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Offline Jason

DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« on: February 13, 2016, 11:06:41 PM »
I've got a 900 S and like several people I upgraded to the OEM LED headlights from the XP1K.  I bought mine used off of another forum member on rzrforums and they were pretty badly pitted and scuffed - which I knew ahead of time and he provided me with photos.  However, they were $200 bucks which is a good price on these so I went for them with the intent of doing a wet sand restoration.

First off, here's the supply list which was right at $20 total with tax excluding the headlights:

- 3M Automotive 800 grit sandpaper ($6 at Advance Auto Parts)  You must use wet or dry sandpaper.
- 3M Automotive Assorted 1000/1500/2000/2500 grit sandpaper ($6 at Advance Auto Parts)
- Duplicolor Crystal Clear Acrylic Enamel spray paint ($6 at Advance Auto Parts).  From doing some research on this topic where people have done this to regular automotive headlights it seems that Duplicolor is the preferred option for most as it's supposed to have the best clarity.  I can't say one way or another, but this is what I found on multiple occasions from other people.
- Headlights ($200 used from another member)
- Container to hold water and rinse repeatedly.  I also changed the water in between lights.  Make sure to keep the headlight and the sandpaper wet and continuously dip the sandpaper in your water.











Here are some pictures of how the headlights looked when I got them and prior to starting the wet sanding process:











I started wet sanding with the 800 grit using a linear, side-to-side motion:







The left is the first round of 800 grit and the right is the untouched light:



And both after 800 grit:



One after stepping up to 1000 grit:



Both after 1000 grit:




Prepped for acrylic enamel:




First one painted:








This is the second one.  I went a little to quickly on my passes, but if you do the same don't worry.  Just slow down on the next coat.





This was after the slower passes:



And both coated:





It took me right at 2 hours start-to-finish including paint dry time which was about 10 minutes in between the two coats.  I think they turned out pretty well and with some patience and elbow grease I salvaged a good deal on an LED headlight upgrade.
« Last Edit: February 13, 2016, 11:08:18 PM by Jason »

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Offline murdo

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2016, 03:18:02 AM »
Tooth paste is also good for getting fine sandpaper scratches out of light lenses/screens.

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Offline Bish

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2016, 06:38:30 AM »
Nice work!

Would be great if you do an update in a few months on how well the refinished lights are doing?

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Offline Jason

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2016, 10:15:38 AM »
Thanks guys.  I'd seen the toothpaste method, but was after something with a more permanent solution.  Also, since some of the pits were so deep they really required some heavy sanding that I don't think I would've gotten with toothpaste.

I'll get some miles on them this year and see how everything holds up Bish.

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Offline DCM

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2016, 11:06:18 AM »
Nice work!
I used a similar technique on the windshield I made for my 800EX.  Instead of clear coat I actually buffed it out with some fine rubbing compound and polish.  Spent $30 for a full windshield by the time it was done! 
2015 Zforce 800EX
Half windshield/Full windshield
Boss MC900b Bluetooth Amp
Kicker 6.5" speakers in PVC enclosures
DIY LED whip antenna
Pro Armor 4-point harnesses
24" LED light on roof
26" GBC Dirt Commanders
Custom built doors
EJK and 2 Brothers in the mail

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Offline gfmoto

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2016, 01:14:39 PM »
Great job!! You should start refurbing people's headlights.
Nice lil side business.
2015 ZForce 800EX
32" light bar
2-4" spots
Custom Cv guards
DIY 1/2 windshield
UNI air filter
DIY rear window
BOSS ATV 28. 450W speakers
Alpena Rock Lights (tough pods)
2" RZR Bracket lift
Roof extensions
27" Maxxis Corranado Tires
Alpena RGB rock lights
SuperATV Rocksliders
1/2 Doors w/custom paint and graphics

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Offline Jason

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2016, 09:47:44 PM »
You know I actually considered it lol.  Just to make some playing cash on the side.

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Offline Derfer22

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2016, 07:48:36 AM »
Nice Job I'll be saving this one
2021 Z-Force 950

When in Doubt
Throttle it Out

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Offline Jogon30

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2016, 07:54:04 PM »
I wonder if this can be done to a plexiglass front windshield?? I bought one off eBay and it's all scratched ??? Any thoughts ??

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Offline Jason

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #9 on: February 15, 2016, 08:45:20 PM »
I have no idea on the plexiglass, but I'd have to get my Google and YouTube degrees first before I could say yes or no. 

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Offline Cosmosdan

Re: DIY Headlight Restoration - Wet Sanding
« Reply #10 on: February 17, 2016, 04:19:38 PM »
Semicrome Polish in a squeeze tube works good. I haven't tried it on something that large but we use it on gage faces and guards at work to get scratches and acetone marks off.
2013 Z6 Trail
Iron Baltic skid plates
UE Boom Speaker mount
RZR 800 Shocks
Mostly stock trail riding
25g. Rollers and A1

2016 Outlander max 570
Too new for mods yet