This how to guide will assist you in polishing your scratched tail lamps or headlights (plastic)
Materials:
1000 Grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper
1500 Grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper
2000 Grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper
2500 Grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper
3000 Grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper

Blue Tape

Cutting Polish(I used Menzerna SIP)
Orange Buffing Pad

Rotary Polisher(DA will work too with more agressive compounds)

QD Spray/Clay lube/ONR


First have a clean surface of the lens,then mask vehicle off
Make sure Sandpaper is wet (in a bucket/container of H20)
Spray a couple of sprays down on the surface(with clay lube or QD spray)
Keep sanding starting with 1500(work with medium speed) with even pressure
After surface feels completely smooth with the lower grit #, move up a gradient, make sure both the surface and the paper are wet at all times.

Stop around 2500 grit and apply polish and attempt to polish out the scratches, marks still do appear go back with a finer grade, remember practice makes perfect....Longer time spent sanding= better end results.

 

Good post. This works the best.

 

you have the right idea lol

 

Works on headlights too.

 

I'd recommend going down to 800 grit for headlamps, and working your way up

 

Nice write up... Thanks for posting!