clear coat removal..
#1
clear coat removal..
with the haze on my headlights, i've wetsanded the driver side with 1500 and 2000grit, and took it for the body shop to get it clear coated. i wasn't trying to cheap out on quality, but it appears that i did a mistake choosing them.
anyways, the clear coat didn't turn out good (frosty glass look alike). i wouldn't even rate them as being "1/10". so i was so frustrated at their quality, so i took the car and didn't even pay them.
at home i tried to remove the clear coat. i did that with acetone, and it didn't do too well, it just ruined it even more, altho a little part got removed and the original look came back at a tiny part/corner. i kept doing it, but i couldn't clear it all out, cuz i think it got baked being in the sun. so, after spending about 5hrs yesterday, and 4hrs today, i got about 10-20% off, but the rest is too hard to remove.
so, i wetsanded it with 1500, but got no results. i knew WD-40 would kill a clear coat, so i tried a wipe. to no avail..
hmmm... well, it's fuked up now.
anyone got into the same situation? does anyone know how to remove the clear coat completely?
thnx
anyways, the clear coat didn't turn out good (frosty glass look alike). i wouldn't even rate them as being "1/10". so i was so frustrated at their quality, so i took the car and didn't even pay them.
at home i tried to remove the clear coat. i did that with acetone, and it didn't do too well, it just ruined it even more, altho a little part got removed and the original look came back at a tiny part/corner. i kept doing it, but i couldn't clear it all out, cuz i think it got baked being in the sun. so, after spending about 5hrs yesterday, and 4hrs today, i got about 10-20% off, but the rest is too hard to remove.
so, i wetsanded it with 1500, but got no results. i knew WD-40 would kill a clear coat, so i tried a wipe. to no avail..
hmmm... well, it's fuked up now.
anyone got into the same situation? does anyone know how to remove the clear coat completely?
thnx
#2
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I would say keep going at it maybe use 1000. Then try and finish it off with 2000. Use a buffer to bring the shine back. A harsh chemical could melt the plastic so I would shy away from that.
What state you live in?
What state you live in?
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Never never never use chemicals. They will damage and pit the plastic and you'll never sand it smooth.
1000 grit isn't too coarse. You could even use something like 600-800 grit if you spend A LOT of time sanding with 1000, 1500, and 2000.
Just wetsand with 1000 until all the clear is gone, it'll take a while. Then move up to 1500, then 2000.
And the haze might have been repairable by wetsanding with 2000, then polishing.. Did you try that?
Yes, because you'll be following up 1000 grit with 1500 and 2000, they will be just as clear if not more.
Any pics of the headlights?
1000 grit isn't too coarse. You could even use something like 600-800 grit if you spend A LOT of time sanding with 1000, 1500, and 2000.
Just wetsand with 1000 until all the clear is gone, it'll take a while. Then move up to 1500, then 2000.
And the haze might have been repairable by wetsanding with 2000, then polishing.. Did you try that?
Any pics of the headlights?
Last edited by cwv_558; 06-22-2009 at 02:16 AM.
#11
ok, i got 1000 and 600grit. i did 1000 wetsanding at first, but it didn't do good. so, i went on dry sanding. not much of an improvement. then i switched to 600 wetsanding, but even that didn't take all the applied clear coat. so, with all the sanding done, the plastic is totally white. so, i went back and sand it with 1000 and then i polished it (with my hand).. it's a little clearer than being totally white, but it aint clear at all..
what's next? should i go lower? like 400grit and then way up till 2000? i don't wanna do the clear coat myself, cuz i know those rattle cans aint good for such a job.
what's next? should i go lower? like 400grit and then way up till 2000? i don't wanna do the clear coat myself, cuz i know those rattle cans aint good for such a job.
#14
update...
here is what i did.
1- cleaned the headlight with water and soap (dish washing soap)
2- wiped it clean with a chamois leather
3- wetsanding 600grit
4- wetsanding 1000grit
5- wetsanding 2000grit
6- polished with Meg's ScratchX (3 applications) using a drill with a pad.
7- waxed with Zymol, using a drill with a pad.
wetsanding with water didn't do much, so i used dish washing soap (liquid) and it did very well. and i took about 10mins in every wetsanding stage.
it's back 85% and i'm happy with the results.
here is what i did.
1- cleaned the headlight with water and soap (dish washing soap)
2- wiped it clean with a chamois leather
3- wetsanding 600grit
4- wetsanding 1000grit
5- wetsanding 2000grit
6- polished with Meg's ScratchX (3 applications) using a drill with a pad.
7- waxed with Zymol, using a drill with a pad.
wetsanding with water didn't do much, so i used dish washing soap (liquid) and it did very well. and i took about 10mins in every wetsanding stage.
it's back 85% and i'm happy with the results.
Last edited by maXmood; 06-23-2009 at 12:17 PM.
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Well at least your happy with the results, post pics of before (if you have them) and after so we can see what they look like. And if for some reason you become unsatisfied with your results. Do this, (don't wet sand) sand with 1500grit, then 2000grit. Spend twice as long with the 2000 as you do with the 1000. Then rent an orbital buffer, and buy some buffing and polishing compound. After sanding with 2000grit buff with the buffing compound untill gloss is returned and scratches are removed. Then finish with the polish, and you are good to go! Make sure you use a sepperate pad for the polish and compound. I have done this to atleast a dozen vehicles and never had any complaints.
Last edited by Gibbs; 06-23-2009 at 09:59 PM. Reason: Spelling
#16
^thnx..
i'm gonna try to buy a polisher by next month and new polish/wax/polishing compounds as well.
i snapped couple of pics with my mobile phone, but they don't show how bad it is. in real they're much worse!
Before
Finished 3 polishing applications
Finished product (waxed)
i'm gonna try to buy a polisher by next month and new polish/wax/polishing compounds as well.
i snapped couple of pics with my mobile phone, but they don't show how bad it is. in real they're much worse!
Before
Finished 3 polishing applications
Finished product (waxed)
Last edited by maXmood; 06-24-2009 at 12:26 AM.
#17
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Yeah looks good. Just a little bit more polishing and you'll be done. If you don't want to get an orbital, just get a buffer wheel for an electric drill and use it to help you polish it.
#18
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all you have to do to restore headlights is wetsand and buff. you have to use a buffer. preferably a buffer that can adjust the RPM's. foam pad application with rubbing compound should do the trick.
i do this allll the time for my friends that have yellowing in their lights.
i do this allll the time for my friends that have yellowing in their lights.
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^^Peter's right, Ive done the same, and you do have to use a machine, doing it by hand won't be the same as by a real rotary buffer.
Here's a little trick I learned about wet-sanding, fill a little spray bottle up with water and add some dish soap to it. It helps the paper move better and its easier to work with. Also before wet-sanding, let the paper sit in the water for a few minutes till its saturated, don't just wet it and use it.
Here's a little trick I learned about wet-sanding, fill a little spray bottle up with water and add some dish soap to it. It helps the paper move better and its easier to work with. Also before wet-sanding, let the paper sit in the water for a few minutes till its saturated, don't just wet it and use it.
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