Toothpaste!

[Vampyrebat]

Hi All
Many of you may already know this but I thought I would post for those who didn't! Someone posted on the FB Maserati forum about headlight restoration with toothpaste, so I gave it a go! They said it took 7 mins per headlight but in reality it took me 20-30 mins per light (I suppose it depends on condition). After the toothpaste I polished with a good quality wax for good measure. Sorry forgot to take a before picture but have the after ones............They look and taste mint!!!

 

[daverichardson]

Very good, will they be able to Signal now (one for the oldies)

 

[TimR]

Now you need to use something to protect them from U.V....or it'll go bad again !

 

[Vampyrebat]

Now you need to use something to protect them from U.V....or it'll go bad again !

What can I use for that Tim?

 

[TimR]

Good question...! Some people recommend clear coating but many report that this ruins the newly polished lens...
I recently tried this process albeit with a more expensive "kit". I then found a UV protectant product from Denmark but the price was off putting after postage. I did nt find a plethora of suitable products TBH.
I havent tried it yet, so dont shoot the messenger... I have this waiting in the wings... ( because I have been distracted by an alternator failure )
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/nanolex/si3d-headlight-30ml.aspx
Its a ceramic type sealant formulated for use on acrylic and polycarbonate that contains UV inhibitors as I understand it. Read the instructions before you use it to avoid silly mistakes. Like two coats must be applied in quick succession if you chose to do it twice...and leave it for 24hrs before trapesing into the dark wet night !

 

[Chrisb2015]

Hi All
Many of you may already know this but I thought I would post for those who didn't! Someone posted on the FB Maserati forum about headlight restoration with toothpaste, so I gave it a go! They said it took 7 mins per headlight but in reality it took me 20-30 mins per light (I suppose it depends on condition). After the toothpaste I polished with a good quality wax for good measure. Sorry forgot to take a before picture but have the after ones............They look and taste mint!!!

Is thought this must be an April 1st thread at first. But it seems you are serious..........! I assume it works as toothpaste has a mild abrasive in it? Was it Colgate or Oral B?

 

[CatmanV2]

Very good, will they be able to Signal now (one for the oldies)

*SLAP*

Well done, bat. My nephew spent years in awe of me for fixing one of his x-box games

C

 

[Andyk]

May give this ago.....Looks good [U]Vampyrebat[/U]. Don't fancy bringing her to Llandow again in October do you...You know it will be fun.

 

[Vampyrebat]

TBH Chris I bought a cheap no named brand for 50p after trying a small area with Colgate and it worked just as well. It is easier to dilute with water when applying and as I said before finish with a wax polish.

 

[Vampyrebat]

Good question...! Some people recommend a sealant but many report that this ruins the newly polished lens...
I recently tried this process albeit with a more expensive "kit". I then found a UV protectant product from Denmark but the price was off putting after postage. I did nt find a plethora of suitable products TBH.
I havent tried it yet, so dont shoot the messenger... I have this waiting in the wings... ( because I have been distracted by an alternator failure )
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/nanolex/si3d-headlight-30ml.aspx
Its a ceramic type sealant formulated for use on acrylic and polycarbonate that contains UV inhibitors as I understand it. Read the instructions before you use it to avoid silly mistakes. Like two coats must be applied in quick succession if you chose to do it twice...and leave it for 24hrs before trapesing into the dark wet night !

Thanks for the info Tim. I may just give that a go! I see what you mean, I can't see many products out there too!

 

[Corranga]

I used this kit:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/QHRK1-Reli...785&sr=1-7&keywords=headlight+restoration+kit

on my mother in laws old camper in the spring. The headlights lights looked like something from a mid 80s French saloon, and had peeling lines too. Cleaned up quite nicely, and so far haven't yellowed yet, so either it takes longer than 4 months, or the included sealer works..

If toothpaste works for the cleaning, I'd stick with that - the sand paper approach I'd not be brave enough for!
Toothpaste is also good for metal polishing, used it on the alloy fuel cap on my Elise.

 

[Vampyrebat]

I bought a head lamp restoring kit from Halfords a year or so ago with 4 grades of paper and compounds. It worked ok and took a long time but TBH the toothpaste gave the better finish and in less than half the time!

 

[TimR]

I bought a head lamp restoring kit from Halfords a year or so ago with 4 grades of paper and compounds. It worked ok and took a long time but TBH the toothpaste gave the better finish and in less than half the time!

Id say you probably dont always need to go through all the stages of the process..Toothpaste is on a par with the polish of the final stage...
The kits are designed to cater for all levels of restoration as I see it. I have removed deep scratches from a motorcycle headlight unit..You wouldnt know it was scarred for life prior to the treatment ! Yellowing is a surface thing...although it will get deeper as time goes by. The surface distortion slows the ingress of the yellowing to some extent too Id say...The point of sealing it or protecting it from UV somehow else, is to avoid the need to remove too much material with repeated sanding/polishing because it's the sealant that is sacrificed, not the lens. Just as well...Have you seen the cost of a secondhand light unit !?!

 

[Vampyrebat]

yep!..............my mate SupranoStu always has some up on ebay for about 1k for a pair and he seems to sell them! Hate to think how much they are new!!

 

[Vampyrebat]

May give this ago.....Looks good [U]Vampyrebat[/U]. Don't fancy bringing her to Llandow again in October do you...You know it will be fun.

Hi Andy...........Never been down to Llandow with the car mate, you must be thinking of someone else, though ironically that is where I bought the car from!

 

[Andyk]

My mind isn't what it used to be........

 

[Vampyrebat]

My mind isn't what it used to be........

I'm there too............Where did I park my car?............Which car was I in?............Who the **** am I talking to

 

[highlander]

I used anti swirl compound with the DA to clean up the headlights then just coated with polish via the DA again and finished with carnauba wax to offer protection at the same time as doing the bodywork, worked for me. Can see toothpaste working too though.

 

[jasst]

Tried the toothpaste idea a few years ago, far to much elbow grease required! now go down the route of 1000 grit wet & dry, and then various less course grades, ending up with 3500, followed by a good polish.

 

[alfatwo]

Autosol, I find it great for polishing uv affected plastic headlights, only takes a couple of minutes, last 3 to 4 months

Dave