Anyone done this on the 5th gen? I searched and notta (maybe i missed it....yeah im exhausted). I used the Wal-Mart kit, forgot the name, but it comes with the different grit sandpaper etc on my Maxima and it worked great. I was thinking about using it on the 5th gen but wanted to see if anyone else has done this as of yet.
Wetsanding the headlight....
Started by Jon28, Jul 26 2012 01:55 AM
17 replies to this topic
#1
Jon28
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Posted 26 July 2012 - 01:55 AM
#2
Lee 2002
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Holy crap! Did you know that was flammable?
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Posted 26 July 2012 - 02:56 AM
I was the fastest rider at TMAC 2011.... .... from Kansas.
#3
gr8vfr
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Posted 26 July 2012 - 05:59 AM
Mothers Aluminum Polish will give you the same results for a fraction of the cost and time.
Why is there never enough time to do it right the first time, but always enough time to do it over?
#4
KPerham
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Posted 26 July 2012 - 07:01 AM
Oh really?Mothers Aluminum Polish will give you the same results for a fraction of the cost and time.
My Dakota lights are looking a bit dull. Fifth Gen lens is fine, though.
Kevin
#5
Rufrydrsc2
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That'll Buff Out!
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Posted 27 July 2012 - 11:53 AM
I was just reading the thread that Slammer did for his restoration.....and something struck me as funny about one of the posts............
Oh the irony of that statement now!
I can't believe you were riding around with a headlight that was that hazed. Somebody buy this man a 7th gen!
Oh the irony of that statement now!
#6
Beck
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Posted 27 July 2012 - 12:56 PM
There's that stuff you see on late night TV that suppsedly takes just a minute...wipe on - wipe off...???
Anyone try that stuff yet? I suspect it;s just snother form of polishing compound with plastic conditioners that penetrates the dull, oxidized, dried up layers of the lens to make it look clearer.
Chombi
Anyone try that stuff yet? I suspect it;s just snother form of polishing compound with plastic conditioners that penetrates the dull, oxidized, dried up layers of the lens to make it look clearer.
Chombi
Edited by Beck, 27 July 2012 - 12:57 PM.
#7
dude
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Posted 27 July 2012 - 02:02 PM
Tried it on my car just now wow works great!!! Thanks for the tipMothers Aluminum Polish will give you the same results for a fraction of the cost and time.
#8
VFR4Lee
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Posted 27 July 2012 - 07:40 PM
Tried it on my car just now wow works great!!! Thanks for the tip
Mothers Aluminum Polish will give you the same results for a fraction of the cost and time.
Just don't mix it up with Mothers cookies. Only one is edible.
If you're born in the world, you get a ticket to the freak show.
If you're born in America, you get a front row seat.
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George Carlin
#9
vfrcapn
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Posted 27 July 2012 - 09:16 PM
Mothers Aluminum Polish will give you the same results for a fraction of the cost and time.
Another option: http://www.tapplasti...lens_repair/500
Or maybe this?
http://www.barkeeper...nd.com/car-care
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#10
zoomzoom
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Posted 30 July 2012 - 01:08 AM
Hey Jon28
I wet sanded the headlight on my 2000 VFR a couple of years ago. When I bought the bike the headlight was badly pitted as the bikes previous owner was a bit hard on the bike when it came to cleaning and following too closely on gravel roads (lets just say he lived off the beaten track). I could not believe how bad the rock chips on the lower cowls and headlight were. The upper fairing was covered by clear 3M vinyl so it looked great by comparison.
I removed the headlight from the fairing as I had to take the bike apart to get the fairings painted. You could probably do it on the bike but I believe it is better to do off the bike so you don't have to worry about the burning the edges of the fairing with the polisher. I used 2000 grit wet sandpaper to remove the pitting and scratches and then used a product called Farecla G3 and a high speed polisher to buff the headlight back to a shine. The Farecla G3 is a body shop grade polishing compound that I use when polishing cars, but I imagine you could use some of the Mothers brand polishing compounds as well to remove the sanding scratches. After I sanded and polished the headlight I gave the headlight a couple coats of automotive clear coat. After that I installed some 3M clear vinyl (you can check with a local car dealer to see if anyone near you installs the 3M vinyl paint protection) and reinstalled the headlight, and the lens looks better than brand new. The clear coat and 3M vinyl were just done for personal preference and don't really need to be done, but I really did not want to have to do it again in the near future. I did the same thing to the headlights on my Mazda Protege 5 a number of years back and they faded fairly quickly after the first wet sand and polish, so when I did it again a local body shop suggested that I apply the clear coat to the lenses. The clear coat on the lenses really helped and the lenses were still new looking when I sold the car 5 years later. The 3M vinyl just helps prevent more chips and scratches and though it is a bit of extra work, the result is worth it in my opinion.
Hope this helps and good luck.
I wet sanded the headlight on my 2000 VFR a couple of years ago. When I bought the bike the headlight was badly pitted as the bikes previous owner was a bit hard on the bike when it came to cleaning and following too closely on gravel roads (lets just say he lived off the beaten track). I could not believe how bad the rock chips on the lower cowls and headlight were. The upper fairing was covered by clear 3M vinyl so it looked great by comparison.
I removed the headlight from the fairing as I had to take the bike apart to get the fairings painted. You could probably do it on the bike but I believe it is better to do off the bike so you don't have to worry about the burning the edges of the fairing with the polisher. I used 2000 grit wet sandpaper to remove the pitting and scratches and then used a product called Farecla G3 and a high speed polisher to buff the headlight back to a shine. The Farecla G3 is a body shop grade polishing compound that I use when polishing cars, but I imagine you could use some of the Mothers brand polishing compounds as well to remove the sanding scratches. After I sanded and polished the headlight I gave the headlight a couple coats of automotive clear coat. After that I installed some 3M clear vinyl (you can check with a local car dealer to see if anyone near you installs the 3M vinyl paint protection) and reinstalled the headlight, and the lens looks better than brand new. The clear coat and 3M vinyl were just done for personal preference and don't really need to be done, but I really did not want to have to do it again in the near future. I did the same thing to the headlights on my Mazda Protege 5 a number of years back and they faded fairly quickly after the first wet sand and polish, so when I did it again a local body shop suggested that I apply the clear coat to the lenses. The clear coat on the lenses really helped and the lenses were still new looking when I sold the car 5 years later. The 3M vinyl just helps prevent more chips and scratches and though it is a bit of extra work, the result is worth it in my opinion.
Hope this helps and good luck.
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