Windshield Repair Forum

Below is a video of a headlight restoration on a Toyota Corolla, and as always you get professional results the first time, every time!

Nice job Korey. Toyota's are one my favorites too. Honda and Toyota respond well to H/L restoration. BMW's are still my favorite, though.

Thanks! I like BMW's too, most of their headlights have a black background so they seem to stand out more.

Exactly! The better the inside of the light looks the better the lens looks after it has been refurbished.

I have been out of the headlight restoration (and WSR) business for about 2 years but am making a come-back. While catching up on some of the headlight forum comments I noticed this video. I was surprised to see the process being done without "wet" sanding. I've always used "wet" sanding. Is this practice no longer necessary? Unfortunately, I just received a supply of "wet" sanding disks (400, 600 & 1000).

Dale...

There's nothing wrong with wet sanding but it is not necessary if you use the right sanding discs and the right tool. We find that it is less messy to dry sand and safer if using electric tools. We used to use polishing compound as well, but now just use a polishing disc instead. Again, less mess and faster restorations with equal or better results were the reason for the switch.

Bois wrote:I have been out of the headlight restoration (and WSR) business for about 2 years but am making a come-back. While catching up on some of the headlight forum comments I noticed this video. I was surprised to see the process being done without "wet" sanding. I've always used "wet" sanding. Is this practice no longer necessary? Unfortunately, I just received a supply of "wet" sanding disks (400, 600 & 1000).

Dale...

Aren't most sanding disk rated for dry or wet sanding?

There are dry sanding discs and wet/dry sanding discs. Dry sanding discs are usually a bit cheaper but will fall apart quickly due to the paper back. The sanding discs we sell are for either wet or dry sanding.

Good point though, if Dale has been using his discs to wet sand there is no reason he cannot use them for dry sanding.

I have been converted. I was a wet sander for years but you are right Brent, dry sanding is the way to go. It is a lot less messy and seems to work just as well in the end. The only thing I dislike about dry sanding is wearing a dust mask, which is mandatory in dry sanding. They are HOT and they fog up my safety glasses!

i like to take the tape off before my last spray and rince and wipe down the area around the headlight so no loose dust or debris get on the headlight after i put on clearcoat i find that if i do it after dust comes off the tape and onto the restored headlight and makes it not look as good as it could