How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
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- Fourth Gear
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- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Now Sioux Lookout
Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
Here's mine after doing the 1000-2500 wet sanding routine:
1991 Turbo Sedan, Aspen White 5MT, Sold RIP
1994 Turbo Sedan, Crimson Pearl 5MT, from British Columbia-no rust!
1994 Turbo Sedan, Crimson Pearl 5MT, from British Columbia-no rust!
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- Fourth Gear
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Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
oooo man, that is one sexy ss
headlights look great
headlights look great
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- In Neutral
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- Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
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Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
I had used a couple different kits in the past for clearing yellowed headlights. One worked great, the other two did nothing and I can't remember which any of them were.
But I just did mine, and here's how I did it:
1. Remove lenses and clean with warm water and a tad of dish soap
2. Wet sand 150, 300, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 (no really) I used a standard palm sized sanding block by 3M
3. Rinse and Let dry
4. Polish by hand using microfiber pushing pad with "Turtle Wax Scratch & Swirl Remover" compound
4. Buff with clean microfiber pad
5. 3 medium coats with 1 minute in between using spray "Krylon ColorMaster Acrylic Crystal Clear"
6. Let dry, install
I initially just sanded up to 1000, but it didn't look smooth enough to me. Still hazy. I wanted to go much further, so I hunted down the Turtle Wax compound which is great on acrylics. I also bought a set of cotton buffing wheels for use in a drill, but after I tried them on a corner it was apparent that no change was happening after the polishing compound.
I didn't take any before pics, but will upload my after pics shortly. Needless to say, they came out crystal clear, looking brand new.
But I just did mine, and here's how I did it:
1. Remove lenses and clean with warm water and a tad of dish soap
2. Wet sand 150, 300, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 (no really) I used a standard palm sized sanding block by 3M
3. Rinse and Let dry
4. Polish by hand using microfiber pushing pad with "Turtle Wax Scratch & Swirl Remover" compound
4. Buff with clean microfiber pad
5. 3 medium coats with 1 minute in between using spray "Krylon ColorMaster Acrylic Crystal Clear"
6. Let dry, install
I initially just sanded up to 1000, but it didn't look smooth enough to me. Still hazy. I wanted to go much further, so I hunted down the Turtle Wax compound which is great on acrylics. I also bought a set of cotton buffing wheels for use in a drill, but after I tried them on a corner it was apparent that no change was happening after the polishing compound.
I didn't take any before pics, but will upload my after pics shortly. Needless to say, they came out crystal clear, looking brand new.
Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
Yup, putting in a bit of elbow grease with the sanding and polishing definitely clears up the lenses pretty good.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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- Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8360
- Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 am
- Location: Tenino, WA
Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
3m sells a kit at auto parts stores like AutoZone for $30 that comes with a bit your attack in your drill and has a Velcro face with different grit sandpapers. 500, 800, 3000 and a foam buffing pad with compound and a wax. I skipped the wax and used option-coat 2.0. It's a clear resin. Should last a few years. Awesome stuff for paint once the paint is corrected to perfection. I clear coated in the past and it didn't last more than a year or so. I used a sealant and a wax and that lasted longer than the clear coat. Hopefully the option-coat works even better.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
That's interesting the clear coat paint didn't last. I gave Doug Vincent my old lights that I clear coated and I think they were still fine.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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- In Neutral
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Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
Yes it is weird that it didn't last. Maybe it wasn't great paint or too thin. I've never had it NOT last forever.
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- Fifth Gear
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Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
Well then it was probably my poor painting skills. Painting always Pisses me off. I always wind up with a bug or specs of dust in the paint.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
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- In Neutral
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- Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:33 am
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Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
Try using tack cloth before painting, and setting up a little booth doesn't hurt either to keep the dust out.kimokalihi wrote:Well then it was probably my poor painting skills. Painting always Pisses me off. I always wind up with a bug or specs of dust in the paint.
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- First Gear
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Re: How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
anybody got an extra working fridge? Not enough room in mine for headlights