DIY - Restoring Headlights

A lot of cars have headlights with sun damage, you all know what they look like. They are an ugly shade of yellow and don't produce much light output.

So here is how we fix them...
For headlights that are not very damaged, follow STAGE 1
For headlights with apparent mild damage, follow STAGE 2
For headlights with major damage, follow STAGE 3

STAGE 1

Wash your clear lenses. 
Completely dry with towel.

Polish them by hand using a microfiber towel and Meguiar's Plastx.
To keep from future yellowing, apply a wax or a headlight protectant wax. 

STAGE 2

Completely wash your yellowing lenses. 
Completely dry with towel.

Tape off the paint around the headlight so you don't damage it. Opening the hood will make it easier.

Once the paint has been taped off you will now need to wet sand the lenses. To wet sand, make sure you use 2000 grit sand paper. (you can also start with 1000 grit sand paper and then 2000 grit to remove slight damage quicker)
Wet sand means sanding with the sand paper that is wet at all times.

After the lenses have been sanded you must polish them to perfect clarity. To do this, we will need a drill, Mother's power ball, and Meguiar's PlastX.

Attach the power ball to the drill and apply PlastX to the lens, polish until the lens is completely clear. When finished the lenses will look brand new and allow the light to completely shine through.

To keep from future yellowing, apply a wax or headlight protectant wax.

 STAGE 3

Completely wash your severely damaged lenses
Completely dry with towel.

Tape off the paint around the headlight so you don't damage it. Opening the hood will make it easier.

Wet sand the lenses.
Depending on how damaged they are you may need to start with a grit as low as 500 and work your way up, but where you start is up to you and depends on damage.

Available sandpaper grits:
500
600
800
1000
1200
1500
2000
2500
3000
Wetsand in only one direction for every grit.
For example, 500 grit left to right, 600 grit up and down, 800 grit left to right, and continue alternating until you are done.
You are finished with a grit level when the scratches are all going in one direction.

Because you have had to remove a bit of material to fix your damaged lights, we will not be polishing them, but instead degreasing and applying a coat of UV protectant clear coat paint.
Duplicolor Headlight Restoration Kit HLR100 :

This kit contains both the degreaser polish and UV protectant paint.
The reason we don't need to polish is because we are using paint and the paint will fill the fine scratched left behind and also provide something for the paint to attach to.
The end result will be completely clear and brand new looking.

Follow the directions in the kit.
All information is advise and I am not responsible for what you do on your own.

DIY - How to make a cold smoker

Cold smokers are used to cook all sorts of meats and cheeses. The first thing you will need to do is gather the right supplies. Making one can be very simple.

Supplies:
A grinder, and a drill with drill bit (size bit is mentioned in directions)
aluminum foil
one number 10 can (it is basically a giant bean can)

an electric charcoal starter (some use a soldering iron but they don't work as good)

you will also need a place to cook the food, you can use a barbecue,or whatever you like, i use a gas smoker that never really put out a good amount of smoke until i made this, now it works great!


Directions:
1. First open the number 10 can with a can opener and remove what ever is inside (beans or whatever) and wash it out.

2. Now get your charcoal starter and figure out what size hole you will need to make. Measure the width and thickness of the heat tubes.

3. Once you find the measurements of the charcoal starter, you need to find a drill bit that is a little bit thicker than the thickness of the heat tube on the charcoal starter.
4. With the correct size drill bit, drill a hole in the can towards the very bottom. then drill another hole at the same width of the charcoal starter away from the first hole.

5. Now we will use a grinder to cut the remainder of the can in between the two drilled holes, creating a rectangular opening that the charcoal starter can fit in.

Test:
To test the smoker, place the charcoal starter in the can through the cut slot.

Place the can and charcoal starter in your barbecue or whatever you are using.

Now fill the can with flavored wood (any you would like).
Next plug in the charcoal starter and cover the top of the can with aluminum foil but make sure to leave a little opening for the smoke to travel out from.(i didn't put on foil for the picture, but it really does help when you want to control the smoke)

As soon as you see smoke coming out of the can you can unplug the charcoal starter unless using wood chips soaked in water then you will need to leave it plugged in a while. You want just the right amount of smoke, but that is up to you.
Close your barbecue and you will be good to start smoking.

Note: since this is a cold smoker you can throw the power cord into the barbecue and it will not get ruined, or if you want to cut a hole in your barbecue for the cord to go out; then you can use it as a hot smoker as well, it is up to you.

Smoking:
Place your newly made cold smoking can at the bottom of your barbecue on the opposite side of where your food will cook. make sure all of the vents on your barbecue are closed except the one closest to your food.

This way all the smoke flows through your food and then out.

Now you can place cheese and different meats on the rack in your barbecue close to the open vent and you have your own home made cold smoker that makes some great tasting food.

Links:
here are two links that describe the different types of wood you can use with different types of food.
http://www.cbbqa.org/wiki/index.php?title=BBQ_FAQ:_Wood_for_Smoking
or
http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/Woods.htm

Build this at your own risk, the use of sharp tools are required.