Which pad?

[mavrick1903]

Lookingto use my RO125 to polish the "frost" off my wife's headlights. I've got some plastic polish compound, wondering which pad. Soft felt? sheepskin?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

While I haven't done this personally, I believe Platin would do the trick just fine. Be sure to tape off the paint and anything else you don't want to be touched. (Edit) Can't remember if the 125 comes with an abrasives sample pack, but if it does you should have some Platin which would prevent you from having to buy a pad.

Here's a post from another member about using Platin.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/using-rotex-to-polish-plastic-headlight-assemblies/

Also, it seems I read something from Dan Clark on talkFestool about this but it looks like their site is having problems currently.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I would say try the sheepskin because you're trying to compound out the scratches and haze so you want something courser.  The felt is milder than the sheepskin.  Sorry Shane.  Didn't see your sandpaper recommendation.  I've never done it with sandpaper.

 

[RONWEN]

I just used the pad that came in the Mequiar's Headlight Restoration kit in a right angle battery drill on my 14+ year old headlights -- before you really couldn't tell the difference between low & high beam -- The kit made them like new without a lot of effort.

 

[Sparktrician]

Lookingto use my RO125 to polish the "frost" off my wife's headlights. I've got some plastic polish compound, wondering which pad. Soft felt? sheepskin?

I just did this to my truck's headlights.  As Shane mentioned, be sure to tape off anything that doesn't need to be polished first.  I started with Platin S1000 on my RO125 to remove as much worn plastic as possible, then followed that with Platin S2000, and finally Platin S4000.  That put a really nice finish on the lenses, but the crowning touch was Meguair's Plast-X on a hard felt pad to clean it down to a like-new finish.  One caveat is to use a lower speed (I set the RO125 to "3" and had in the Rotex position) and by all means, keep the pad moving to avoid heat build-up which will cause melting of the plastic lens. 

[smile]