[dizzyd89]

From what I understand all those restoration kits are for the plastic lenses.

Whats the best way to clean up a glass lens that has pitting and some minor rock chips?

 

[DevolvR]

Most pro Glass/windshield shops use Cerium Oxide mixed with water and a high speed polisher + pad.
However, there are off the shelf products like Auto Glym, Zaino, Griot's, CeriGlass and other specialty automotive products that can do the job. Pretty much the same, an abrasive that can cut glass, either Silicon Carbide or Cerium Oxide (lol no one will use diamond powder).

 

[DevolvR]

Here's a guide on Volvospeed

http://volvospeed.com/install_perfo...tic_diy_upgrades/glass_polishing_scratch.html

 

[dizzyd89]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! DevolvR!

<3 Swedespeed

 

[MountainR]

Good thread. Looks like a fairly involved process tho...

I've also heard that when working with glass you have to give it sufficient time to cool off naturally and avoid getting it too hot, otherwise you may end up cracking the very piece you're trying to fix.

 

[usgiorgi]

^^^ Wow I never knew you could actually polish a glass headlight!!! Thanks a lot DevolvR for that awesome link!

 

[DevolvR]

Good thread. Looks like a fairly involved process tho...

I've also heard that when working with glass you have to give it sufficient time to cool off naturally and avoid getting it too hot, otherwise you may end up cracking the very piece you're trying to fix.

Correct. Because of the friction involved, you will need to cool it with water while you polish.

Flash cooling and flash heating will shatter the glass, I'm sure some of you should know this from chemistry.

 

[evilspoons]

How about cleaning up lights with XPEL/similar protection on them? Mine have some sort of plastic protector on 'em from the previous owner, and the protector is getting a touch yellow and hazy, plus some smallish cracks.

Should I just pull it off and run the lenses bare? Buy new protection (ugh, expensive)? Or is there a way to clean up the plastic protector stuff?

(How the heck do you even remove the stuff?)

 

[DevolvR]

How about cleaning up lights with XPEL/similar protection on them? Mine have some sort of plastic protector on 'em from the previous owner, and the protector is getting a touch yellow and hazy, plus some smallish cracks.

Should I just pull it off and run the lenses bare? Buy new protection (ugh, expensive)? Or is there a way to clean up the plastic protector stuff?

(How the heck do you even remove the stuff?)

Use a exacto/shaving blade/knife and scrape it off with a heatgun. Use Goo gone, acetone, paint thinner or any of that combination to remove any adhesive gunk left over. Of course, be careful not to use this on your paint. A messy job and really tests your patience...

 

[DevolvR]

Oh. and over at Turbobricks some of those nuts wanted to remove the fluting in their glass lense (for projector retrofits). Crazy Ursan!

http://www.turbobricks.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3716890

BTW, Ursan's project is going on for 4 years, I don't feel so bad now about mine.

 

[TFIVEM]

my results with cerium oxide.... never again lol

before:

after:

 

[MountainR]

Nice results. Why never again???

 

[DevolvR]

Nice results. Why never again???

Lots of work I presume.. Takes forever?

 

[MountainR]

Lots of work I presume.. Takes forever?

That's what I'd assume, and perhaps once done, you put a cover over it to keep it from pitting again???

 

[TFIVEM]

Hahaha, I was very happy with the end result, but not with the project that I had to take on. Takes for ever to see any progress. I followed a BMW forum post on restoring a fog light. A single fog light, with a surface area of one of our R fogs, took the guy about 6 hours of continuos labor..... So you can image how long a pair, of giant 1 piece headlights might take .

Not to mention, the **** makes an absolute mess.

Disgusting clean up, still finding splatter from last August! Lol

If I were to do it again... I wouldn't, I would just buy new lenses

 

[R.Photo]

What takes the longest, the sanding? can you just use an orbital sander?

 

[MountainR]

I could be wrong... BUT I thought I saw a thread about coating the headlights with a good non-yellowing automotive lacquer and or clear coat to improve the clarity via-filling in the pits? Am I way off base here?

Soon I'll have an extra partially broken lens to play around with so maybe I'll give it a try.

 

[stormchasin_racin]

a great way to reduce splatter when using mini-buffers and polishers (as would be doable with this size of polish job) is to use an old 5-gallon bucket. Do the job inside the bucket and you preserve all the precious items around you from the skeet-skeet.

 

[volvodrummer]

That's impressive T5M! I tried ceruium oxide slurry and sanding but was SO disgusted with how impossible it was, then I read about clear-coating on a Porsche site, literally 2 coats/ 15 min total time invested and crystal clear. I ended up just buying 2 lenses from EST (for their "projector" lights) which fit perfect then put xpel on them. I DID clear the fogs and put xpel on and they look great a year later.