Hi guys, I know it's not a car or a big thing, but I just want to shop you guys how well I polished this 1996-98 civic tail lights I got in my back yard. These tail lights were sitting in the yard over a year, so I decide to see if I can recondition and make a few bucks. That's why I decide to polished them BY HAND.

Here are the tools and compound I used.
-Griots Mini 3 inches polish pads.
-Uber red mf towels
-small bottle with soapy water in it
-Swissvax Paint Rubber
-Adam's Detail Spray
-1z Extra
-1z Paint Polish
-1z Metallic Polish wax

I start cleaning the tail lights by spray a lot, a lot of soupy water with Adam's car wash mix with water.
Then wipe it down well with an Uber mf towel.
Start spray a well amount for lube from detail spray on the tail lights and rub it with a clay.
After claying, I wipe off the rest of lube and start smearing some compound on.
First I start hand polish with Griots 3 inches pad, applying Extra and start working all the way down to metallic polish wax.

before.




After

 

Nice work! Way to use the "other" chemical - elbow grease.

Matt

 

Yea, my arms were so the next day, but it's worth the work because they both look very shiny at the end. I was so happy.

 

Time to start looking into wet sanding. You will be amazed by what you can fix by wet sanding and polishing.

 

Nice work Linko4!!!

My e36 BMW had the hazed over headlights and I made them look brand new with a little sand paper and polish. It is sooo satisfying to fix something without spending tons of money.

 

if i were to sand, what grit should I start out with? I know I need two type of grit papers, which are the first one to be more aggressive and the other to fine smooth.

 

did you blog your work or take photos? I would like to see it.