09-13-2019, 07:09 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Waco, Texas
Posts: 406
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Best product for resealing headlights after restoration?
I finally spent the time to clean the headlights on my car after 100k miles and 20 or so years of being on the road. The lights had 3m protection film on it when I bought it and it lasted another 4-5 years until it was starting to degrade and yellow and I removed it. I have noticed it left a slight yellowing to the lights in places almost like an adhesive but not something you could clean off...just like an etching. After the restoration, that is all finally gone now and they are almost as good as new but I know that the UV inhibitor and protection is gone and would like to put whatever works best back on there to protect them from the elements. I may do the protection film eventually but for now I am looking for whatever UV protection product will work...any products based off experience you would recommend? Thanks.
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09-13-2019, 07:21 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 243
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I'd ceramic coat them. Not one of the dozens of spray on coatings that have appeared lately, but something like CQuartz. But it won't last year's on plastic.
So for most people, probably best to get something like McKees 37.
__________________
2001 Boxster S, TipTronic in Seal Grey aka "The Imp"
2001 TE50, ESS in (now) Grigio Titanio Matallizzato aka "The Golden child"
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09-13-2019, 07:26 PM
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#3
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Custom User Title Here
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,164
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Anything off the shelf is low grade, at best. Most are useless.
Call around to some paint shops and see what they’ll charge to spray them with automotive UV clear coat. It will last as long as the original.
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09-13-2019, 07:34 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 243
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I'm going to respectfully disagree with clear coating them.
Unless there's now clear coats that are engineered to go on top of plastic instead of paint?
__________________
2001 Boxster S, TipTronic in Seal Grey aka "The Imp"
2001 TE50, ESS in (now) Grigio Titanio Matallizzato aka "The Golden child"
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09-13-2019, 08:47 PM
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#5
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Custom User Title Here
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,164
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2k automotive clear coat sticks great to polycarbonate and will last as long as the original clear if applied correctly. It’s certainly much, much better than a wipe on or rattle can solution.
I haven’t used or looked in to the ceramic and I’m not saying it’s a worse option.
Mine look terrible after 5 years, right?
(Sorry for the poor quality photo. It’s dark out.)
Last edited by particlewave; 09-13-2019 at 10:21 PM.
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09-13-2019, 08:50 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Bastrop, Tx
Posts: 2,644
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Quote:
Originally Posted by particlewave
Anything off the shelf is low grade, at best. Most are useless.
Call around to some paint shops and see what they’ll charge to spray them with automotive UV clear coat. It will last as long as the original.
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X2. I sprayed an automotive clear over my headlights over 3 years ago and they still look brand new. The front of my car gets a daily dose of Texas sun too
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Woody
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12-08-2019, 07:13 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,631
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Quote:
Originally Posted by itsnotanova
X2. I sprayed an automotive clear over my headlights over 3 years ago and they still look brand new. The front of my car gets a daily dose of Texas sun too
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Hi Woody, I'm working on a pair of headlights and when I'm finished I'm going to use this Eastwood 2k clear for the UV sealing. When I get the lenses completely clear and scratch free, should I then go back and wet sand them with 800 grit again before spraying them?
__________________
Current: 2022 718 Cayman GT4, PDK bone stock (the dark side).
Former: 2003 S, 3.6 LN Nickies, ARP rod bolts, under-drive pulley, Fabspeed sport headers, Softronic tune, 987 airbox 987 motor mount, Function-First Sport motor mount insert, Ben's short shifter, Nine8Six projector headlights & center caps, ROW M030, stainless flexible brake lines, B-K rollbar extension & fire extinguisher mount, hardtop
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12-08-2019, 07:25 PM
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#8
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Need For Speed
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Funville
Posts: 2,112
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulE
Hi Woody, I'm working on a pair of headlights and when I'm finished I'm going to use this Eastwood 2k clear for the UV sealing. When I get the lenses completely clear and scratch free, should I then go back and wet sand them with 800 grit again before spraying them?
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No, 800 grit would leave deep scratches. Use 2000 to 3000 grit.
__________________
2003 Boxster S
| 987 Air Box | K&N Air Filter | 76mm Intake Pipe| 996 76mm TB | 997 Distribution T | Secondary Cat Delete Pipes | Borla Muffler | NHP 200 Cell Exhaust Headers |
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12-08-2019, 07:38 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,631
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KRAM36
No, 800 grit would leave deep scratches. Use 2000 to 3000 grit.
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Thanks I thought I saw 800 somewhere. If the lenses are polished after the 2000 or 3000 will they be too smooth for the clear coat to adhere?
__________________
Current: 2022 718 Cayman GT4, PDK bone stock (the dark side).
Former: 2003 S, 3.6 LN Nickies, ARP rod bolts, under-drive pulley, Fabspeed sport headers, Softronic tune, 987 airbox 987 motor mount, Function-First Sport motor mount insert, Ben's short shifter, Nine8Six projector headlights & center caps, ROW M030, stainless flexible brake lines, B-K rollbar extension & fire extinguisher mount, hardtop
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12-08-2019, 08:21 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Bastrop, Tx
Posts: 2,644
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1500 or 2000 is fine. It's very important that you do very light coats and leave time for them to dry in between coats. If you put it on too heavy the clear will get spider cracks.
__________________
Woody
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12-08-2019, 08:27 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Bastrop, Tx
Posts: 2,644
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Once you get enough light coats on, then you can start laying it on thicker so you get less orange peal.
__________________
Woody
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12-09-2019, 03:12 AM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,631
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Thanks Woody!
__________________
Current: 2022 718 Cayman GT4, PDK bone stock (the dark side).
Former: 2003 S, 3.6 LN Nickies, ARP rod bolts, under-drive pulley, Fabspeed sport headers, Softronic tune, 987 airbox 987 motor mount, Function-First Sport motor mount insert, Ben's short shifter, Nine8Six projector headlights & center caps, ROW M030, stainless flexible brake lines, B-K rollbar extension & fire extinguisher mount, hardtop
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