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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SoBay, SoCal
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Headlight reflector refurbishing--how to?
My H1 reflectors are dulled due to age. How to refurbish?
This thread shows a Pelicanite CHROMING the reflectors, but later in the thread, it seems others state that chroming is not the way to go. H1 Restoration Project (pics) Anyone clean/polish, etc the inside reflectors of the headlight to help with light output? Higher wattage bulbs and relays already in the works. thanks
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Mike '86 911 coupe '85 BMW 535i '11 Cayenne |
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Well, from what I read, Aluminizing will give the best light reflective output vs. Chroming. Chroming will give them a nice look but lack of function.
I must agree. I did a ghetto repair to one of my rear brake lights the reflective material flaked off. I got some Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil and Rubber Cemented it in place. Low and Behold the repaired side was just as bright as the good side. My observations ![]()
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'85 Carrera Targa Factory Marble Grey/Black * Turbo Tail * 930 Steering Wheel* Sport Seats * 17" Fuchs (r) * 3.4 * 964 Cams * 915 * LSD * Factory SS * Turbo Tie Rods * Bilsteins * Euro Pre-Muff * SW Chip on 4K DME * NGK * Sienes GSK * Targa Body Brace PCA/POC |
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I believe that they were originally silver-plated after reading the blurb from these guys:
http://www.vintage-headlamp-restoration.co.uk/ These guys also supply Marchal lamps and lenses, which might be of interest to the longhood/356 folks.
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'77 S with '78 930 power and a few other things. |
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First, try carefully cleaning the reflective surface by working through the bulb holes.
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Howard '76 911S '53 Nash (!) '01 Audi TT '82 GPZ-550 |
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H1's are rather accessible. You might be thinking of H5's. If they are silver, whey not try a non abrasive silver polish? We have on here in the cupboard that s supposed to leave minute amounts of new silver behind. I sorta wonder though....
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H1 Reflectors
The main reflector in one of my pair was in poor condition. It had been rubbed with a polish of some sort which took off the aluminum plating in one spot. I consulted with Grady Clay who was against chrome plating and suggested finding a company to redo the aluminum coating. Despite many, many hours of searching and correspondence, I finally gave up. Since the surface was beyond help and having nothing to lose, I polished it myself with rouge and a buffing wheel. It came out reasonably well but I'm sure a professional would do a much better job of it. It also was now unprotected so I used carnauba wax on it. Likely, the wax will deteriorate from the heat of the bulb but I rarely drive the car at night anyway. It's a vast improvement over what it was but is not the answer. I read the thread referring to chrome plating and the supposedly lower reflectivity which I find a bit difficult to believe. I would think a copper-nickel-chrome finish would be very close to the original aluminum coating but that's only an opinion. I'd sure like to see a scientific report.
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Polishing the reflector (like above), using a buffer or some type of metal polish might be worth a try. Would a high temp CLEAR rattle can spray over this polished reflector be recommended? otherwise, I think the polish will tarnish over time.
or maybe a better 'ghetto' idea of Draco's aluminum foil experiment? There might be some reflective tape (muffler tape at Pep Boys??) or other reflective material one might find at Home Depot? thanks
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Mike '86 911 coupe '85 BMW 535i '11 Cayenne |
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I would find a company that does this if at all possible - keep searching.
Otherwise, I would make friends with an amateur astronomer - they will have groups/societies in every city even a small one. Do something less time consuming than what they do for their mirrors - i.e. if they do 8 steps, you could do the 1st five or six steps. The H1's are just too rare and expensive to do a halfway job on. I'd also look at mounting the bowl in lather and then using a polisher that counter rotates against that or cross rotates - this will cut the time of each step. |
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Quote:
Compare the old one with the rehabed one if you don't like it remove the foil and rinse off the adhesive. My $.02 cents. Keep us updated.
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'85 Carrera Targa Factory Marble Grey/Black * Turbo Tail * 930 Steering Wheel* Sport Seats * 17" Fuchs (r) * 3.4 * 964 Cams * 915 * LSD * Factory SS * Turbo Tie Rods * Bilsteins * Euro Pre-Muff * SW Chip on 4K DME * NGK * Sienes GSK * Targa Body Brace PCA/POC |
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If you do that to H1's the concours people will murder you in your sleep...
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Quote:
Ha Ha, True very True ![]() In any case, it's your project brother
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'85 Carrera Targa Factory Marble Grey/Black * Turbo Tail * 930 Steering Wheel* Sport Seats * 17" Fuchs (r) * 3.4 * 964 Cams * 915 * LSD * Factory SS * Turbo Tie Rods * Bilsteins * Euro Pre-Muff * SW Chip on 4K DME * NGK * Sienes GSK * Targa Body Brace PCA/POC |
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You might email this guy:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/ He might know of a professional lighting restoration firm in North America that could handle the job. Hey, you could always go back to USA equipment sealed beams. ![]()
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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It worth trying a non abrasive cleaner called NOXON. Sold at most supermarkets.
The only barrier to success may be the damage done by buffing.
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Warren & Ron, may you rest in Peace. |
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Reflector refinishing/resilvering services: http://www.stevesautorestorations.com/headlight.php
Steve's Auto Restorations 4440 S.E. 174th Ave Portland, OR 97236 Phone: 503.665.2222
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Warren & Ron, may you rest in Peace. Last edited by RickM; 11-11-2007 at 03:38 PM.. |
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That's got to do the trick, no?
INCH BRASS STEEL 2 $40.00 $50.00 3 $54.00 $67.00 3 1/2 $56.00 $70.00 4 $58.00 $73.00 4 1/2 $61.00 $76.00 5 $63.00 $79.00 5 1/2 $71.00 $89.00 6 $78.00 $98.00 6 1/2 $82.00 $103.00 7 $87.00 $109.00 Well at least the concourse judges will not freak out ![]()
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'85 Carrera Targa Factory Marble Grey/Black * Turbo Tail * 930 Steering Wheel* Sport Seats * 17" Fuchs (r) * 3.4 * 964 Cams * 915 * LSD * Factory SS * Turbo Tie Rods * Bilsteins * Euro Pre-Muff * SW Chip on 4K DME * NGK * Sienes GSK * Targa Body Brace PCA/POC |
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