Wet and dry sandpaper grading

[WILL 1 AM]

I'm gonna try and restore my headlights, got some fine sand paper but the grading on them reads P600 and P800.

If from looking at the guide, the grades looks to be around 2500 grit and onto 3000 grit.

But from looking and felling the wet n dry of the P600/800 it seems these are really fine and I'm confused as I can find 2500 - 3000 wet and dry at my local hardware store.

Are the grading different when there's a P at the start?

[xjay1337]

The lower the number the more aggressive.... probably 2000 and then 25000 then 3500 then polish with machine.

[lukemk5gti]

I went at mine on the last car with a lower grit because I couldn't find 2000 and got impatient.

Big mistake.

Wait and order some 2500 online. Make sure you keep it wet the entire time too!

You could always buy a headlight restorer kit which would have the different grades of polish including the sandpaper.

[WILL 1 AM]

But from what I've seen/read, p600 is ultra fine, so is there such thing as P2500 and P3000?

[lukemk5gti]

2500 & 3000 do exist! I have some at home.

Here is the first search on google

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wet-Dry-Sandpaper-Mixed-Grits/dp/B009QZSW7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404999136&sr=8-1&keywords=2500+grit+sandpaper

[xjay1337]

But from what I've seen/read, p600 is ultra fine, so is there such thing as P2500 and P3000?

I would suggest you do some additional research then if you feel that's the case!    

[stealthwolf]

As above. You can get 2000 and 2500 in halfords. They feel more like sugar paper than sandpaper.

[Veee-dubber]

Buy a 3m kit

[greygti]

If your not sure about wet sanding, try and pick up an old panel from a scrap yard and practice on that, 2000 (with lots of soapy water) then 2500 (again soapy water) then check your sanding give it a good rinse down + dry then finally work your way up through the various compounds and pads

[mk5Eire]

I wet sanded my headlights the other day. Results were excellent removed all the scum and restored the crystal clear lens.

Started with 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000 and finished with 3000 and compound followed by polish and wax to protect from further UV damage. It is time consuming, dont rush it or you will have cloudy headlights.

[xjay1337]

You don't need to start with 800 grit, that's very aggressive, it's extra steps, start at about 2000 and work up (or down) from there as appropriate. 

[edd666999]

http://bit.ly/VSw4bf


 "P", such as P2000, this indicates FEPA grit

[mk5Eire]

You don't need to start with 800 grit, that's very aggressive, it's extra steps, start at about 2000 and work up (or down) from there as appropriate. 

Your probably right jay but I've always started with 800 especially when the headlights are bad.

Might start a bit higher next time see if the results are the same


Sent from my iPhone that has issues.. Reception issues...

[matt_the_mussel]

It all depends on how bad they are....Did mine the other day after reading Bodger00's guide

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,26433.msg341751.html#msg341751

I started at 800 and went upto 2500 then a few rubs with meguiars plastX....

Before



After 2500grit


After about 4/5 applications of plastx



As you can see I was too lazy to remove the headlights, It would have been much easier to sand if I had!
I did it all by hand and spent about 1.5 hours per lamp. Its not perfect but I think its a lot better than it was!

[WILL 1 AM]

Sweet

I'll go find some higher grit from elsewhere.

Cheers for the replies, most helpful