3M Headlight restoration compound?
3M Headlight restoration compound? So I bought 3M's headlight restoration kit that uses a household drill and it worked great. But of course they only give you enough compound in one small packet to do one set of headlights. Does anyone know the closest polish to whatever they put in the packet to do more vehicles? I know you can buy it separately but I have some Mequires 105 (most likely far too abrasive), as well as the 2 or 3 polishing compounds that comes in their ultimate Walmart online bundle. Surely theres something I have on hand thats the same thing? It looks like 205 but of course I cant find my bottle of 205.
For reference the finest sanding disc you use in the kit is 3000 grit.
For reference the finest sanding disc you use in the kit is 3000 grit.
I have had tons of success with 3M "Perfect it". There are 3 stages to the Perfect-it, the first being a rubbing compound for 1200+ grit, second being a standard machine polish, and third being an Ultra-fine polish. Pretty sure the first stage Perfect-it is already close to the final stage Meguires...
For headlights unless they are really trashed I would just go straight to stage 2 or 3. Shouldn't need to cut them that much unless they are very yellow and pitted...and at that point they should be hand sanded first.
Also, please spend the $20-30 for a cheap orbital. Even a $25 walmart special is a million times better than a drill buffer attachment!
(Fair warning, Perfect-it is commercial level stuff that many dealerships use and it is NOT cheap. A 3-part set will run you ~$125+ but it lasts for ages.)
For headlights unless they are really trashed I would just go straight to stage 2 or 3. Shouldn't need to cut them that much unless they are very yellow and pitted...and at that point they should be hand sanded first.
Also, please spend the $20-30 for a cheap orbital. Even a $25 walmart special is a million times better than a drill buffer attachment!
(Fair warning, Perfect-it is commercial level stuff that many dealerships use and it is NOT cheap. A 3-part set will run you ~$125+ but it lasts for ages.)
I'm trying to cheap out and avoid buying any more compounds though. Have any idea what would be the best option of what I have to do some sets on some more cars? I have the following-
Meguires 205 (far too abrasive I imagine)
Meguires Ultimate Compound
Meguires Ultimate Polish
Menzerna 3 in 1.
Meguires 205 (far too abrasive I imagine)
Meguires Ultimate Compound
Meguires Ultimate Polish
Menzerna 3 in 1.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,557
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
After wet sanding, I usually use a combo of 3M 39017 (compound), sometimes Scratch Out (by Kit), and 3M 39010 (polish) with a final step of wax/sealant. Not sure how those compare to your Meguires stuff, but I imagine that one or both of those 3M numbers is what they use in the kit. For a situation that's just short of needing wet sanding, I actually start with glass polish (Zaino, Z12).
I'm trying to cheap out and avoid buying any more compounds though. Have any idea what would be the best option of what I have to do some sets on some more cars? I have the following-
Meguires 205 (far too abrasive I imagine)
Meguires Ultimate Compound
Meguires Ultimate Polish
Menzerna 3 in 1.
Meguires 205 (far too abrasive I imagine)
Meguires Ultimate Compound
Meguires Ultimate Polish
Menzerna 3 in 1.
Follow up with M205 or UP to refine the lights even more if you wish.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 609
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From: jacksonville,fl
In my personal experience with old plastic headlights on commercial everyday sunny florida used vehicles is that I could get a reasonable condition lens to clean up with all sorts of methods & products. Getting them to stay clear was the issue.
Last year on my daily use 2002 sprinter with 350k miles, I removed lights sanded off any traces of the old uv coatings from the edges, final scuffed with 600 then 1000 grit & clearcoated with southern polyurethanes uv clearcoat. The clearcoat melts into the plastic & clears them up, giving the sun protection quality of a good clearcoat. This is the best way I've seen to keep em clear. It is a little more work. There are spraymax 2 part clears in a spray can for approx 20 bucks that could be easier for those without paint equipment, but I haven't personally tried any yet.
Last year on my daily use 2002 sprinter with 350k miles, I removed lights sanded off any traces of the old uv coatings from the edges, final scuffed with 600 then 1000 grit & clearcoated with southern polyurethanes uv clearcoat. The clearcoat melts into the plastic & clears them up, giving the sun protection quality of a good clearcoat. This is the best way I've seen to keep em clear. It is a little more work. There are spraymax 2 part clears in a spray can for approx 20 bucks that could be easier for those without paint equipment, but I haven't personally tried any yet.
Toothpaste actually works very well also but I use Novus fine scratch remover, You can buy a little 2oz bottle for a few dollars or just buy a large bottle 64oz bottle for $28.
It works great on headlights and basically any plastic. I use it on bug deflectors and my black plastic mirror housings and cowl trim. I haven't tried it yet but I was told it works good for vinyl dash pads/seats and so on.
It works great on headlights and basically any plastic. I use it on bug deflectors and my black plastic mirror housings and cowl trim. I haven't tried it yet but I was told it works good for vinyl dash pads/seats and so on.
