DIY Auto Body – Polishing Your Tail Lights
If your like me having a clean and sharp looking car is very important. You take your car to get washed and detailed, you may even spend the money to have the car repainted, just to get that showroom floor look. All this washing and polishing may make your paint look great, but can wreak havoc on your tail light lenses. Today we will outline what it takes to polish your tail lights to give them a better than new shine.
This is a fairly simple project that does not need a whole lot. Most of the materials you probably have around your home already. The rest can be easily obtained from a local store or on our websites online store. First and most important you are going to need some good 400 grit sand paper. Make sure its for wet sanding. Your also going to need a buffer and buffing wheel, plastic polishing compound and a clean terry cloth towel.
Start by removing the tail lights from the vehicle. Some people will attempt to leave the tail lights in during this step, however it is not recommended as you can slip and accidentally sand down your cars paint. Once removed you may start sanding down the lenses with your 400 grit wet sand paper. It is not necessary to sand the entire lens, just any blemishes on them. You may also choose to sand down the DOT lettering and other part numbers at this time, to give a cleaner look. Be sure to keep the sand paper wet.
Once you have finished sanding down the lens, wash it thoroughly with soap and water. I recommend using a dish soap for this part as the de-greasing agent in the soap will remove any remaining wax that may be on the lens. Dry the lens fully.
Once the lens is dry, its time to start the polishing process. Spin the buffing wheel and start to pick up the polishing compound you got from the auto body repair supply house into it. Do not take to much compound on the wheel, just enough to start to change the color of the wheel. Start applying it to the lens, but be careful not to sit in one area for to long as this will cause a over heating issue which can lead to a warped and melted lens. Move quickly back and forth over the lens and you will avoid this issue all together. Wipe any excess compound off with the towel. If you start to get black blobs on the surface its a sign that you are using to much compound.
At this point continue buffing until you see desired results. It wont be long now until your old lenses have a new glass like finish! Sit back, relax, and enjoy your results.
Learn more about Auto Body Repair. Stop by Chip Roth’s site where you can find out all about Auto Body Repair Schools and what they can do for you.
categories: tail light polishing, diy auto body repair, car detailing, car care, auto body repair
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