How do you polish tail lights???

[ArticWhitex2]

Just purchased a very nice set of used tail lights for the 95' Firehawk. The current lights got water in them and really messed things up inside. My question is how can I polish the tail lights and center section to a high gloss like that guy has who is selling the "minted out" center pieces. Is it a combination of wet-sanding and polishing?? Don't want to experiment for myself until I hear from the pros on how to do this. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[TODD 2000 V6 CAMARO]

I know Zaino makes a plastic polish that is supposed to fill light scratches and swirls. I haven't used it, myself, but I hear it works really well. You can check it out on www.zainobros.com I think it is about $20.00.

[PontiacFan]

I don't know if you're referring to me as the one selling the 'Polished Taillight Center Sections' or not but, Yes, You can polish them to bring back the gloss.

In fact I have used the Zaino plastic polish on the products I've been selling for the last couple of years. Expensive though. I would recommend picking up some plastic polish from your local auto supply store. My Zaino is now empty again, so I'm going to try somehting a little less costly to see if it will produce the same results. (Which I'm sure it will, ...)

I'm not sure if wet-sanding is necessary on these taillights that you have in hand, but if they are covered in scratches, then maybe so.

If you do not have to remove the bird & text from the center section, then I'd start with something around 1200 grit, then move to a 2000. I always use a small 1/4-sheet sander for this process, then I alweays finish by hand with the 2000 grit. If you do have to remove the bird & text, start with some nail polish remover to remove the paint so it doesn't load up the sandpaper. Then maybe start with a 600 grit to remove the texture from under the bird & text.

Then I use an old Black & Decker orbital polisher to bring back the lustre. I always screw down the center sections to a wooden platform to hold them during the sanding & polishing process. Not sure what can be done with the taillights unless you want to do it while attached to the car. (I wouldn't sand them like that myself, too risky, ...)

Never had any bad results doing it this way & have sold a lot of these things thru the forums & eBay.

Good Luck!

(Heck, if ya want to, send'em to me, ..., I'll polish'em for a small fee & send'em back!)

[MN6WS6]

This is a bit of a story, but it will help you with your problem.

A couple of years ago I was towing my bike from Mobile to Baton Rouge. I knew rain was going to be a factor, so I covered the bike with a tarp. Unfortunately, I didn't secure the tarp enough at the windscreen, so it flapped all the way (about 250 miles or so) and did some serious scratching to my windscreen. I bought some Blue Magic, which is actually a metal polish that I use on my 4 -1 exhaust system, but that I had used in the past for light plastic polishing. I also bought a bottle of plastic polish. I used the Blue Magic to get out the deep stuff, then followed it up with the plastic polish. The windscreen came out looking like glass, which is pretty impressive, since you can see through it. It's one thing to have a product that can clean up scratches on a painted surface. But to be able to do it on a product that you have to be able to see through clearly, then I just have to recommend it. So this should take care of your taillight problem, since you'll be using it on the inside and outside.

Also, some cars have an issue with the headlights or corner lights "yellowing" or "milking up". Blue Magic can take that out. We once had a copcar come in to where I worked that had about 125,000 miles on it and the headlights were yellow. We hit them with Blue Magic for about 5 minutes and they looked brand new. I've also used this on my Caprice headlights and on the corner lights of my Astro van with identical results.

I've even used Blue Magic on paint! The mirrors on my bike are painted, and take a hammering with all the bugs and road grime down here. I don't even have to wash the mirrors. Blue Magic straight on the bug guts, and it still takes it all out. Now I'm pretty sure they don't recommend using it on paint, but it has worked for me, so YMMV.

Oh yeah, Blue Magic is only about $4 a container.

[wolfdogs]

the Zaino plastic polish is only 12.95. and it lasts a long time. it also will bring the exspensive plastic lens on your glasses back to brand new if you wear them.... i use it on all kinds of stuff..including the dash board instrument cluster plastic pannel.

[Joe 1320]

Blue Magic, which is actually a metal polish that I use on my 4 -1 exhaust system, but that I had used in the past for light plastic polishing. Oh yeah, Blue Magic is only about $4 a container.

yup...... metal polish is great for plastic. Then follow it up regular cleanings with z-6 to cut down on further scratches.

[ArticWhitex2]

Thanks to all that responded to this post. Your advice & suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!