wipe new headlight restorer

[91 LSC SE]

Has anyone tried this? I have seen threads with the 3m kit and also others who have used Duplicolor Acrylic Clear after a 1000 grit sanding and those looked pretty sweet.

I bought the wipe new restorer kit ($10 bucks) and the small little sanding pad worked great. Thought it was so small it would get clogged before I finished the first lens, but it did them both and there was some sanding to be done.

Now not sure if I should just wipe or purchase the duplicolor they look pretty sweet after here is the thread:

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/forum/showthread.php?92389-Franks-1997-Lincoln-Mark-VIII-LSC

 

[soduka]

My headlights are completely burned out, even after polishing the exterior to get the yellow out the light scatter is still completely worthless. The reflectors are torched. I suppose Gen 2 wouldn't have that problem because they never had halogens that produced all that heat.

Dumb, dangerous design. Too bad that suit never got Ford to own up to it.

 

[Jeffintampa]

My headlights are completely burned out, even after polishing the exterior to get the yellow out the light scatter is still completely worthless. The reflectors are torched. I suppose Gen 2 wouldn't have that problem because they never had halogens that produced all that heat.

Dumb, dangerous design. Too bad that suit never got Ford to own up to it.

I use bug spray

 

[davidm]

The 3M kit worked well for my headlights. Takes more effort with the several steps but last longer.

 

[91 LSC SE]

Thanks Everyone!

I'm going to try lapping paper at 5 microns - equivalent to 4k. Used for when really flat surfaces are needed. Then the wipe new. I will let you know.

 

[91 LSC SE]

Lenses tuned out great! I'm not sure it was the lapping paper or even how much sanding was truly needed.

The package info said the wipe new cloth could do multiple lenses, so I did a test wipe on the an extra neon light I had. Yes, it has water in it. I got it pretty cheap and thought maybe the ballast or bulb might have worked as that M8 was sitting for some time.

Anyway, I only sanded the Neon light above the "LSC" area on the right side. Over the "L" was just 2000 and over the "C" was the 2000 and then the # 5 micron paper. I can't see a discernible difference with the sanding at all, on the Neon light.

First pic is of how the lenses looked before I started. I already sanded the right lens before taking a pics, but they were about the same. Not sure what the previous owner spilled on the lenses but that mark was down both sides. It sanded out and isn't noticeable.

Neon before

Neon after

Neon at different angle before pic

Neon at different angle after pic

 

[91 LSC SE]

I said I would provide an update on the wipe new headlight restorer.
The good news is that they came back to new with a quick polish with Farecla G3 ( less than 2 minutes). I used Presta Ultra 2 step finishing polish (it appears Farecla no longer makes the G10 fine polish and didn't find a supplier for the new G3 fine polish.
I'm thinking of trying plastic clear coat, I've seen other say Meguiar's keep clear headlight coating.

Anyone use Meguiar's?


The first pic is how they looked after two years.
second is after G3, remaining are how they looked after both G3 & Presta.

 

[germansheperd]

Great job! ‘Night’ and ‘day’ difference.

 

[91 LSC SE]

Great job! ‘Night’ and ‘day’ difference.

Thanks

I would think that someone here has used clear coat or Meguiar's?

The Wipe New is good for a year or so. I think I will try the Meguiar's. Spraying it on twice a year seems easy, where the clear coat will breakdown and peal at some point.