Eritosthenes

By now we've all seen the whirling sponge thingies that can polish badly oxidized headlights. Can our plastic headlight lenses be polished to remove those hundreds of tiny sand/rock dings that accumulate over the years? I'm thinking about using something extremely fine like Griot's #4 polish (#11091).

Grzldvt1

You have to be careful when sanding/polishing the lenses. There is a coating on them that prevents them from turning yellow from the sun. Of course, it is the coating that turns yellow over time
If you polish that coating off your headlights will prematurely become translucent. Those little nicks and chips while irritating are nothing of you remove the coating and end up with yellow/translucent lenses.
I am experimenting with a brand new system that recoats the lenses and is warrantied for 2 years plus.
It is very different than anything I have seen to date for lens correction.
FYI, I own my own detail shop and do headlight restorations as a service.

cb98coupe

I love it when someone responds to a thread with useful information . Sounds like good advice .
Please keep us posted with the results of your new produce

wolfdogs

I used Zaino's plastic polish on Will red c6's left headlight lens yesterday (thread tittled c6..GR8 Day posted yesterday). It was hazed and now its as clear as the other side. This polish is very mild and ive used it on other lens over the years with no repercussions.

Eritosthenes

Griot's #4 is about as fine as jeweller's rouge or the classic Liquid Ebony. I'm thinking manual (not power tool) application of very fine polish on an occasional (yearly?) basis might be about right. Grzldvt1's warning not to remove the anti-UV coating would seem to rule out the use of steel wool or abrasive paper of any kind.

Thanks.

gerryt

Zaino-Man strikes again.

jackcasa

Good to know. You just saved me from making a big mistake. Thanks!

jpuli28

For new(er) headlights, keep it waxed/sealed as you would the paint. As far as repair, sand and reclear coat them. How do I know... I just got replacement headlights after the clear started peeling away along the edges. I tried to give the dealership my money to refurb them but they said No (wow, I know lol) they "good faithed" new units after warranty!
As far as pitting from debris, depending on depth I dont see much of a remedy.
Remember when you wax/seal the vette, include the headlights

wolfdogs

always keep a ton of layers of a good polymer on it.... yes.. I recommend Zaino of course... but Rejex works too. Novis makes a good plastic polish also, make sure to get the mild level because it comes in 3 different levels......if you choose to try that.

Keppler

Be careful with the products you use on the headlight lens. Before I decided to apply the clear film on the lens (or not), I researched plastic crazing, Lexan crazing, and polycarbonate crazing. I found that several petroleum distillates can micro etch the surface which with either internal material stress or mechanical stress can cause crazing. The only one I remember is products made with ketones. as a base, can cause crazing very quickly. Use very mild products on the lens, preferably water based. Even IPA I would dilute.

Crazing is a well known problem in the boating and aircraft industry.

forg0tmypen

This thread is funny to me because just recently (about 1 month ago) I used a friend of mines "$600" headlight restoration kit that he uses at his shop. I've seen the results from this kit and it's unbelievable. Long story short my headlights look like they've been dragged across pavement for 100 straight miles. I bought new lenses though so all is well!

BRTC5

i just use adams paint correction kit. I started with swirl and haze remover (orange) and then polished it out with the white pad and fine machine polish. worked as well as any kit and it still looks great. Did in Sept i think. Hope this is helpful.

Turbo6TA

Yup ... Novis is about as good as you will ever get as far as plastic polish.

I use it to polish the clear visors on motorcycle helmets.

If your headlight lenses are in pretty bad shape, I would use the #3 Heavy scratch remover, followed by the #2 Fine scratch remover.

If the headlight lenses are just discolored or hazed, use just the Novis #2.

They also make a #1 in a spray bottle, that is very very fine, but really only good for cleaning and a applying a light polish to the plastic lenses ... Too fine for removed hazing or swirl scratches in the plastic.

naples53

Where did you buy JUST the lenses?

forg0tmypen

I got it from a guy on the forum for $200 for both. I think there is a guy on here named RLSebring who sells them as well for around $300 or so. I haven't installed mine yet I'm waiting for my car to get repainted and will do it then. The install is very hard. I need the instructions on how to do it. Until I get those I won't attempt it. But that's another issue: the instructions are a closely guarded secret...

TarHeelDon

BE VERY CAREFUL polishing and sanding your lights.....there is a protective coat on them and if you burn throught it your gonna have a noticeable spot that is more clear than the surrounding headlight and you will either be left with this flaw or you will be replacing a lense....I was removing a decent size scratch and found my way into this other layer.....I should have taken a pic but i did not. Just be careful....I normally zaino my headlights as I am Zaino-ing the rest of the car....they look great.....the scratch was a fluke from a piece of rock.

05C6GAC

Several of the kits on the market include the rejuvinator / clear coat solution. I started on the wet sanding and polishing, but mine appearently look like the guys above, I finally gave up an did the new lenses as above, little bit of work but well worth it!!!

AORoads

Gentlemen, Gentlemen--not to be the Spelling Police, but just so our colleagues can find the product, note

NOVUS Plastic Polish

montereyred

any addtl info on the headlight lens pitting eliminator that you referenced?
my 07 has major pitting and I need HELP!

montereyred

I realize that if I were to use a headlight retsoration kit that it would basically eliminate the clear coat that covers the headlight lens. I have purchased the pre-cut (generic) static film headlights cover product with the intent that that would replace the need for UV coating on the lens as my c6 is in the garage 95% of the time all year.
I have the same problem with the foglights.
By the way, not completely my fault as I bought my 07 "pre-owned" with 49k on the odometer. Ive put 3k on it in the past year.
any help would be appreciated!

montyred