Cleaning headlights

[RapierTL]

I have projector headlights, and the outer surface has many little 'pits' from old age and all the rocks on our wonderful colorado roads. I tried rubbing them out with 2 different kinds of polishing compounds. I did a sample test using wet 800 sandpaper and that didn't seem to do anything.
Any suggestions?

[RapierTL]

also, after using the compound, the surface felt smooth, however it didn't look it.

[THRICE]

I have the same problem on the lude. I don't know what the hell to do.

[DrJones]

is what you are trying to clean clear plastic? I've had good expierence polishing that stuff with P21S Multi-Surface Finish Restorer (http://www.detailersparadise.com/_System/_AdvancedStore/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=60632003504522%2D12252 12614028&DeptId=505282003154072%2D192168022991&CatId=21622003414172%2D1225212614056&SubCat=)

We used that stuff on the taillights of Thrice's old del sol. It cleans stuff like that up really well.

[THRICE]

That's the stuff we used? Oh, that shit kicked ass!

[Storm Girl]

Hmm...I might have to try that stuff...My lights look yellowish....but when Alex buffed it a little bit, they looked a lot better.

[RapierTL]

Yes, it is plastic, so I am unsure that this product you mentioned would be appropriate. It reads that it is a metal polish, usable on "aluminum, magnesium, stainless steel, chrome, brass and other tarnished metals"

[oMekone]

when i got my 98 headlights they had paint all over them. i used some 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 and some plastic polishes in that order and they came out looking brand new,

i used meguiars mirror glaze 10# clear plastic polish, novus 2# plastic polish, and meguiars scrach x.

[RapierTL]

...off to auto zone...

[THRICE]

i used some 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 and some plastic polishes in that order and they came out looking brand new,

i used meguiars mirror glaze 10# clear plastic polish, novus 2# plastic polish, and meguiars scrach x.


Can you dumb this down for me? I don't know what any of that stuff is. Well, except for the waxes and polishes.

[taikahn]

he is talking about the grit rating of sandpaper, you know 200, 400, + etc...

[THRICE]

That's what I thought. Thanks.

[BlueFang08]

Yeah my headlights are all fucked up also.

Mine are kinda sun faded will that stuff help also with that?

Does it last or is it just like a polish that you always have to put on?

[oMekone]

well if you sand them then it will remove all the small chips and buildup, after your done sanding it will look like shit, tons of scrach marks. i bought a small 15$ car buffer and used that with a mix of dirrent stuff i found at autozone and checkers. worked for me but it took time

[RapierTL]

hmmm....a buffer you say. I spent about 10 mintues hammering away the headlights with sandpaper. I went out and bought 2000, 1000, and i have 800 and 400 already. I was grinding away with the 400, and no results. I think i'm going to try something even lower, like 40 to get started. these headlights are showing age....