12 replies to this topic

[gqstylesupreme]

i've heard you can restore old crappy looking taillights by sanding them with wet/dry paper. has anyone done this, and what grits would i use?

[badpenny]

i've heard you can restore old crappy looking taillights by sanding them with wet/dry paper. has anyone done this, and what grits would i use?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

toothpaste and a lot of time. I am not kidding. i even used them on other flushmount headlamps.

[redsautorehab]

you need a buffer, or badpenny's idea

i,ve tried 2200 grit sandpaper, and it leaves a slight haze, that needs constant waxing

[kakabox]

From my KAKABOX thread:
"Then, with all the rear lenses removed, I clamped them up individually in a B-D Workmate and took the scratches out using a couple of grades of polishing compound on a foam pad attached to a Porter-Cable random orbital buffer. I restored their gloss using Klasse All-In-One on a waxing foam pad and the Porter-Cable."

Before:


...after:


I used Griott Garage Machine Polish #1 & #2, but other similar polishes (Meguires #4 or #2 & #9) would probably work just as well. The polishes used on foam pads w/a machine buffer get the scratches out, but the Klasse All-In-One is really the key to restoring the gloss...and it lasts a very long time. I recommend using foam pads; wool/fiber pads can get hot and melt the plastic if you're not careful. Klasse: http://superiorcarcare.net/klalpo.html

Cheers.

[yodaboy]

i've heard you can restore old crappy looking taillights by sanding them with wet/dry paper. has anyone done this, and what grits would i use?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

3M makes a great plastic polish which only needs a little rubbing and gives a great shine. Pour a little dab on a terry cloth and rub away. Then buff with a clean terry cloth towel and voila!! New looking lenses. You can even wax them to keep'em shiny

[evilGearhead]

i second the 3m polish,

just ask for 3m plastic polish, it works great on motorcycle windsheilds , cd's , goggles, anything polycarbonate or plastic.

[JeepGirl]

i 3rd the 3m polish, we used it to take some really bad scuff marks out of my new paint on my rear bumper, was hauling firewood on rack that we made to go behind the car and the bundles scratched the hell out of my bumper..... anyway, half an hour of polishing and now you cant even tell anything happened. i just pulled a really superduper nice set of tail lights off my parts car and i'm going to give the 3M a shot on those. i'll post pics when their done.....

Edited by JeepGirl, 15 May 2006 - 08:40 AM.

[Airgazm86]

Depending on how bad the lights are scratched, you can wetsand with 2000 grit paper, polish with 3M Fine Cut Rubbing Compound, then polish with Mequiar's Plasti-X plastic polish. I've done this by hand on my 3G, both of my DSMs and my dad's Neon and the results were great.

[DEIVIONCRX]

way i do it is, sand em with some 1500-2000 get the new plastic back, then hit it with a couple coats of Clear, then pollish out the clear with some wax, looks great and should help them from fading ever again

[Omega Mugen]

Mother's plastic polish.

[phatboycrxhf]

what about heating them up wont that bring back the shine ????

[WOLFCRX]

I use finess-it rubbing compound from a local auto paint supplier by hand or with a buffer it works great also Bluemagic plastic & plexiglass cleaned and light scratch remover work surprisingly well and can be picked up at your local auto parts store.

[1stGenRex]

what about heating them up wont that bring back the shine ????

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

have you thought that this might crack/distort/damage them?