polishing tail lights

so im good with most polishing things but these tail lights are different. any advice on the backs on a 70? the rough pattern i dont want to screw up. how can i make it new again?

 

if you are talking about the lens, I use...close up...toothpaste.

 

I use rubbing compound on a cloth and BY HAND only, it will melt if you use a buffing wheel. Turns out pretty good.

 

this may sound a little unorthodox but try using mother's mag & aluminum polish or plast-x head light 2 part cleaner & protection. I have a set of lenses that are original and they look brand new .... they were black and green mildewed or whatever with white over spray on them. The aluminum trim has a coating and I haven't found anything to remove it without destroying them some way or another though

 

i got some mag polish from mothers. ill try that and then rubbing compound if that doesnt get me there.

 

try using an old tooth brush to 'scrub' them and get into the circular groves on the back side ( I did mine inside and out) I'll snap a pic but I haven't got to the point of installing them onto the car. Just sitting in a box out of harm's way for later after I paint the tail panel black etc etc the eventually to do list never ends

 

I use Simonize a rag and elbow grease. For delicate areas I use an old tooth brush and tooth paste.

 

I use a rotary buffer with meguiar's diamond cut 2.0. The compound starts aggressive and quickly breaks down in the ultra-fine grit range for final polish. I use it on headlight housings, tailights, CD/DVD, metals.. even used it to lap valves a few times now. Just need to be careful with pressure and speeds when first applying.. then work it around while increasing both over time. Waayyy faster and better rsults than doing this stuff by hand.

oh.. and the insides can sometimes have calcium deposits from water leakage. Good old fashioned vinegar.. or CLR soaks will clean that right up too. Then a final scrubdown with toothbrush followed up by dawn detergent and you're looking new again.

PS. be very careful with rubbing compounds. They are not designed to break down(sacrificial/diminishing abrasive technology) like the above mentioned product. If it will ruin a DVD?.. don't use it on your tail lights.

 

Also anything with ammonia in it is not good for bare aluminum either ... just saying. Seen it oxidize a set of wheels just in a matter of days and it was wheel cleaner