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Random Quote: It's easy to simulate the joys of boating. Just stand in a cold shower and tear up $100 dollar bills
I was performing my annual buffing duties on my hull a few weeks back and a "lightbulb" went off in my head.
My wife has a Lexus with the plastic headlights. Over the years they have glazed over and are unsightly and reduce the amount of light beam at night. I have seen signs around town advertising the restoration of the headlights for $80.
I thought I might give polishing the headlights a try with my buffing wheel and a little compound.
Using 3M's Finesse-it product I brushed a light amount onto the corner of the headlight. Applying low speed and pressure with the wheel I worked the area and then applied another coat. After just two coats the area was crystal clear once again, like new!
I repeated the process on both headlights and then applied REJEX. The headlights look new and I saved myself $80. I then did the same to my Ford F-150 headlights with the same results.
3M "Finesse It" is available at body shop supply stores or your local marine store. I like it because it is a very light compound that is very easy to use.
Give it a try on a small area first to see the results. Good luck.
__________________ USCG 100 TON MASTER
Pursuit 2870 CC
Palm Beach 161
1984 Mckee Craft 14'
Sunset on the ICW
Madeira Beach, Fl
Honeymoon Harbor
Bimini
"Many times life gives you the test, before you learn the lesson!"
The buffing won't last.You have to recoat it to protect the surface.One of the kits from Walmart or Advance Auto has the sealer in it.Its worth the $20 bucks for the kit.
Do the same thing myself every time the cars get a wax. The finesse-it is good stuff. Sounds stupid, but the single easiest facelift to an older car is to replace those headlight assemblies- like before you sell it...
3M makes a headlight restoring kit that we use at my Body Shop. I'm not sure what they call it but headlights look like new when we're done and the haze does not come back.
One trick I use, if you have some 3M Finesse it, is to mix in a small amount of baby oil until the consistency is more like mayonaisse. I have also found this beneficial on polishing gel coat that is just mildly chalky.
3M makes a headlight restoring kit that we use at my Body Shop. I'm not sure what they call it but headlights look like new when we're done and the haze does not come back.
3M makes a headlight restoring kit that we use at my Body Shop. I'm not sure what they call it but headlights look like new when we're done and the haze does not come back.
Is this a significant problem-? I have never done anything with my headlight lenses, and have never noticed any fogging or other blockage of light.
You must not live in Florida! We have kept a car down there for about 1 year and it has already yellowed the lenses, this did not happen after 8 years in Indiana.
jbg108 - 2/18/2009 10:54 AM 3M makes a headlight restoring kit that we use at my Body Shop. I'm not sure what they call it but headlights look like new when we're done and the haze does not come back.
I tried the Meguiars product for this purpose and it didn't work very well. I have some Collinite Fiberglass Cleaner that I'll try. Not sure if it is abrasive enough though.
__________________ 2003 Sea Pro 220 CC
2003 Yamaha 200 HPDI
2009 Ace Dual Axle Trailer
I tried the Meguiars product for this purpose and it didn't work very well. I have some Collinite Fiberglass Cleaner that I'll try. Not sure if it is abrasive enough though.
I tried it previously with a Turtle wax compund and did not have good results. The 3M Finesse-It worked quickly and beautifully. It works great on the boat also. It is a very light compound that does the work without messy buildup or streaking and swirls.
Here is the product description, as copied frim a website.
Regarded by many as the reference standard of machine polishes.
This polish has been a benchmark in the 3M product line longer than I can remember. 3M Finesse-It II Finishing Material is the standard-of-comparison in many body shops and detail shops. When applied with a high speed polisher (Makita 9227) or dual-action polisher (Porter Cable 7424), it quickly and effectively reduces or removes minor swirls, scratches and paint blemishes. Polished surfaces have a deep, reflective, wet-look shine ready for your favorite wax.
This is a more aggressive polish than the 3M Perfect-It Swirl Removers and Meguiar's No 3 Machine Glaze but is still clear coat safe. If you have an older vehicle with a finish that is oxidized or dull, this is the perfect solution. For best results, this polish must be applied by machine.
Application Tips:
Shake container before using.
Work in a shaded area out of direct sunlight.
Apply on a 2 ft by 2 ft area
For newer finishes, apply with a foam polishing pad. For dull, oxidized or neglected surfaces, apply with a wool pad.
Polish using a light to medium pressure. Reduce pressure as material begins to dry.
Remove splatter from adjacent panels before polishing the next panel.
Net weight 16 oz.
__________________ USCG 100 TON MASTER
Pursuit 2870 CC
Palm Beach 161
1984 Mckee Craft 14'
Sunset on the ICW
Madeira Beach, Fl
Honeymoon Harbor
Bimini
"Many times life gives you the test, before you learn the lesson!"
Here is what we use at the dealership that I work at. I have a couple of techs that have done this on their own headlights and they turned out great and still look great 8 months later. We sell the kit for around $48.00 bucks plus labor.
Is this a significant problem-? I have never done anything with my headlight lenses, and have never noticed any fogging or other blockage of light.
You must not live in Florida! We have kept a car down there for about 1 year and it has already yellowed the lenses, this did not happen after 8 years in Indiana.
Correct - I am up north, never heard of this fogging before.
polishing "foggy" headlight lenses 
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