Yellow headlight

Hey guys, I’m wondering if you know any good ways to seal the headlights after a polish. I’ve been doing the polish / wax method but it’s doesn't last too long. Here’s a pic of today, couldn’t find my orbital polisher so it’s about 10mins per headlight by hand

 

3m makes a pretty good resto kit, its available at O'Reilly's. It should have the sealer compound that goes on after the cut/buff

 

I used the

$23 SYLVANIA - Headlight Restoration Kit - 3 Easy Steps to Restore Sun Damaged Headlights with Exclusive UV Block Clear Coat, Light Output and Beam Pattern Restored, Long Lasting Headlight Restorer Kit

Sylvania Headlight Restoration kit this past weekend, worked a charm. It includes the new UV coat that goes on after the sanding and polishing. $20, but it's the entire kit, and I didn't already have any of the stuff.'

I can say I might've been a little heavy-handed with the 400 grit first step, as there were some swirls left over that I couldn't get out with the 1000/2000. Nothing serious though.

 

Wet sand from 1000-2000 grit. From there you can do one of two things:

1. Buff with plasti-x and aggressive pad on a DA or rotary buffer. I use a Makita rotary @ 5000 with a wool pad. Apply Meguiar's cleaner carnauba wax with applicator pad and let dry to a haze and wipe off with microfiber cloth. Takes a few passes to really clear it up. Lasts me about 4-6 months here in the extreme UV and heat we have in Texas.

2. Reclear with Spraymax 2k clearcoat after wetsanding to 2000 grit. Utilize Spraymax by going light on first two coats and then 2-3 thick coats but do not let it run. Let cure overnight.

I find re-clearing the headlights gives you more longevity with the lenses but may have to be redone in 2-3 years and any extreme weather conditions may present a situation where you will have to buff them once a year.

 

Yeah I’m not really looking for an entire kit, the polishing seems to be adequate, I’m just trying to find uv protectant coatings that I can put on afterwards

 

Here's a picture I took after the plasti-x buffing and before wax. The wax really helps in keeping your newly polished headlight nice and clear.

 

spraying them with clear has the best results imo, I used to wet sand and polish but then switched to clear coat and its way better and lasts way longer.

 

The BEST method to keep them looking good after you polish them, is to apply clear PPF (paint protection film). Your lens will not oxidize with film applied, lasts as long as the film. I am on 6 years so far on a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Xpel makes cut-to-fit kits specific to vehicles, so you can do it yourself. Just like applying window tint. I did not use a kit for my Tacoma, I had a professional put clear PPF film on the headlights and fogs when he tinted the front windows.

 

3m makes a wipe you use after restoration.
I used the one supplied in the kit. But I believe you can buy the wipes individually.

$14 3M Quick Headlight Clear Coat, Cleans and Prevents Lens Yellowing, 39173, 1 Kit

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Quick-Headlight-Clear-39173

 

I used Opti Lens before and it worked great.

 

Product just for that purpose:
https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/keep-clear-headlight-coating

 

I’ve been leaning towards this, I’ve seen a few people mention this and there a few guys that apply ppf locally. Maybe buff them really good then apply it. I mean it shouldn’t oxidize if it’s sealed like that

 

Little update: decided to try plastx, the reviews don’t lie.

 

had my paint and body guy, sand with 1000 then 2000 grit. cleared with high quality automotive clear. if you take care of them like you do you paint they should last for years with no issues.

 

On my Corolla, I used the Meguiar's clear coat afterward. Just mask off an area around it and spray it on. After polish, I wiped the lenses really well with alcohol to remove any wax or foreign residue.

 

All these headlight restore kit tend to go back again. Get a good set of oem off craigslist or if u dont mind aftermarket.