How To: Remove Fog/Haze From Headlight
 

I TAKE NO CREDIT FOR THIS WRITE UP

i bagged it from another site but i have seen some people asking about it.
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I've seen too many threads asking how to do this, so I thought I'ld write up a how to. I've already done this several times and I don't have pics, but if I do it agian I'll post pics but they aren't really needed.

Materials needed: 800, 1500, 2000 or 3000 grit sandpaper (3000 is better but takes a little longer), water, rag, and anykind of rubbing compound/plastic polish that will cover up to 1500 grit. Most of this can be found at Wal-Mart or Auto Zone.

1. Take out your headlights. You'll end up with nasty scratch marks on your bumper no matter how carefull you are.

2. Get your water and sandpaper ready. I reccomend a good flow of water but just a glass or bowl will do.

3. Start sanding. Start with the 800 grit. You know how water runs off bugs on your windshield if you haven't got them off? Keep sanding untill it doesn't do that. When it starts to dry you can look at it kind of at an angle and it will look similar to that. Get all of the haze off with the 800 grit. Once all the haze is gone, dry the headlight and note how it looks. Now move up to the 1500 grit. Sand a while with that and dry it and note how it looks. It should look a lot clearer than it did with the 800. This is the most important part so make sure you sand it enough. Now move up to the 3000 grit. Sand with it for a long time. Once you are done with it and it dries it should look pretty clear already.
Sanding tips: Apply moderate pressure and keep the headlight wet and sand in a circular motion. If white soapy looking stuff starts to form, more water. Also it's good to add a little bit of soap to the water, just for a little more slipperyness. Keep the headlight and paper clean. If you hear any squeaking or feel anything between the paper and lens wash it off. If you leave it you will have some nasty scratches form. So... KEEP IT CLEAN.

4. Now to get rid of the scratches. If you have access to a buffer it makes this a lot easier. To start apply a lot of compound on the lens. Get some on your rag and go to rubbing. Rub it really good. You may have to repeat this step a few times and if it doesn't get all of the scratches out your compound isn't good enough. So go get the good stuff, or some good plastic polish. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before you wipe it off.

5. Put the headlights back on your car and you're finished.

If it's still a little hazy, you didn't sand good enough, so start over. lol

ET: 1-2 hours, according to how much endurance and tennis elbow you have hehe.

Any questions feel free to PM me or comment.

P.S. is there anyway I can get a mod to make this a sticky in the Exterior forum sticky thread. Thanks.
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dope good job...

You're welcome! :)

sweeeeet. thanks man, just what i needed!

ive done this be4. have LOTS OF PATIENCE. this is more of an art form than anything.

I just use aircraft window polish.

u can use this without having to wetsand?

if so, where do you get this aircraft window polish?

damn.....i got haze problems too....thanks man.....

Just polished up some headlights for a friend today. the haze wasnt too horrible. I used rubbing compound, then polishing compound, then BLUEMAGIC headlight lens restorer, then some Meguiar's PlastX plastic polish for good measure. spent about 20 minutes per light.

the problem that your seeing with the headlamps is not the plastic per se, its the UV coating breaking down, if you just buff the lights out, you will still have the clear coat edges on the lights. if you wetsand and buff, they will look great for about 3 months, then the plastic will start to break down and turn yellow. Make sure to use a good wax that has UV protection to keep the yellowing down, Or, the best would be to clearcoat the lights with auto clear.

i have done this to my whips, I just used a buffer and two different resin blocks. The first one i used was a plastic polisher, and then i followed it up with a jewelry polish. looks sweet.

cool

fyi guys- mother's billet polish for aluminum works VERY VERY VERY well. So well in fact that I'm tempted to say it works the best. it's for metal but does wonders on clear plastic.

Yeah, I will be trying out the black magic lens restorer tonight, will let you guys know

Its Blue Magic, it works great, unless the fog is on the inside of the lenz then your takin you light apart. Pics soon

done this before and on a buddies of mine and it works really good!!!

I want before and after pictures!

it's mad easy u lazy fucks

x2

After the sanding and cleaning spray a nice coat or two or Duplicolor Clear coat and you will have it shining like a new headlight...it works...

I did the sanding and cleaning with soap and water..once i was done I sprayed the clear like 5 inches away and it worked wonders

if you dont want to take offthe headlights, double up some painters tape around the headlight go at it. save you some time!! add some newspaper around it and you can even clear coat them with em still on the car.

going to do this soon!

a rag and some paint thinner works in most cases. try it out.

checkers autozone has shit for it.

sounds complicated, when i bought my car, the car salesman told me that they sell some stuff at autozone/checkers that removes it... haven't checked though

yea. that stuff sux

I use Novus Plastic Polish, its a scratch/haze remover and polish for Pinball machines but works great on headlights, You dont even have to remove the light to use it.

good writeup

i just used some plastix but it dark so we'll see in the morning if it was any good.

I tried this for my passenger headlight....shit sucks balls. The starting grit in the kit is too high to get rid of the haze. The kit starts at like 1500 grit or something like that. You need at LEAST 800 to get the layer of haze off.