Lense refinisher kit - Automotive - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

**S_a_H** · 01-20-2013, 04:05 AM

The plastic headlight lense covers on my car are getting pretty cloudy and I know they have kits to clean them up anyone ever do it ?

S_a_H

jimbojr · 01-25-2013, 03:59 AM

I got a cheap,$10, kit at Harbor Freight. Wasn't too hard to use but the results weren't that great. It cleared the lenses up somewhat but they seemed to get cloudy again within a couple of months. I have seen some local car wash places that advertise it for $10 a lens, may try that next...

intotheunknown · 01-25-2013, 04:33 AM

3M makes a pretty decent kit you adapt to a drill.
I used to use it all the time when i worked as a tech at nissan with good results.

my advice when using something that adapts to a drill is to not sit in one spot for too long, evenly/consistently is key.

otherwise follow the directions, and repeat all steps twice for best results.

SecondAttempt · 01-31-2013, 02:25 AM

+1 for the 3M kit.

Bad7887 · 02-01-2013, 01:13 AM

i used to work ic a body shop we used the 3m one from o'reilleys auto parts. it's simply wet sanding them then applying a clear coat hope this helps

Littleleaf · 02-01-2013, 01:59 AM

after you get it all sanded down use clear acrilic spray paint for placstic. Tape off light and very LIGHTLY spray the lense..many thin coats are better than one thick one.

This will last a few years if done rite.

**S_a_H** · 02-01-2013, 05:29 AM

Hey there I remember you...lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Littleleaf

after you get it all sanded down use clear acrilic spray paint for placstic. Tape off light and very LIGHTLY spray the lense..many thin coats are better than one thick one.

This will last a few years if done rite.

Yeah I was thinking something along that line as well since you get enough of the other chemicals needed but only one sealant wipe.

I ended up going with the cheapo Turtle Wax kit $9 and just takes alittle elbow grease and its done.

I was looking on JC Whitney and I can get whole replacement headlights for under $100 for both.

S_a_H

02-01-2013, 05:53 PM

This is good information. We just picked up an older Volvo that's been well cared for, but is still showing signs of its age. The most notable signs are all with the plastics, especially the headlight lenses. The headlights work fine, and the replacements ain't cheap, so I'd rather try one of these kits.

On another note, a couple of weeks ago we were at Sam's Club gassing up and I was watching these sales-guys, doing demonstrations on people's cars with this product. So I'm watching and watching and I wait for one of them to look lost, and then I got out and asked him if the stuff works on tree sap. See, we're in forest, lots and lots of pines, cedar, fir, oak, madrone, all that sort of stuff, and the cars have all this fucking tree sap stuck on them. It does *not* come off easily. Well, this stuff does it. I said, SOLD! and we came home with some sort of kit I haven't dug into yet (because I don't know where it is!). When I find out what it is I'll come back and report, because I assure you, it really gets the sap off, incredibly easily.

We also need something for the exterior plastic. What's that stuff called, again..? Such blanks I draw sometimes. You can't use it on, say, a motorcycle seat or you'll slide right off. But you can use it on tires, dashboards, etc. What the hell is that stuff called..?

Any recommendations for cleaning up light-colored leather?

intotheunknown · 02-01-2013, 09:03 PM

SeaMaiden-

is it armor-all youre speaking of? i do like it and always have. most people dont for the simple fact the dust and dirt like to cling to it.
but if you dont slather the crap on and wipe it off after its penetrated the vinyl/leather/plastic, this tends to help out a great deal with that issue.

they also make leather conditioners for leather seats-meguiars for example is a good product. the key there is to keep it more so "moist". when it drys out, and between temperature fluctuations is where it tends to crack and such.
gotta maintain that leather.

HTH

02-02-2013, 05:02 PM

Armor-All, THAT'S THE STUFF! Yes, some of the leather has cracked, and we've already had some leather replaced in our Excursion, that was spendy, so I'd rather not if we can avoid it. I still cannot believe that a luxury sport sedan can be had for well under $5K. I'm still pinching myself. I haven't felt this way about a car since I was 18 and got my first car loan for a Mazda, a little hatchback economy model. I tricked it out with carpet!

I think we have some Meguiar's or something similar on hand that we were using for the motorcycles, but it is a light-colored leather so I think it's always going to show the cracks and wear, until or unless it's replaced.

I did the headlights with one of the sprays we got from those sales-people at Sam's Club. Fastwax dot com, is the company. It did alright for the headlight lenses, but not great.

01-25-2013, 03:59 AM	#2
jimbojr New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: central florida Posts: 9	I got a cheap,$10, kit at Harbor Freight. Wasn't too hard to use but the results weren't that great. It cleared the lenses up somewhat but they seemed to get cloudy again within a couple of months. I have seen some local car wash places that advertise it for $10 a lens, may try that next...
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

01-25-2013, 04:33 AM	#3
intotheunknown Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The Land of the Lost Posts: 1,191	3M makes a pretty decent kit you adapt to a drill. I used to use it all the time when i worked as a tech at nissan with good results. my advice when using something that adapts to a drill is to not sit in one spot for too long, evenly/consistently is key. otherwise follow the directions, and repeat all steps twice for best results. __________________
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

01-31-2013, 02:25 AM	#4
SecondAttempt Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 634	+1 for the 3M kit.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

02-01-2013, 01:13 AM	#5
Bad7887 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 44	i used to work ic a body shop we used the 3m one from o'reilleys auto parts. it's simply wet sanding them then applying a clear coat hope this helps
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

02-01-2013, 01:59 AM	#6
Littleleaf Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 919	after you get it all sanded down use clear acrilic spray paint for placstic. Tape off light and very LIGHTLY spray the lense..many thin coats are better than one thick one. This will last a few years if done rite. __________________ A little leaf on a ride in a high wind!
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

02-01-2013, 05:53 PM	#8
SeaMaiden Guest Posts: n/a	This is good information. We just picked up an older Volvo that's been well cared for, but is still showing signs of its age. The most notable signs are all with the plastics, especially the headlight lenses. The headlights work fine, and the replacements ain't cheap, so I'd rather try one of these kits. On another note, a couple of weeks ago we were at Sam's Club gassing up and I was watching these sales-guys, doing demonstrations on people's cars with this product. So I'm watching and watching and I wait for one of them to look lost, and then I got out and asked him if the stuff works on tree sap. See, we're in forest, lots and lots of pines, cedar, fir, oak, madrone, all that sort of stuff, and the cars have all this fucking tree sap stuck on them. It does not come off easily. Well, this stuff does it. I said, SOLD! and we came home with some sort of kit I haven't dug into yet (because I don't know where it is!). When I find out what it is I'll come back and report, because I assure you, it really gets the sap off, incredibly easily. We also need something for the exterior plastic. What's that stuff called, again..? Such blanks I draw sometimes. You can't use it on, say, a motorcycle seat or you'll slide right off. But you can use it on tires, dashboards, etc. What the hell is that stuff called..? Any recommendations for cleaning up light-colored leather?
	Quote

02-01-2013, 09:03 PM	#9
intotheunknown Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The Land of the Lost Posts: 1,191	SeaMaiden- is it armor-all youre speaking of? i do like it and always have. most people dont for the simple fact the dust and dirt like to cling to it. but if you dont slather the crap on and wipe it off after its penetrated the vinyl/leather/plastic, this tends to help out a great deal with that issue. they also make leather conditioners for leather seats-meguiars for example is a good product. the key there is to keep it more so "moist". when it drys out, and between temperature fluctuations is where it tends to crack and such. gotta maintain that leather. HTH __________________
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

02-02-2013, 05:02 PM	#10
SeaMaiden Guest Posts: n/a	Armor-All, THAT'S THE STUFF! Yes, some of the leather has cracked, and we've already had some leather replaced in our Excursion, that was spendy, so I'd rather not if we can avoid it. I still cannot believe that a luxury sport sedan can be had for well under $5K. I'm still pinching myself. I haven't felt this way about a car since I was 18 and got my first car loan for a Mazda, a little hatchback economy model. I tricked it out with carpet! I think we have some Meguiar's or something similar on hand that we were using for the motorcycles, but it is a light-colored leather so I think it's always going to show the cracks and wear, until or unless it's replaced. I did the headlights with one of the sprays we got from those sales-people at Sam's Club. Fastwax dot com, is the company. It did alright for the headlight lenses, but not great.
	Quote