Lapping compound hack

[Rickrick]

I bought a three tub kit of wheeler's lapping compound when I got my new barrel.
I figured the remaining compound would sit on the shelf for a long time.

Here's the hack. My cars are older with heavy oxidized headlights. I tried the usual kits to polish them up with little effect.

So I grabbed some 1500 grit sandpaper and did the first round on each headlight. It clouds them up pretty good, you might think you've ruined them.
Next with my drill and some 1.5" buffing disks I used the 220 grit compound for a while, then wiped clean.
I grabbed another buffing wheel and used the 320 grit compound, buffed a while then wiped clean.

Next, another wheel (only just to be able to not have the previous grit on it) and used the 600 grit compound, a while then wipe clean.

They looked better but nothing to get overly excited about.

Then I used the regular headlight polishing liquid with a new buffing wheel.
I was totally amazed with the results, practically like new clearness.
The best part was changing the headlights on a 2005 chrysler 300 is a pain in the buttocks, so getting those to almost new condition was a great thing to see.

 

[KWK]

Lasts longer if you clear coat them with something like Rustoleum clear from a rattle can.
Just going over them with paste wax cleans them up for a while.

 

[qball]

Lasts longer if you clear coat them with something like Rustoleum clear from a rattle can

Better with ceramic coating easily accessible from amazon. That will keep surface clear, slick and scratch resistant for a very long time.

My 3 year old car with ceramic coating applied when I first bought it still looks better than a brand new car.

 

[KWK]

These are our son's cars. I bought them good older cars. Well over 15 years old now the headlights turned cloudy long before I got them. They start out with a hard coating like plastic eyeglass lenses. The sun oxidizes it.
I spoil our son's somewhat but they do honor their parents and work hard. We don't deserve them.

"Fathers, do not provoke your sons to anger"