hey guys, I could use some advice on headlight restoration.

the other day I saw a video on restoring faded yellow headlights. The video shows how to wet sand the headlights with fine grit sandpaper to remove the yellow from the plastic, and then apply a few coats of clear coat to seal it. They headlights in the video turned out beutifully clear. I gave this a shot yeserday, but it did not turn out as i hoped. my headlights now look twice as hazey as they did before i started. I'm relatively sure i know what i did wrong: I used 800 grit sandpaper instead of the recommended 2000 grit, and I used the wrong type of clear coat. Both headlights have pretty sever orange peel, so I'm planning on picking up some 2000 grit sandpaper tonight, any suggestions on better clear coat? the stuff i used was Krylon something or other, ill post pics of the can and the headlights in a few. any advice is appreciated.

 

Unfortunately once they get to the point where the lens is yellow, there's nothing you can do. You can sand, polish, buff to get the haze out & make the lens clear again but you can't get the yellow out, that's UV damage.

When my headlights get to the point where they start to get oxidized, I polish & wax my headlights every car wash. This prevents getting to the point having to wet sand & I don't bother with clearcoat as clear coat will eventually fade, oxidize, or turn yellow also (yes even if the clear you use states non yellowing formula if you live in an area with hot sunny weather). Then when the lenses eventually do get yellow to the point where I don't like it, I replace the headlights. About every 5-8 yrs or so for me.

 

I just restored the headlights on my daughter's truck. I used a kit from Osram Sylvania and it contained 400, 1000, 2000 grit sandpaper, rubbing compound, UV protectant that seemed very similar to tung oil, and a softener/cleaner that had alcohol in it.

The process was to spray the alcohol cleaner and let it sit for 30 seconds, then wet sand with 400, then 1000, finally 2000 grits. The finer grits took a longer time - 5 minutes at least. Keeping the lens wet. Compound and then I used an Autobody rubbing polish on a buffer. Finally, reclean with the alcohol cleaner and apply the UV protectant. Let dry without exposure to H2O for 6 hours.

 

i feel you, i just wanted to try to make them look halfway decent until i can afford some new ones. the previous owner installed aftermarket ones and i really like them

 

where did you get that kit? that sounds cool

 

I'd get some 1000 and 2000 wet dry along with a bottle of Wizards Turbo cut compound. Fill a pail with water, add one drop of dish soap, soak the paper for a minute and wet sand for several minutes. Change to the finer grit and repeat. Use medium pressure. Wash the lens off, dry and compound with just a dab of it. A little goes a long way. Start with lighter pressure and work to a firm pressure.

kit was from Amazon

 

Buy a kit from any auto store. Has sand paper (multi grits), polishing compound and clear coat.

 

Do you have before and after pics? Prep is key. 400 for heavily oxidized or 800 if average. Make sure you use a good wax remover/bug remover or alcohol and keep the paper and lens wet during sanding. Gotta work up through the grits 400 800 1200 2000 and then maybe higher. Clean up between sands. After sands good final clean and make sure all dust residue etc is off. Then if youre happy with the look and you're gonna do it clear them. If you clear it's gonna need a buffing/polishing.

But yeah if they are really far gone you're not gonna get back to the original clarity/color. Try on a pair that's in better shape and see if your results are better.

 

I used chemical guys kit https://www.chemicalguys.com/Headlight_Paint_Water_Sanding_Block_Restoratio_p/flex_443_9.htm
The steps I did were
1. Clean
2. Wet sand with 2500 until no more milky crap came off
3. Wet sand with 3500
4. Polish with an aggressive polish
5. Polish again with polish/much less aggressive polish
6. Apply sealant

Here’s a before and after of my moms rav4 (I had already started wet sanding when (I remembered to take a pic)

 

Woah that's what I'm talking about. Yeah, I definitely need some finer sandpaper. Thanks for the link, I might try that one

 

I’ve done 3 sets of headlights so far with it and have been totally amazed with the results. You would need some polishing pads and either a drill with their attachments or a polisher/buffer. They have some videos on the link that I posted showing exactly how to do it

 

x2. I have done a process similar to this on my past beater cars. I think the OP process was flawed from the start was due to not using a coarse enough grit of sandpaper such as 400 grit. I usually do 400, 800, 1000, 2000, then meguire polishing compound and results are pretty good. I would never recommend the use of any clear coat spray.

 

Mothers mag and aluminum polish and a power cone. Clean them with alcohol and then apply wax.

 

I agree with this. Once the factory clear coat has diminished from age, lack of protection or from restoring the headlights; the best thing to do IMHO is use a good sealant or better a nano silica spray or coating. There are tons of options out there so search around Amazon or autogeek.net These products soak into the plastic acting almost like a clear coat. To maintain this coating you typically only have to re-apply every 6 - 12 months depending on the product you use.

In my case; I ended up replacing my factory headlights for a different look, but before I installed the new set I applied Opti-Coat Gloss ( https://www.amazon.com/OPT-Optimum-...UTF8&qid=1532007605&sr=8-1&keywords=optigloss ) and maintain that base coating by spritzing Opti-Seal (

Optimum Opti-Seal, 8 oz - 3 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-OPT-...=UTF8&qid=1532007656&sr=1-3&keywords=optiseal ) once a month.

Keep in mind, both of these products can be used on the entire vehicle; not just headlights.

 

There used to be a kit I’ve used twice at Wal Mart. It was about 18 or 19 bucks. Came with a soft pad that round sanding discs attatched to. Same process as other guys are saying. The grits got finer. It worked wonderful. Can’t find it on there website but it is in the automotive department with fiberglass and things like that.

 

Once you have cleared them up, rather than spraying with clear I would use a UV stabilizing headlight protectant designed for the purpose. It does become a maintenance item once you sand the UV coating off your lights.

Meguiar's G17804 Keep Clear Headlight Coating, 4 oz.

$14 Meguiar's Keep Clear Headlight Coating, Maintain Like-New Clarity of Your Headlights with an Easy-to-Use Formula and UV Protection that Lasts All Year Long, 4 Ounce Aerosol

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M4RVVX6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5BkuBbWD090CR

 

I would probably buy new headlights. My reasoning being between the 800 grit sand job and the now 2000 grit sandjob youll have to do you probably have worn off nearly all the UV protective coating in the lens so even with a good headlight coating you likely will get rehazing.

I would not paint your headlight lenses. #1 they were not intended to be painted #2 the paint will oxidize just as fast as the sanded down lens.
Opti makes a permanent headlight coating thats great for preventing hazing lights or coating ones you have just sanded. Sanded headlights will oxidize much faster than the original lens these coatings prevent that.

This is also why I would buy new lenses. Quality lens coatings are expensive. To keep applying them on faded sanded headlights is expensive and time consuming.

I would replace the headlights and care for them properly to avoid hazing. Probably easier and cheaper.

Sanding headlights is always a risk because it removes the UV protected plastic from the lens.

If you do sand them again I would definitely not paint the outside of the lens. Buy a coating intended for headlight protection.

 

I have successfully used the Turtle Wax kit for headlights. It was about $ 15 and did a good job. The whole process for the two headlights took about 20 min.

 

You can use Walmart stuff just be prepared for the to haze back over quickly. Need to use something besides wax on them. Wax will not last.

 

Is there something a guy could do to prevent all this sun damage in the first place?