Headlamp lens polishing

[BajaTaco]

Has anyone tried this? A while ago, I found some various methods on auto forums, about how to polish plastic headlamp lenses to get rid of the yellowing surface and restore the original clear finish. I tried a little corner on one of mine, using some 000 steel wool and a little bit of toothpaste, but had no luck.

Anyone had any success with any particular method? After 6 1/2 years of arizona sun, I miss my crystal clear lenses.


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[alanh]

I'veread where peoplesaypolishing the surface can clear up or at least reduce the yellowing. Assuming its just a surface problem, the toothpaste may not be agressive enough to start with. Youprobably need to start with coarser abrasives like the link below suggests, then workto finalpolishing compounds.

It doesn't pay to skip grades of abrasive either because it takes too long for the fine ones to get rid of the scratches from the coarser abrasive. In the woodworking biz (one of my hobbies) the finishing articles always say to progress through the abrasive grits making sure that each one removes all the coarse scratches from the previous one before moving on. This would beespecially important on a lense where any scratchesleft over by getting in a hurry are going to be real obvious. If doing it by hand, it may help to alternate the direction of the sanding to tell when you've accomplished this.

You might also look for microabrasives on the web. I know 3m has stuff with extremely fine abrasives that are used to polish plastics.

There aresome instructions here thatillustrate just how coarse the abrasives were that someone started with http://forums.roadfly.org/forums/detailing/3538806-1.html

Alan

[BajaTaco]

Man, that is a fair amount of work. If I had a Porter Cable polisher I would consider it. By the time that I bought all of the stuff in that article, and then put the hours into it, I might be better of just buying the aftermarket replacement lenses (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33710&item=2466221 227).


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[JackSilb]

I have a polisher. Just need to find it inside the 100 boxes we have in the garage.
You probably can find the material used to polish optic quality lens on you 20/20 store. The ones that make your glasses in one hour. They may give you some or point to where you can buy it.

-JACK


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