by cleaning off the lens with the nail polish remover. This will take off the cloudiness instantly and it will look great, but you'll notice the haze reappears in a matter of seconds. Thus, the other products come into play...
After you have cleaned off the lens with the nail polish remover, get a rag and the rubbing compound and basically work the lens over with as much elbow grease as you can muster. After you get the rubbing compound applied, take it off with a clean rag. The lens will look pretty crappy at this point, as the rubbing compound has probably stained it another color, i.e. red or clay.
Take the scratch and haze remover and do the same as you did with the rubbing compound. The scratch and haze remover should take off the stains the compound left behind, and your lens should be clear at this point, but rather dull.
Take off the scratch remover, and wax the lens. This will take away the dull finish, and hopefully leave you with a clean, clear, shiny lens.
You can do this procedure to any of the lenses on your car and it really clears them up. I even did my dome light, and it looks great now. I did the tail lights too. You just don't know how bad some of them are until you clean them up...
Good luck all, hope it works for you as good as it did for me....
July-17th-2002, 07:56 AM
#6
Protege Newbie
Join Date: May 2002
Location: East Coast US.
Posts: 21
I don't doubt that the nail polish remover trick has worked, but it is a solvent that incorrectly applied can melt plastic. What ever you do, don't let it stay on the lens any length of time.
The sanding may sound a little messier, but aircraft windshields have been cleaned this way for years - it is reliable - it works and I got to squirt my wife with the water hose.
Cost of materials, about $20.
The sanding may sound a little messier, but aircraft windshields have been cleaned this way for years - it is reliable - it works and I got to squirt my wife with the water hose.
Cost of materials, about $20.
July-21st-2002, 02:58 PM
#11
Ya'll Come Back Now
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 241
Originally posted by Glazedham42
You guys don't need to bother wet sanding anymore.... I've discovered a better way to fix the hazy lenses. You'll need..
1) Rubbing Compound
2) Scratch Out or Haze Remover
3) Nail Polish Remover
4) A Good Wax
5) Some towels and rags
Since the outside of the lenses are smooth this makes more sense to me to just polish the lenses, instead of sanding them and making a mess. Plus, it works good, and it's really fast, and probably cheaper too.
Start by cleaning off the lens with the nail polish remover. This will take off the cloudiness instantly and it will look great, but you'll notice the haze reappears in a matter of seconds. Thus, the other products come into play...
After you have cleaned off the lens with the nail polish remover, get a rag and the rubbing compound and basically work the lens over with as much elbow grease as you can muster. After you get the rubbing compound applied, take it off with a clean rag. The lens will look pretty crappy at this point, as the rubbing compound has probably stained it another color, i.e. red or clay.
Take the scratch and haze remover and do the same as you did with the rubbing compound. The scratch and haze remover should take off the stains the compound left behind, and your lens should be clear at this point, but rather dull.
Take off the scratch remover, and wax the lens. This will take away the dull finish, and hopefully leave you with a clean, clear, shiny lens.
You can do this procedure to any of the lenses on your car and it really clears them up. I even did my dome light, and it looks great now. I did the tail lights too. You just don't know how bad some of them are until you clean them up...
Good luck all, hope it works for you as good as it did for me....
You guys don't need to bother wet sanding anymore.... I've discovered a better way to fix the hazy lenses. You'll need..
1) Rubbing Compound
2) Scratch Out or Haze Remover
3) Nail Polish Remover
4) A Good Wax
5) Some towels and rags
Since the outside of the lenses are smooth this makes more sense to me to just polish the lenses, instead of sanding them and making a mess. Plus, it works good, and it's really fast, and probably cheaper too.
Start by cleaning off the lens with the nail polish remover. This will take off the cloudiness instantly and it will look great, but you'll notice the haze reappears in a matter of seconds. Thus, the other products come into play...
After you have cleaned off the lens with the nail polish remover, get a rag and the rubbing compound and basically work the lens over with as much elbow grease as you can muster. After you get the rubbing compound applied, take it off with a clean rag. The lens will look pretty crappy at this point, as the rubbing compound has probably stained it another color, i.e. red or clay.
Take the scratch and haze remover and do the same as you did with the rubbing compound. The scratch and haze remover should take off the stains the compound left behind, and your lens should be clear at this point, but rather dull.
Take off the scratch remover, and wax the lens. This will take away the dull finish, and hopefully leave you with a clean, clear, shiny lens.
You can do this procedure to any of the lenses on your car and it really clears them up. I even did my dome light, and it looks great now. I did the tail lights too. You just don't know how bad some of them are until you clean them up...
Good luck all, hope it works for you as good as it did for me....
July-21st-2002, 04:51 PM
#12
Protege Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 32
I tried this the other day and it works pretty well. I just smeared the nail polish remover on with a paper towel, let it sit about two seconds, and then started buffing using the rubbing compound. I wouldn't let the nail polish remover sit on the lens at all - just apply and start rubbing it off with the compound. Then repeat until you reach the desired results. I went through the entire process twice in about twenty minutes, and it did help. I would think the wet sanding does a more thorough job, but this is quick and easy with no hose needed.
Thanks for the tip, Glazed Ham.
Thanks for the tip, Glazed Ham.
July-21st-2002, 10:09 PM
#13
Rotor Head
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Indiana
Posts: 264
Not a prob. That's why I'm here. As for that nail polish remover, I just wipe it on, and then right back off. It has so much acetone in it, if you leave it on too long it could probably eat right through the lens without much trouble. 
I like to think that the key ingredient is the scratch remover. you can really notice a difference before the scratch remover and after it. It was like night and day on my '91 DX. And best of all, this is a fast and almost foolproof process!
As for that nail polish remover, I just wipe it on, and then right back off. It has so much acetone in it, if you leave it on too long it could probably eat right through the lens without much trouble. I like to think that the key ingredient is the scratch remover. you can really notice a difference before the scratch remover and after it. It was like night and day on my '91 DX. And best of all, this is a fast and almost foolproof process!
July-22nd-2002, 07:41 AM
#15
Rotor Head
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Indiana
Posts: 264
It lasts a pretty long time... I did mine once about 4 months ago and I decided to do it again a week ago just for the heck of it. I didn't really notice a difference this time when I was done, so apparently the procedure lasts for a while...