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View Full Version : Bored at work today, did the company car's headlights!



jpawela
03-25-2011, 12:28 PM
This poor '02 Taurus had been subjected to the blazing southern New Mexico sun for 8 years and the headlights showed it. So, the process was as follows:

Wet sanding via:
1500grit in a horizontal motion
2000grit in a vertical motion
2500grit in a horizontal again

Several passes with 3M rubbing compound with a coarse terry cloth.
Then several more with softer applicator

A few passes with basic Meg's polish
Then a few final passes with Meg's PlastX

Methods/products and pics are relatively primitive since I wasn't at home with all my products and tools, but I hope it gives an idea how bad these headlights were. All done by hand since I didn't have my PC available so it took a little more time.

Frontal with driver's done:
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/jpawela/Detail/0325011021a.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/jpawela/Detail/0325011113.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/jpawela/Detail/0325011021b.jpg

Passenger before:

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/jpawela/Detail/0325011021c-1.jpg

A few passes in the center:

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/jpawela/Detail/0325011030.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/jpawela/Detail/0325011021e.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/jpawela/Detail/0325011112b.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/jpawela/Detail/0325011112c.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/jpawela/Detail/0325011112a.jpg

These were taken with my phone so sorry for the quality. It looks much better in person. Overall, the headlights are now about a 9/10 as opposed to a -5/10. I think this proves just how much clear headlights can transform the appearance of any car.

mimalmo
03-25-2011, 12:52 PM
Nice work

danewilson77
03-25-2011, 01:10 PM
That's crazy how good it turns out. Nicely done.

Droid! Srs Legitness!

Ryans323i
03-25-2011, 03:35 PM
Clear vs hazy lenses make a huge difference on cars. Great work J, car looks great. (ok, as great as the Ford Taurus can look)

kayger12
03-25-2011, 03:46 PM
Nice job.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

pyreguy
03-25-2011, 05:11 PM
Clear vs hazy lenses make a huge difference on cars. Great work J, car looks great. (ok, as great as the Ford Taurus can look)

+1 Glad you found a way to pass the time my friend.

jpawela
03-26-2011, 07:16 PM
Thanks for all the comments, everyone. It certainly was satisfying completing the job.

az3579
03-27-2011, 04:36 AM
Thanks for all the comments, everyone. It certainly was satisfying completing the job.

Did they at least acknowledge your work (the company)?

Sent from my DROIDX

jpawela
03-27-2011, 07:24 AM
Did they at least acknowledge your work (the company)?

Sent from my DROIDX

Yeah, might get some independent projects out of this example. My boss has a '99 Stang GT with headlights about as bad.

spencers
03-28-2011, 07:04 AM
Let us know how long it lasts!

jpawela
03-28-2011, 06:36 PM
Let us know how long it lasts!

I've done headlights around here before and they pretty much need a PlastX or some standard polish stage at least every 2-3 months. If left alone, maybe 6-8 months until it starts down the same path again. :(

Johnmadd
03-29-2011, 06:54 PM
Try some glass now.

nike001
04-13-2011, 01:50 PM
lol bored at work..nice work!