Sunday 1 April 2012

Civic 1.7: Why buy new headlamps when you can restore them?

To all Detailen Fans,

I was given the opportunity to restore an oxidized headlamps of a Civic. It was a whacko day as I had to rush back from Melaka for this restoration only to discover later that the owner was in Melaka as well. Not to mention the temperature today is like..... hell on earth.

Without further delay, i present to you......

Today's patient


Previously wet sanded by the owner using 2000 grit sandpaper and hand polished with Soft99 something......(sorry ya, i forgot.) Can still see that the sanding mark is visible


After operation "give me my sight back"


Nice leh.... gloss leh.... shiny leh....


Inspired by Fishy's shot... i gotta do this too


This is what was done, wet sanding using muscle power.
Started with 1500 grit then followed by 2000 grit. ONR as lube and Osren Bubble&Wax as cleaner.


Compounded with Optimum Double Sided Wool Pad + Optimum Hyper Compound (2 - 3 passes)
Polished to a brilliant shine using Optimum Double Sided Foam Pad + Optimum Hyper Polish (enough passes to ensure no more lines.)
Both headlamps were then given the Opti-Seal treatment.


Car was later washed with Osren Bubble and Wax. (yeah, i sorta dusted the entire car with the compound and wool, so its only common courtesy to clean it up rite.)


Sun was setting by the time we were done.


Time spend: 3.5hours (inclusive of washing the car)
Satisfaction level: High but after being praised by the owner it became SUPER HIGH
Products used today: OHP, OHC, Opti-Seal. Osren B&W, ONR

Some tutorial:
- Always sand softly... dun use force as it might create deeper than wanted lines.
- Always sand one direction - makes polishing it off way easier
- Always lube between your paper and the plastic
- ONR is a damn good lube.

Any comments (good or bad) is much appreciated.

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