New HLR steps

[AAGlass]

Hi, I am new to this forum and I have been mulling around trying to figure out which HLR to buy for months now. I have just purchased the Delta HLR kit because it was on special with Mygrant Glass and looked to be complete. I have a few questions and wondered if someone could chime in. I have watched several companies do the restorations and almost all of them "wet" sand the the 1500 and 3000 which seems to reduce the scratches from the 320 and 600 better than doing it dry.Why does Delta want it done dry? After the 3000 the other companies use a liquid mild abrasive cleaning compound to further refine the 3000 then go to a polish compound leaving the headlights looking brand new before coating. The Delta kit seems to want you to apply the coating to a less than perfectly polished headlight by skipping the "wet sanding"and two liquid steps. I have yet to see anyone be able to get the finished 3000 dry sanded to look as good as the the guys using wet sanding and two more steps to liqid polish. Is Delta recommending skipping these steps so the final coating has something to "bite"into kind of like sanding smooth surfaces before you paint?

[Kgobin]

Joe,
Welcome to windshield repair/headlight restoration forum. It was nice speaking with you on the phone earlier. Thank you for your recent purchase! Delta Kits recommends dry sanding because water and electricity do not mix well. However, you can feel free to wet sand if you like. Both of the methods produce similar results. Previously, we included a polishing compound with the system, but we noticed the results were not significantly enhanced with the compound. Therefore, we decided to omit it from the latest headlight restoration system. If you would like to use the polishing compound it is available for purchase on our website. When using the Delta Kits Headlight Restoration System the coating will apply the same regardless of dry or wet sanding. I would more than happy to answer any other questions or concerns that you may have. Feel free to email me or call into Delta Kits. Also, for your convenience we have several informational videos on our website.

[t4k]

I think wet sanding does produce a better result in the end.

[Ricersux]

I've done both and can't tell a difference. Either way the delta hlr results are nothing but excellent. This kit makes me look good everyday!

[Brent Deines]

If you are not putting on a coating...the right coating...wet sanding and polishing will produce better results, but as Korey said, we did a lot of testing using the Delta Kits coating and after the coating was applied and completely dry no one could tell the difference. We even tried 4000 and 5000 grit polishing discs, various polishing pads, etc., and still no one could tell the difference once the coating was applied. Wet sanding is messier and polishing to a perfectly clear finish before applying the coating is best accomplished with a high quality (expensive) buffer. Polishing discs are also very expensive at the 4000 and 5000 grit level, so it just did not make sense if no one could tell the difference.

We still sell the Makita variable speed polisher, high quality polishing compound, and polishing pads for those who want them, but it has always been our policy to not load technicians up with things they don't need or we don't use ourselves, so we can’t put them in out restoration systems.

...The right coating. I don't mean to offend anyone with that comment, but we have tried many different types of coatings including many that have been mentioned on this forum. At least a half dozen of them do not cover all that well so it is necessary to polish the lens out more before applying those coatings. If you bought a system that requires wet sanding and polishing to get the desired results, then by all means follow the recommended procedure. That's why it is called a system. With the Delta Kits system however, we really do get exceptional results without those extra steps, but if you want to make the lens look better "before" applying the coating there is nothing wrong with doing so.

I have a couple of customers who still spend up to an hour on each lens to make it perfect before applying the coating, but we have gotten it down to about 1/2 that for two lenses and I think the results are just as good. It's just personal preference if the results are the same.

[t4k]

I apply a UV inhibiting coating (not Delta's) but still find that wet (damp) sanding works best for me. I think the end results may be the same but wet sanding helps the sandpaper to last longer and sand better without clogging. Once the paper gets clogged with plastic it ceases to cut and you are just spinning your wheels, so to speak.

To each his own.....