Science Abuse
Active LVC Member
Polished headlights always fog back up, I was wondering if anyone has tried coating them with something to protect the oldass plastic from oxidization? Be it spray Polyurethane or a marine coating.
Headlight polishing; has anyone tried coating them?
- Thread starter Science Abuse
- Start date
KStromberg
Dedicated LVC Member
Crystal View headlight restoration kit from Wally World or Autozone. It's about $20, comes in a foil pouch and has a quick drying clear agent that is applied as a last and final step that replaces the old uv coating. Better than any kit I have tried yet simply because most other kits are inferior because of the reason that you mentioned. Polishing is polishing and not a long-term solution like the Crystal View kit. Try it and be amazed. I was. 
Moes8
Dedicated LVC Member
i used clearcoat spray on a previous car, worked well for the 4-5 years i had it.
keatonsdad
Dedicated LVC Member
Use a good sealer/wax apply it when you wax the car.
KStromberg
Dedicated LVC Member
+1 That works well too. Replacing the damaged uv coating is key.
ForeverScrewed
Active LVC Member
Crystal View headlight restoration kit from Wally World or Autozone. It's about $20, comes in a foil pouch and has a quick drying clear agent that is applied as a last and final step that replaces the old uv coating. Better than any kit I have tried yet simply because most other kits are inferior because of the reason that you mentioned. Polishing is polishing and not a long-term solution like the Crystal View kit. Try it and be amazed. I was.
The Turtle Wax kit works well too. It comes with 4 sanding pads, plastic polish, some kind of spray agent (????) and a clear agent that you apply at the end. Costs about 10 bucks. The clear agent is a one time use pad, but you definitely won't use all the plastic polish in one sitting.
Stangman
Project car a.d.d.
I just put about 2 coats of good wax. Works quite well for me and my LSC housings, and countless mustang lights I've done
Frankencougie
Active LVC Member
I used Optimum Opti-Coat 2 sealer for the projector project I'm working on. A couple drops is all it takes. Its a very hard sealer that can only be removed by polishing etc.
-Scott
-Scott
lincolnboy
Dedicated LVC Member
+3 on waxing. Its luke clear coat on paint. The lenses have some kind of uv ray protectant on them. Use wax after polishing them
ahicks70
LVC Member
I have been using SEM 21013 solaray uv aerosol for a few years with great results.
philly0420
Dedicated LVC Member
Black diamond fire sealant is what I use. Smells great.
beerdog
Well-Known LVC Member
Science Abuse
Active LVC Member
A pet shop can set you up with a UV bulb.
beerdog
Well-Known LVC Member
They say to use a professional body shop grade UV light. The one they sell is $200.
the1andonlyGR81
Dedicated LVC Member
+1 used the turtle wax kit after the powerball from mothers. i just hadto have the attatchment for the cordless, they started to haze after3 months, saw the turtlewax kit with sealer used powerball with mothers, then turtlewax, then used lens sealer. now ive got light apart toying with projector idea,and another,including custom bumper,just have absolutely no money,none, i'm so broke i cant pay attention!
Lownslowlsc
Dedicated LVC Member
After the initial sanding a 2-3 years back all I have to use now is Mothers plastic polish and a drill attachment to buff it out. Did mine last summer and they still look great. I'd prob pass on doing them this year but ya gotta maintain them.
ahicks70
LVC Member
The SEM clear cures either with the uv light or about 10 minutes in the sun on a nice day. Just sand the old coating off with 1500 wet paper, blow it dry and clear.
keatonsdad
Dedicated LVC Member
ahicks70
LVC Member
I'm still around, i just dont get much time to post....
TheBigRedOne
Well-Known LVC Member
I had a guy do my headlights and he sanded them down (not sure of the grit) then clear coated them with what they use on paint and it looks great. I couldn't believe it when they went from being cloudy from the sanding to perfectly clear.
KStromberg
Dedicated LVC Member
That's what the body shop did to my driver's side headlight and 4 years later that headlight is still clear as day and looks new. And that's exactly why I believe in clear coating as a last and final step when reconditioning headlights. Polish will wear off, clear coat stays there for years.
Science Abuse
Active LVC Member
Went with the Turtle Was kit, thanks for all the recommendations.
I advise not opening that sealer patch until you've buffed all of the lights you're going to buff. I managed to do 6 lamps in my stable instead of just 1 or 2.
First pic is just the buffing, last is with the coating.
I advise not opening that sealer patch until you've buffed all of the lights you're going to buff. I managed to do 6 lamps in my stable instead of just 1 or 2.
First pic is just the buffing, last is with the coating.
KStromberg
Dedicated LVC Member
That looks fantastic!
SCTBIRD1173
Active LVC Member
Nice job!
I have the Turtle Wax kit too but I had better luck with the 3M kit.
I have the Turtle Wax kit too but I had better luck with the 3M kit.