Polishing plastic headlamp: tools, materials, technology

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2020-03-09 05:20:15

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Headlamp Housing during operation is exposed to different negative influences, which ultimately leads to a decrease in transparency and intensity of noise light. Restore plastic headlights in this case is carried out using polishing their surface. To perform this procedure yourself at home.

Features polishing plastic headlights

The car headlights were earlier made of glass, which was subsequently replaced by polycarbonate. In comparison with the material glass has greater strength and resistance to mechanical stress, but despite this, repair plastic headlight easier.

The Cause of the damage to the headlight housings can be different factors - as a collision with small stones and insects, and UV rays. In the end, this leads to the appearance of chips and scratches, the decrease in throughput due to the clouding or yellowing of the headlights.

Before you start polishing plastic headlights with their hands to assess the condition of the case and the nature of the damage. Technology, complexity, and duration of polishing depend on the type and depth of damage. Surface plaque, for example, is eliminated by removing the top layer of the material, while for removal of deep scratches requires polishing to the required depth.

polishing wheels

Than polishing the plastic headlights?

The List of tools and materials for polishing headlight includes abrasive material - sandpaper or circles, grinder and polishing paste. They are purchased in specialized shops. Sander and polishing wheels are used to speed up and simplify the process, however, a polishing is possible without them.

A Range of polishing materials presented in the automobile, vast and includes various compounds, for example, paste GOI or tooth paste are not in the category of cosmetics. The main requirement for such materials is the presence of the abrasive properties of the polishing is carried out headlight housings, roughened with sandpaper.

To protect the other parts of the body during polishing of headlights you can use regular masking tape.

The Preparatory phase

Parts of the body adjacent to the headlights before polishing are protected, for example, stuck with masking tape. The need for this is because during the process of polishing plastic headlight high probability that will damaged the paint coating plastic and metal elements. The best option in this case would be the dismantling of the headlights and polishing them.

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Further features and nuances of polishing plastic headlights depend on the choice of abrasive material.

polishing plastic headlights with their own hands

Abrasive paste

Polishing materials of this type on the market of chemicals in a wide range and differ in the technology of drawing and composition. Accordingly, before polishing plastic headlights, you need to choose the right abrasive paste, after examining the features of all the mixtures.

The Processing of the plastic headlights with an abrasive paste with your hands takes about one hour.

Headlight Polishing with toothpaste

Toothpaste can be used for polishing plastic headlamp just in case, if their body has no large scratches and chips. Using this material eliminates dust, dirt and turbidity. Toothpaste, in fact, belongs to the category of fine abrasives and allows you to Polish glass and plastic lights.

If for polishing plastic headlamp chosen toothpaste in advance to stock up on water and soft cloth. The process of polishing headlight includes processing the surface of the body in a circular motion with a cloth with toothpaste. After polishing wash away the toothpaste with clean water, and housing thoroughly dried. Then applied a special Polish and the headlight polishing.

repair a plastic headlight

Pasta GOI

For polishing headlights with toothpaste GOI will need the grinding wheel, lubrication, wax in the form of fine abrasive, soft fabric material, for example, flannel for finishing treatment.

Polishing plastic headlights with GOI paste allows to remove only minor scratches and patina on the surface of the body.

Pasta with grease rubbed into the felt circle before starting work, so that its color changed from the original white to green. Only then you can start polishing the plastic headlights. If you use a sander or a drill, then set a certain amount of revs - no more than 800-1000 per minute. Polishing the surface is smooth movement without extra pressure and pressure. As the GOI paste will dry and soak in, its green color will disappear. The lamp housing is polished twice: after treatment toothpaste it is treated with regular Polish, applied to the polishing lap, in 10-20 seconds.

Using large abrasive for polishing

This is the most difficult to implement a way to Polish plastic car headlightsbecause it involves removing the top layer of casing material. In the market can meet special polishing wheels with foam cushions and a layer of dense fabric coated with an abrasive composition. Also for polishing may need Polish and a soft cloth. The disadvantage of this method of polishing include a high cost of materials, however their number is enough to several times to Polish glass or plastic headlamp housing. In addition, the polishing coarse sanding eliminates deep scratches and chips.

polishing plastic headlights

The Process of polishing the headlights

The First phase includes hull polishing headlight polishing wheels. To improve the efficiency and reduce the amount of generated dust, it is desirable to moisten. After the surface lights will be uniform and frosted, it is washed, sanded again circles grit 1000, 2000 and 4000, to achieve a transparent surface.

Self-polishing of headlights is carried out only at high speeds and average pressure on the casing, otherwise the headlight glass can crack and the plastic to melt due to the heat. After the procedure of polishing of headlights washed and carefully dried, and then treated with Polish.

Polishing plastic headlights at home is possible without the use of electric instruments, they're replaced by sandpaper with different grits (600 to 2000), previously soaked in water. Deep damage to plastic or glass are removed with an abrasive material, 600 grit, minor defects are eliminated sandpaper grit 2000. Lights necessarily washed before each change of material. The final polishing is done with a soft cloth with a Polish applied.

polishing plastic headlights pasta GOI

Polished glass car headlights

Current models of cars are equipped with plastic rather than glass headlights, so the glass is almost impossible to meet. The reason is quite simple: plastic is much cheaper and easier glass. Despite this, many drivers continue to drive in cars with glass optics.

The Process of polishing of headlights very similar to the technology of polishing plastic headlights, but has its own characteristics.

Chips and scratches on the surface of the glass headlight housings are treated with a special transparent polymer does not leave any marks. If this is not done you may damage polishing circle or cut yourself on the sharp edges of the glass. The polymer is dried under UV lamp.

After that, on the surface of abrasive paste. The surface to be treated during operation should be regularly wet with water, it will not only wash off the abrasive, but also to cool the hot glass.

Glass headlights can be polished with toothpaste, however, this option is the budget and does not give the desired result. This method is simple in execution: in case of optics applied in a thin layer of toothpaste, which gently pounded the felt cloth. Toothpaste residue washed off, if necessary the procedure is repeated several times.

how to Polish plastic headlight

Polishing the internal surface of the headlamp

Completely remove turbidity and dirt one polishing the outside of the headlights not always possible, in some cases, requires handling and grinding of the inner surface of the housing optics. It is executed as follows:

  1. The dismantling of the headlights. The optics housing is inspected for cracks, chips or other defects. If the damage is too serious, then purchased a new set.
  2. The surface of the headlamp is cleaned from the accumulated dust and dirt.
  3. Housing is degreased usual cleanser or special trains.
  4. Plastic headlight is washed with water, after which it can be sanded. An electric tool is optional, the entire process can be done manually. As you complete the change used grinding abrasives. Polishing is carried out until, until the surface lights will not be completely smooth.
  5. Wet the surface of the processed Polish, which is pounded with a soft cloth.
  6. Polished the headlights are back in place.
technology of polishing plastic headlights

Results

The Optimal frequency of polishing plastic headlights at home is a once in two years. This procedure allows you to compensate for the decrease in their effectiveness as a result of lower light-transmitting ability due to opacities and defects. Method hull polishing optics is selected based on the nature and depth of its damage. The use of electric tools, for example, grinding machines, can significantly reduce the run time polishing of the headlights.


Article in other languages:

AR: https://www.tostpost.com/ar/cars/21413-polishing-plastic-headlamp-tools-materials-technology.html

BE: https://www.tostpost.com/be/a-tamab-l/38951-pal-ro-ka-plastykavyh-far-nstrumenty-materyyaly-tehnalog-ya.html

DE: https://www.tostpost.com/de/autos/38483-kunststoff-scheinwerfer-polieren-werkzeuge-materialien-technologie.html

ES: https://www.tostpost.com/es/coches/38245-pulido-de-faros-delanteros-pl-sticos-herramientas-materiales-tecnolog-.html

HI: https://www.tostpost.com/hi/cars/22998-headlamp.html

JA: https://www.tostpost.com/ja/cars/21004-polishing-plastic-headlamp-tools-materials-technology.html

KK: https://www.tostpost.com/kk/avtomobil-der/39333-polirovka-plastikt-far-ral-saymandar-materialdar-tehnologiya.html

PL: https://www.tostpost.com/pl/samochody/41000-polerowanie-plastikowych-reflektor-w-narz-dzia-materia-y-technologia.html

PT: https://www.tostpost.com/pt/carros/40662-polimento-de-far-is-de-pl-stico-ferramentas-materiais-tecnologia.html

TR: https://www.tostpost.com/tr/arabalar/35843-parlatma-plastik-far-gere-malzeme-teknoloji.html

UK: https://www.tostpost.com/uk/avtomob-l/39762-pol-ruvannya-plastikovih-far-nstrumenti-mater-ali-tehnolog-ya.html

ZH: https://www.tostpost.com/zh/cars/36411-polishing-plastic-headlamp-tools-materials-technology.html






Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."

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