polishing gm black tail lights questions

Nachos17 · 12-12-2017, 12:34 PM

I got a pair of the dark gm tail lights that had some minor scratches on them and Im trying to get them polished before i put them on the car. Ive gotten the major scratches out, but im left with a little haze if the light hits it right. ive tried mequires mirror glaze 3 machine glaze and chemical guys v38 polish with a black pad on a drill with similar results. Anyone have some tips on how to get this haze out?

KirkH · 12-12-2017, 01:35 PM

Neither of those products are going to do much good on your lights. I would go with a white pad and some Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #10. A drill is probably what caused your haze. You need a dual action polisher. Harbor freight or Porter Cable would be fine for your job but a pro polisher would be better if you are into tools.

https://www.autogeek.net/meg1710botpr.html

KirkH · 12-12-2017, 01:39 PM

Don't forget to seal them after you are done with some type of sealant such as Chem Guys Jet Seal, Opti Seal, McKees37 Paint Sealant, etc.

Nachos17 · 12-12-2017, 02:39 PM

I have a DA, it was just hard to maneuver it on the lights. Smallest pad and backing plate I had was a 3". Going to use my leftover ceramic coat and some reload when I'm done 👍
I'll have to go get some #10 and give it a shot. What about those headlight restore kits?

Glen e · 12-12-2017, 02:43 PM

Go get a mothers Powerball from an auto parts store .......use a fine finishing polish probably several times, before you get it all.....like Meguires scratch x 2.0 or megs 205

Nachos17 · 12-14-2017, 10:33 AM

Tried the Powerball with x 2.0 and Maguires #10 with worse results. I also tried the white pad with #10. Best combo I came up with was a black pad on my dual action polisher and the scratch x2.0, but still a slight haze. Still fairly new to polishing especially plastic so I'm not sure what is causing the haze. Anymore ideas?
THANKS!

4mulafastech · 12-26-2017, 11:11 AM

I have had good luck hand polishing using Meguires PlastX and high quality microfiber towels.

https://www.autogeek.net/meplclplclpo.html

Cobaltct · 12-28-2017, 04:50 PM

literally just finished polishing mine with Adams polishes correcting compound and finishing polish did them all by hand and they came out great got out 95% of the scratches
also mine were trashed when i got them looked like they had been through an automatic car wash several times

FATTEMUNK · 01-10-2018, 01:35 AM

I asked the same question a while ago. Just use plastx, no haze. I just need to buy some pads for my porter cable 7whateverthehell polisher. I'll report back if it works. My drill polisher leaves a weird white plastic if it touches the side. Otherwise it looks great.

RandRZL1 · 01-10-2018, 08:28 AM

Plexus. Used for polishing airplane windshields.

Reximus · 01-27-2018, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandRZL1

Plexus. Used for polishing airplane windshields.

^this. Plexus is great.

Glen e · 01-27-2018, 09:41 AM

Plexus will not really “polish” plastic...it is a protectant. I’ve used it for 10 years. Yes it’s called a polish, however it’s a thin liquid aerosol that’s good to protect after you use something to get out the scratches. A good true polish is the NOVUS line of polishes.

https://www.amazon.com/NOVUS-7100-Pl...plastic+polish

12-12-2017, 01:35 PM	#2
KirkH Drives: 2016 2SS M6 Mosaic Blk Met-SOLD Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: KY Posts: 2,934	Neither of those products are going to do much good on your lights. I would go with a white pad and some Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #10. A drill is probably what caused your haze. You need a dual action polisher. Harbor freight or Porter Cable would be fine for your job but a pro polisher would be better if you are into tools. https://www.autogeek.net/meg1710botpr.html __________________ Official Detailer of CamaroFest 8 & 9 https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...st-8-pics.html https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...=521655&page=1 https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...=547470&page=1 https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=527474 No one on Earth has detailed more Camaros. http://KirkTheDetailer.com

12-12-2017, 01:39 PM	#3
KirkH Drives: 2016 2SS M6 Mosaic Blk Met-SOLD Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: KY Posts: 2,934	Don't forget to seal them after you are done with some type of sealant such as Chem Guys Jet Seal, Opti Seal, McKees37 Paint Sealant, etc. __________________ Official Detailer of CamaroFest 8 & 9 https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...st-8-pics.html https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...=521655&page=1 https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...=547470&page=1 https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=527474 No one on Earth has detailed more Camaros. http://KirkTheDetailer.com

12-12-2017, 02:43 PM	#5
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,048	Go get a mothers Powerball from an auto parts store .......use a fine finishing polish probably several times, before you get it all.....like Meguires scratch x 2.0 or megs 205 __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

12-26-2017, 11:11 AM	#7
4mulafastech Drives: 2018 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Washington, MO Posts: 208	I have had good luck hand polishing using Meguires PlastX and high quality microfiber towels. https://www.autogeek.net/meplclplclpo.html __________________

01-27-2018, 09:41 AM	#12
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,048	Plexus will not really “polish” plastic...it is a protectant. I’ve used it for 10 years. Yes it’s called a polish, however it’s a thin liquid aerosol that’s good to protect after you use something to get out the scratches. A good true polish is the NOVUS line of polishes. https://www.amazon.com/NOVUS-7100-Pl...plastic+polish __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

12-12-2017, 12:34 PM	#1
Nachos17 Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Haughton Posts: 57	polishing gm black tail lights questions I got a pair of the dark gm tail lights that had some minor scratches on them and Im trying to get them polished before i put them on the car. Ive gotten the major scratches out, but im left with a little haze if the light hits it right. ive tried mequires mirror glaze 3 machine glaze and chemical guys v38 polish with a black pad on a drill with similar results. Anyone have some tips on how to get this haze out?

12-12-2017, 02:39 PM	#4
Nachos17 Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Haughton Posts: 57	I have a DA, it was just hard to maneuver it on the lights. Smallest pad and backing plate I had was a 3". Going to use my leftover ceramic coat and some reload when I'm done 👍 I'll have to go get some #10 and give it a shot. What about those headlight restore kits?

12-14-2017, 10:33 AM	#6
Nachos17 Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Haughton Posts: 57	Tried the Powerball with x 2.0 and Maguires #10 with worse results. I also tried the white pad with #10. Best combo I came up with was a black pad on my dual action polisher and the scratch x2.0, but still a slight haze. Still fairly new to polishing especially plastic so I'm not sure what is causing the haze. Anymore ideas? THANKS!

12-28-2017, 04:50 PM	#8
Cobaltct Drives: 2018 camaro ZL1 in Nightfall Grey Join Date: May 2016 Location: Louisville ky Posts: 230 View My Garage	literally just finished polishing mine with Adams polishes correcting compound and finishing polish did them all by hand and they came out great got out 95% of the scratches also mine were trashed when i got them looked like they had been through an automatic car wash several times

01-10-2018, 01:35 AM	#9
FATTEMUNK Drives: 600whp 2016 C63 AMG/ 2018 SS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Bay Area Posts: 193	I asked the same question a while ago. Just use plastx, no haze. I just need to buy some pads for my porter cable 7whateverthehell polisher. I'll report back if it works. My drill polisher leaves a weird white plastic if it touches the side. Otherwise it looks great.

01-10-2018, 08:28 AM	#10
RandRZL1 Drives: 2018 ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Western Washington Posts: 150	Plexus. Used for polishing airplane windshields.

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