Headlight sealing after restoration?

**SayNoToPistons** · 07-21-2009, 09:34 PM

I recently restored a pair of headlights. They weren`t in terrible condition but showed signs of hazing and yellowing. I used 2000 grit sand paper then SSR 2.5 with a 4" pad on a PC. It turned out great.

Now the question is... What is the best and more durable way to seal the headlights? I am sure that the headlights came with some sort of protective coating which deteriorated over time. I`m looking for more than just a simple LSP one would use on paint because it doesn`t seem like it would do an adequate job on plastic headlights.... Or does it?

**imported_sal329** · 07-22-2009, 04:11 PM

Im not sure what the "best" is but I use 3 coats of FK 1000p

**heatgain** · 07-22-2009, 06:10 PM

I`ve used Collinite 845, Krylon Clear spray gloss, and other paint sealants. All in the past 6-7 months. No problems yet. My next try is going to be the 50/50 of mineral spirits and valspar clear gloss acrylic.

**SayNoToPistons** · 07-22-2009, 07:20 PM

How does Krylon look on the lens? I do not want any sort of film that might affect the appearance or lighting.

**heatgain** · 07-25-2009, 11:30 AM

The Krylon sort of diffused the clarity a bit, bringing me a 1/4 step backwards. I then polished the Krylon coating to restore the clarity a bit. The car owner was thrilled with the results, but although it was a HUGE improvement, I was a little less than thrilled.

Of course, I`m no expert rattle can painter, so maybe it was the way I applied it?

Not sure, but after seeing that little bit of diffusion, I knew my search for a perfect sealant hadn`t ended.

My next set of headlights will get the Valspar/mineral spirit mix.

**SayNoToPistons** · 08-02-2009, 12:16 AM

Keep me updated on the results. It seems like the oxidation on the headlights I polished is coming back after a few weeks.

**Vandit** · 08-05-2009, 11:09 PM

Heatgain, is this the type of Krylon you used on the headlights?

Krylon® UV-Resistant Spray â€“ Clear Gloss ~ Fixatives

What kind of prep, aside from wet sanding, did you do prior to applying the clear? How long did you wait for the clear to dry before polishing?

**heatgain** · 08-06-2009, 05:44 PM

That`s exactly the Krylon I used. I waited about 45 minutes, hoping it would get a little clearer as it dried. Then I polished.

**tquill** · 08-19-2009, 08:40 AM

Is it possible to restore headlights by hand without a orbital buffer? I have 2000 grit sand paper but I don`t have a buffer.

**DM101** · 08-19-2009, 12:21 PM

Yes but you will have a lot of work to do. You need some type of polish like McGuiars Scratch X, or better Men. SIP. Use Plexus Plastic Cleaner to maintain a clear finish.

Originally Posted by tquill

Is it possible to restore headlights by hand without a orbital buffer? I have 2000 grit sand paper but I don`t have a buffer.

**tquill** · 08-19-2009, 12:27 PM

Should I still use the sand paper though? I did a little test spot with the sand paper and it definitely fogged the area up a bit. If I followed it with scratch X or Plexus plastic cleaner would that shine it up again?

**DM101** · 08-19-2009, 01:21 PM

When you follow up with the polish it will become clear again. Good luck, been there, done that.

Originally Posted by tquill

Should I still use the sand paper though? I did a little test spot with the sand paper and it definitely fogged the area up a bit. If I followed it with scratch X or Plexus plastic cleaner would that shine it up again?

**JasonS** · 08-19-2009, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by tquill

Should I still use the sand paper though? I did a little test spot with the sand paper and it definitely fogged the area up a bit. If I followed it with scratch X or Plexus plastic cleaner would that shine it up again?

Plexus is a great product for cleaning, protectant and maintaining a clear finish but it will not remove sanding scratches. We recommend using a drill or machine polisher, foam pads and plastic polishes to restore the shine and clarity.

Take a look at the Headlight Restoration Guides at Autogeek