Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Floor polish for headllight restoration.

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Floor polish for headllight restoration.

    So I restored an Integra headlight for a friend of mine, and in the process I discovered my new favorite product for such things: Future floor polish. These days it's called Pledge tile and vinyl floor finish (SCJ formula #35*3597). It is NOT the one for wood floors. Go by the formula number to make sure it's the right stuff.

    Whatever it's called, it's a self-leveling acrylic clear coat. I had heard of it years ago in the context of model building, as it sets decals like nothing else, and allows incompatible paints to be used over each other by making a barrier between them. I looked on the internet to see if anybody had tried it on headlights to see if it would hold up against the heat, abrasion, and UV, and found that it had made some good medium to long term results.

    It certainly looked better than anything I had tried previously. MeGuiars PlastX works, but dulls a little as it dries. This stuff stayed briliantly clear. I put three coats on to be sure it was smooth and flat. I recommend this stuff for all kinds of things. It's 5-7 dollars for a 27 ounce bottle. It can be thinned with water, alcohol, or simple green, and is easily stripped with ammonia. It dries in 20-30 minutes and cures in about three hours.

    I'm going to try resurfacing my coffee table with it next!
    1990 Protege 4WD
    GT-X BP26 swap [AT->MT]|Cup holder cut to fit|Synthetic gear oil|Synthetic brake fluid|Corksport SS brake/clutch lines|Mazdaspeed HV oil pump|GT-X front STB|Corksport type I rear STB|Matching full-size spare wheel|Homebrew Brass shifter bushing|Speed Source brass shifter cable bushings|EDM headlights/corners|FMIC|EDM cabin vents

    1 3 5
    ├┼┤
    2 4 R


    Seeking: Canadian 4WD seatbelts.


    #2
    Interesting.......

    so your saying this works better then good rattle can clear coat?

    The headlights on the wifes camry lasted about 1 year with clear coat in the AZ sun.
    92 Mazda MX3 GS> For sale, $1750 OBO
    94 Escort wagon--BP swap coming, VF10 Turbo, COP, EVO ECU, 03 ZX2 front end conversion
    "Hold yourself accountable before you are held accountable"
    EV14 330cc@3Bar injector kits available.
    EV14 GT500 injector kits available for the BP. 610cc@3Bar.
    EV14 925cc@3Bar injector kits available
    BP Forged H beam rods available now
    KL Forged H beam rods available now
    K8/KF Forged H beam rods awaiting test fit
    FS Forged H beam rods
    awaiting test fit
    F2 Forged H beam rods awaiting test fit
    FE3 Forged H beam rods coming soon
    Mitsubishi 3.8 MIVEC rods coming soon
    Aluminum CAS/Distributor caps
    BP oil jet eliminators
    EV14 fuel rail spacers
    More stuff coming soon.......

    Comment


      #3
      interesting tidbit.

      since its a "polish" do you rub it in? & then just leave it?
      my mother & grandmother both have honda accords which have the hazing headlight syndrome. i might have to try this
      ---Has ClubProtege helped you in someway? show your support by Contributing--- Click Here---

      1992- project FE3..... 313 WHP @ 9.3psi




      I pet my dash when I get into the car..."good car"
      he actually has a mazda tree, parts grow on it

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by 300zxrb26dett View Post
        Interesting.......

        so your saying this works better then good rattle can clear coat?

        The headlights on the wifes camry lasted about 1 year with clear coat in the AZ sun.
        Maybe not better, but certainly faster and easier to work with.

        Originally posted by FE3-323 View Post
        interesting tidbit.

        since its a "polish" do you rub it in? & then just leave it?
        my mother & grandmother both have honda accords which have the hazing headlight syndrome. i might have to try this
        No, it's more of a thin liquid that flows into the tiny cracks and levels everything out. I applied it with a foam brush. I thinned the first coat with a little water because it was streaky. After that I just applied it straight from the bottle.

        I did wetsand the yellow haze off first, so I don't know if it would help with that. If it turns out bad, you can always take it off with ammonia and start over.
        1990 Protege 4WD
        GT-X BP26 swap [AT->MT]|Cup holder cut to fit|Synthetic gear oil|Synthetic brake fluid|Corksport SS brake/clutch lines|Mazdaspeed HV oil pump|GT-X front STB|Corksport type I rear STB|Matching full-size spare wheel|Homebrew Brass shifter bushing|Speed Source brass shifter cable bushings|EDM headlights/corners|FMIC|EDM cabin vents

        1 3 5
        ├┼┤
        2 4 R


        Seeking: Canadian 4WD seatbelts.

        Comment


          #5
          Rubbing compound works well to remove the yellowing and haze. I personally use the headlight kit because the "plastex" polish gives the best finish, and it has the protectant, which keeps them clear, if you don't use it you'll have to buff them every six months.

          Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
          Mike
          -------------
          2000 ZX2 S/R-My DD
          2002 Focus-DD (For Sale)
          1998 ZX2- Girlfriends DD
          1999 Escort Wagon- Project(rusty)
          1997 Escort Wagon- Scrapped

          Comment


            #6
            I saw this project again last week, about one month after restoring it, and it looked really good. Absolutely no yellowing or scratches or haze so far.
            1990 Protege 4WD
            GT-X BP26 swap [AT->MT]|Cup holder cut to fit|Synthetic gear oil|Synthetic brake fluid|Corksport SS brake/clutch lines|Mazdaspeed HV oil pump|GT-X front STB|Corksport type I rear STB|Matching full-size spare wheel|Homebrew Brass shifter bushing|Speed Source brass shifter cable bushings|EDM headlights/corners|FMIC|EDM cabin vents

            1 3 5
            ├┼┤
            2 4 R


            Seeking: Canadian 4WD seatbelts.

            Comment

            Working...
            X