Are your headlight lenses getting cloudy?

"Ken Weitzel" > wrote in message
news:3WQLf.67529$sa3.24032@pd7tw1no...
>
>
> Bill Putney wrote:
>
>> Hachiroku wrote:
>>
>>> They are plastic with an optical coating.
>>>
>>> After years, the wind with it's little grains of sand 'sandblast' the
>>> optical coating and the lenses start to fade and turn yellow.
>>>
>>> There isn't really much to do except install new headlights.
>>

< Big Snip>

>
> Just to add to your sanding process for what it's worth...
>
> Autoglass people have a product they use... a pink liquid, used
> to polish windshields, that easily polishes plastic to a brand
> new gleam.
>
> Wish I remembered (if I ever knew) what it's called. How I came
> across it was years and years ago one of the kids went up north
> in a 79 pontiac wagon. Coming back it rained, the passenger
> wiper somehow ripped, and time they got back there was an awful
> gouge in the glass... neighbor was then in the autoglass
> business, and gave me a coke bottles worth of this stuff.
>
> BTW, lots of elbow grease removed every last trace of the gouge,
> but by the time it was gone the glass was optically changed.
> In this case didn't matter, lower strip on passenger side,
> but if any others try it be careful
>
> Take care.
>
> Ken
>
If it's pink, the active ingredient is probably cerium oxide. It is used in
optical work quite a bit, as it cuts and polishes faster than rouge. It's
also less messy. Personally, I would make a lap with optical pitch to do the
polishing, and avoid the sanding altogether.

Steve R.