Could it be the ultimate solution to headlight etching?
08-30-2010, 08:18 AM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Could it be the ultimate solution to headlight etching?
Well after about a week of searching forums.... I think I found it. I had just bought a 2008 with a clear bra and clear protective plastic over many areas of the car. There were yellowed 
plastic protectors on the headlights. I tried different solutions to clean off the yellowing to no avail. So I pulled off the plastic on the headlights. Underneath the plastic was what I thought to be adhesive but nothing would touch it. As it turns out the headlights were some how etched in a few lines across the lens. After reading some of the forums here and at other web sites I discovered wet sanding the lenses. 1000 grit and 600 grit wouldn't get rid of the etching. I had to go down to 400 grit and finally I got some results. I then proceeded raising the grit progressivly up to 2000. Then I polished with regular polishing compound on a 4" pad with my battery operated power drill. I tried a faster small angle grinder also but found that to be too fast and it will BURN the lens if you are not carefull. Finally with the chemicals that I got in a Diamondite kit I finished the polishing. It took a lot of work but I got the results that I wanted. I don't know if this will work for some of severely etched and crazed headlight lenses that I've seen here on the forum but it may save you the big bucks that the General wants for new headlights. 
Good Luck,
Street
plastic protectors on the headlights. I tried different solutions to clean off the yellowing to no avail. So I pulled off the plastic on the headlights. Underneath the plastic was what I thought to be adhesive but nothing would touch it. As it turns out the headlights were some how etched in a few lines across the lens. After reading some of the forums here and at other web sites I discovered wet sanding the lenses. 1000 grit and 600 grit wouldn't get rid of the etching. I had to go down to 400 grit and finally I got some results. I then proceeded raising the grit progressivly up to 2000. Then I polished with regular polishing compound on a 4" pad with my battery operated power drill. I tried a faster small angle grinder also but found that to be too fast and it will BURN the lens if you are not carefull. Finally with the chemicals that I got in a Diamondite kit I finished the polishing. It took a lot of work but I got the results that I wanted. I don't know if this will work for some of severely etched and crazed headlight lenses that I've seen here on the forum but it may save you the big bucks that the General wants for new headlights. Good Luck,
Street
Last edited by Street Rat; 08-30-2010 at 08:20 AM. Reason: correction
08-30-2010, 08:41 AM
#3
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. I will send some after shots when I get it working.
08-30-2010, 09:14 AM
#5
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Apr 2009
Location: North Shore MA
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I buffed the headlight lenses on my Impala real quick this weekend with some light compound. I was really surprised how much they came back just from that. they could use a light wet sanding though.
08-30-2010, 06:07 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Sep 2008
Location: foothills of Northern California
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The downside of using power tools on the lens is that you can tweek the optics to the point where the throw on your headlights can get messed up.
08-30-2010, 06:23 PM
#10
Safety Car
Looks good and looks like you had no other choice. I can't remember where but I read somewhere that there is a UV protective coating on these lenses (all vehicles, not just the Vette) which means that you now will have to periodically buff them to maintain their clearness because the UV protective coating has been removed. Not a big deal, just one more maintenance item to do.
Last edited by j_digi454; 08-30-2010 at 11:12 PM.
08-30-2010, 09:34 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
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I do headlight restores in my detailing shop all the time. Sanding is pretty much the only way to get rid if the haze. There is a UV coating that goes bad from the sun
Go figure. I picked 4 lenses at the junkyard that were pretty much white and tried various chemicals that claimed to keep them clear. Stuck them back out in the sun and over time they all turned white again. The longest went a month.
You have to get rid of the UV coating adn sanding seems to be the fool proof method.
We must have some very hard headlight covers to take it down to 400 grit. The lowest I have ever had to go was 600 on a PT Cruiser, most everyone else I can clean up with 1000, then 1500, then 2000.
Mother's makes a great kit, with a powerball for polishing, and the right grits of sandpaper.
After I am finished I put 4 coats of Zaino Clear Seal on them and warranty the fix for a year.
Go figure. I picked 4 lenses at the junkyard that were pretty much white and tried various chemicals that claimed to keep them clear. Stuck them back out in the sun and over time they all turned white again. The longest went a month.You have to get rid of the UV coating adn sanding seems to be the fool proof method.
We must have some very hard headlight covers to take it down to 400 grit. The lowest I have ever had to go was 600 on a PT Cruiser, most everyone else I can clean up with 1000, then 1500, then 2000.
Mother's makes a great kit, with a powerball for polishing, and the right grits of sandpaper.
After I am finished I put 4 coats of Zaino Clear Seal on them and warranty the fix for a year.
08-30-2010, 10:34 PM
#13
Drifting
