Red99TA

iTrader: (11)

Just thought I would share b/c I'm very impressed with how well it turned out. My TA had quite a few light scratches in the center taillight piece and also at the tops of the taillights. I took it them off today and wet sanded with 1500 grit then 2000 grit and then used 3M fine cut Perfect-It II rubbing compound followed by Meguiar's polish...looks amazing w/ all scratches gone! I did this by hand (took about an hour) so all those that don't know any better and think you need an electric buffer you don't. Although it would cut a LOT of time off the job!

Hard to see but the taillight hasn't been polished here whereas the center piece has.

baddogz28

iTrader: (6)

Pics, before and after please! Mine are scored too.

Gold Member

I tried the exact same thing... no good, i still see scratches, i cant feel them, but ican see them...

I used 1500 grit to get the bird off the back, then went over the whole thing with 2000 grit sand paper, wet of course, it took alot of the bigger scratches out, but i cant seem to get the finer scratches out... Like swirl marks..

Muffracing

Use the rubbing compound and polish like Red99TA said.

Gold Member

I did, still has slight scratches,, the auto shop toll me to use clear coat on them, now i have orange peel for tailights.

Red99TA

iTrader: (11)

added a couple pics

PontiacFan

iTrader: (104)

Good job, ...,

Gold Member

I finally got it to come out pretty good... You have to have lots of patience and time, i just did the center section..

Derek98z

iTrader: (55)

looks great!

Evaporate

iTrader: (22)

I have a couple of q's. How much or how long should I wet sand on one section?

Also, just how do you get those fine scratches from the wet sanding out? I have very tiny scratches and I can't tell if they're gonna come out. WTH!?! I'm doing it by hand, do I have to press a lot harder on the towel?

Red99TA

iTrader: (11)

You don't have to wet sand very long or push very hard on the sandpaper unless you have pretty deep scratches. You didn't say what grit you're starting with but 1500 got out all my scratches before moving to the 2000. As for after the wet sanding just use the polishing compound (a fine cut) to get the small scratches out. Make sure you spend a good amount of time on this step b/c this gets the scratches created from wet sanding out. You shouldn't have to push very hard either. Once you've thoroughly gone over the plastic with the compound then you polish it (the easiest step in my opinion). The polish gets all the final tiney scratches out.

TransLS1

just wanted to say that looks nice man im gonna do mine this weekend.

Evaporate

iTrader: (22)

Thanks Red99TA. I actually used 1000 grit first then on to 1500. Maybe I shouldn't have used the 1000??

Red99TA

iTrader: (11)

As long as you go over it really good w/ the 2000 then it will get the scratches out from the 1000.

Diolar Magnum

wow that looks fantastic. I am thinking about doign this also to get rid of some of those plasticy lookin scratches that come from the car just bein 7 years old. Thanks for the grit indications.

Brad