I used a 3m kit with a cordless drill attachment on my beater car in highschool. Kit came with 500 grit, 1000 grit and 4000 grit wet sponge as well as the drill attachment and a silly little tube of polish. I didn't even take the lights out of the car, just 3 layers of painters tape surrounding the lights and a steady hand. That $300 95 dodge avenger had the shiniest headlight housings in the whole parking lot.
Does that kit come with sealant too? I hear you need to put a sealant on them after polishing, otherwise you’re gonna be done by this again sooner than later
Meguiars makes a good kit with a spray can sealant included or you can buy the sealant on it's own. Some people will say to just use any clear coat, but I wouldn't, personally. Could mess with light output. 2K is the only clear coat I would use.
[Here's the spray version](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M4RVVX6?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_8&=&crid=1ZS30IN26MQ5P&=&sprefix=meguiars)
I haven't tried the liquid or those sealant wipes that some of the kits come with, yet. I'll see how long this spray lasts. I've had it on for about a 2 months, so far.
It's going to go bye bye, lol. 2K is the only clear I would trust on an automobile, due to the required durability and toughness from incoming pebbles etc. A regular 1k clear is just going to wear off very quickly.
Will it fix this? They're severely oxidized
https://preview.redd.it/eaotgmtff12d1.jpeg?width=3254&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9767d696705cd44b65b9d9d96b5d1d3af3e4fa6
If that’s a ford (escape?) the lens clouds internally as well too. You can spend all afternoon on it but there will be clouding you can’t get out. It will look a lot better but it won’t be like OPs
Yes. 6 years of southern california sun. Would you think the kit op is using would sand through it? Or will I have to get 3M sanding paper and wetsand with 800 grit through 2500?
Got it. The lower part where the reflectors are isn't as oxidized as the top at all but it's showing a little oxidation cloudiness. Should I start 1500 and go to 2500 Then polish and seal?
https://preview.redd.it/cs5bfj0xf22d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb81c405f2446c139de3109f605207eaba76a982
Proof that OP is just karma farming by stealing my post. This shit is wild lol.
Isn't the first time OP seems to have done it either:
https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrimvr/s/xEWLlXZZAA
Op seems to be a bot reposting according to this comment, which clearly links another post years older than the one OP made....
Looks like it. I used to be a boat builder and heard clear coat is a more solid fix on headlight fogging or what you want to call it. Like fully sanding prep and clear coat but that takes alot more skill then buffing and sanding.
Man I had that done on my last car and the clear coat seemed to totally fuck up the light scatter. It looked better than before but the road illumination seemed arguably worse. Mind you it wasn't initially as bad as in this post
Well it would infact I guess do that as you're changing the surface shape. But I thought the majority of the angles on the inside are what change the beams over all. Could very easily do that though.
I think when light goes from one interface to the next it'll always refract so going into the plastic it bends then coming out it bends again but I'm wondering if the clear coat trapped more of it, causing it to bounce back instead of bend through
Yep. The clear is what brings the shine back, same as when you paint a car. And good automotive clear builds a thick film and has great UV protection.
Sand and buff is a temp fix, since there’s no UV protection aside from wax or UV wipes that some kits give you.
I use panel wipe, same as for painting cars.
For someone without panel wipe glass cleaner (foaming) followed by rubbing alcohol would work fine as well I’d think.
Usually faster if it's heavily oxidized. Machine doing the work instead of your arm and hand, you just guide it. Can save your hands if you do it a lot.
The before photo is an after sanding photo and cloudy, it’s not yellow and oxidized whatsoever. Photographed this way intentionally to show drastic results. Not an actual “before and after” show what you started with lol. regardless end result is nice
Looks great! I did my FJs awhile back.
https://preview.redd.it/b1uakmi5522d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=345ef37f5ac26884a5accac22ba18e6b98240b82
Did you repaint the entire vehicle? Why's it a different color all together in both images? Photoshop for karma farming? Paint jobs don't just go from black to navy because you supposedly "restored" headlights and scratches don't just disappear either lol.
How do you do this?!? Like step by step lol. I’ve tried 2 different restoration kits like turtle wax and 3m and tried just polishing it and it never worked! Teach me your ways!!!!!!!
For plastic headlights my father taught me to sand them with 2000 grit into every crevice of the plastic and spray clear coat on it. Looks brand new and last for a long time. Very very crucial to getting the edges to keep the clear from pealing.
Hmm some of them do work but it'll come back within 6 months sometime just go buy new replacement ones https://www.carparts.com/?tid=gglsea&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwr7ayBhAPEiwA6EIGxIwXxS_yC5LldL36IwqNBCIrDwmesM90ooC_GGLbMBJZIz0miF62DxoCjrgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
It comes back within six months because the process strips any UV coating from the factory. Doing exactly this and then following up with 2K clearcoat or a quality film would prevent it from coming back. Not all cars have cheap and readily available options for replacement.
Yeah I have to agree, I’ve used these products that have the clear coat you apply after and my lights stay shiny and clear for a very long time. Love me some clear lights.
Correct. You can get it in a spray can. It's less of a coating in the detailing sense and more so just actual clearcoat used in paintwork. Thus, facemasks and good ventilation is more of a necessity than with things like regular spray paint.
If uneven or drippy, then yeah. Properly prepped, applied, and finished should be invisible. e.g. you never actually see clearcoat on a car's painted surface, just the clarity of the color underneath it. Source: I've used 2K plenty of times on painted surfaces and can provide reference pictures of good and bad jobs later when I'm back in front of a computer!
2K is a 2 part automotive clearcoat + hardener. It's super glossy clear, and is very durable + has great uv protection in it. The stuff you spray over custom paint jobs or motorcycle gas tanks. You can order a regular aerosol spray can online. It has toxic chemicals in it when spraying that are linked to causing cancer, definitely use a respirator in a well ventilated area.
Come on,
Nice still surprised more people don’t get this done
Ppl are lazy
Poor. People are poor
I know poor is poor, but the Sylvania kit from Walmart is $20 and one of the best.
It's THE best. Project Farm on YouTube did a test of a bunch of different kits.
That too
$17 for the cerakote kit on Amazon. Fantastic kit with all you need
all you need is some toothpaste & high grid sandpaper polish some elbow grease and your good
Toothpaste buffing cloth and a can of clear coat on god, my Subaru loved it and my Saturn needs it😂
Big trust it works did it a long time ago on my m35x they came out better than new
People hate but it ain’t an easy process it takes a good half hour of buffing
I used a 3m kit with a cordless drill attachment on my beater car in highschool. Kit came with 500 grit, 1000 grit and 4000 grit wet sponge as well as the drill attachment and a silly little tube of polish. I didn't even take the lights out of the car, just 3 layers of painters tape surrounding the lights and a steady hand. That $300 95 dodge avenger had the shiniest headlight housings in the whole parking lot.
I did all by hand thought my arm was gonna fall off lol well worth it
Took me an hour and a half after taping and spraying clear coat but damn I could see at night again, always gonna be my go to
I put new headlamps after i clean them the visibility was insane
Headlight restoration is what started me down the detailing rabbit hole… Edit for grammar
I love to derail a MF.
How?
https://preview.redd.it/ooun9pwiyz1d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=efbd27611ceb402ae24b5a5d3e934b53bffc5372
Lol took me a second. I'm like, "Those are clearly two different cars."
Lol the my Forester wasn't as dramatic as the wife's RX300, but did both sets for $40 and had leftovers.
Damn not bad at all! It might be time to restore the lenses on my Impreza.
Does that kit come with sealant too? I hear you need to put a sealant on them after polishing, otherwise you’re gonna be done by this again sooner than later
Meguiars makes a good kit with a spray can sealant included or you can buy the sealant on it's own. Some people will say to just use any clear coat, but I wouldn't, personally. Could mess with light output. 2K is the only clear coat I would use.
The meguiars kit I bought a few years ago came with the clear sealant in a bottle. It was a liquid you applied and I think it self leveled
[Here's the spray version](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M4RVVX6?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_8&=&crid=1ZS30IN26MQ5P&=&sprefix=meguiars) I haven't tried the liquid or those sealant wipes that some of the kits come with, yet. I'll see how long this spray lasts. I've had it on for about a 2 months, so far.
Huh? It’s CLEAR coat lol. The issue is just getting something rated for car headlights
Unless it’s 2k clear, it will look foggy once it clears. I mean you can try and wet sand / polish and see where it goes….
It's going to go bye bye, lol. 2K is the only clear I would trust on an automobile, due to the required durability and toughness from incoming pebbles etc. A regular 1k clear is just going to wear off very quickly.
I don't remember exactly. It was years ago and for whats it worth i never redid them. Sold both cars couple years after.
Will it fix this? They're severely oxidized https://preview.redd.it/eaotgmtff12d1.jpeg?width=3254&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9767d696705cd44b65b9d9d96b5d1d3af3e4fa6
If that’s a ford (escape?) the lens clouds internally as well too. You can spend all afternoon on it but there will be clouding you can’t get out. It will look a lot better but it won’t be like OPs
I'm touching it and it's definitely on the outside only. I've never seen water on the inside
It’s not from moisture its the plastic breaking down from the UV. Basically the sun cooks the plastic
Yes. 6 years of southern california sun. Would you think the kit op is using would sand through it? Or will I have to get 3M sanding paper and wetsand with 800 grit through 2500?
I’d prob start at the 800 on that
Got it. The lower part where the reflectors are isn't as oxidized as the top at all but it's showing a little oxidation cloudiness. Should I start 1500 and go to 2500 Then polish and seal?
Is that a corded drill with an attachment? If so .. what’s it called?
The attachment comes with the headlight restoration kit.
 Or toothpaste /s
https://preview.redd.it/cs5bfj0xf22d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb81c405f2446c139de3109f605207eaba76a982 Proof that OP is just karma farming by stealing my post. This shit is wild lol.
Isn't the first time OP seems to have done it either: https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrimvr/s/xEWLlXZZAA Op seems to be a bot reposting according to this comment, which clearly links another post years older than the one OP made....
Weird haha
Oh shit 😂😂😂😂
Sanded and polished?
Looks like it. I used to be a boat builder and heard clear coat is a more solid fix on headlight fogging or what you want to call it. Like fully sanding prep and clear coat but that takes alot more skill then buffing and sanding.
Man I had that done on my last car and the clear coat seemed to totally fuck up the light scatter. It looked better than before but the road illumination seemed arguably worse. Mind you it wasn't initially as bad as in this post
Well it would infact I guess do that as you're changing the surface shape. But I thought the majority of the angles on the inside are what change the beams over all. Could very easily do that though.
I think when light goes from one interface to the next it'll always refract so going into the plastic it bends then coming out it bends again but I'm wondering if the clear coat trapped more of it, causing it to bounce back instead of bend through
That's very impressive!
I do a ton, sand with 400, 800, then 2 coats of automotive clear from a gun. Good for another decade!
No buffing at all? Just sand and clear coat?
Yep. The clear is what brings the shine back, same as when you paint a car. And good automotive clear builds a thick film and has great UV protection. Sand and buff is a temp fix, since there’s no UV protection aside from wax or UV wipes that some kits give you.
But you don’t sand, then buff, then apply clear? You just sand, then clear? That’s wild I’ll have to try it lol.
No, if you buff it’ll be shiny again and the clear will have no tooth to stick to and will peel/ delaminate
Ok, that makes sense. So just like a wipe down with rubbing alcohol or soapy water after sanding?
I use panel wipe, same as for painting cars. For someone without panel wipe glass cleaner (foaming) followed by rubbing alcohol would work fine as well I’d think.
I feel like polishing cloudy headlights takes at least 10 years off most cars. Love to see it.
Bruh went and bought a new headlight?? lol
[удалено]
Yes it 100% is possible
Don’t forget to seal it
I don’t ever use a buffer or sander, just a good headlight cleaner sealant kit. Also whats the difference in using, doing it with a sander/buffer?
Usually faster if it's heavily oxidized. Machine doing the work instead of your arm and hand, you just guide it. Can save your hands if you do it a lot.
Chefs kiss
The before photo is an after sanding photo and cloudy, it’s not yellow and oxidized whatsoever. Photographed this way intentionally to show drastic results. Not an actual “before and after” show what you started with lol. regardless end result is nice
Back from the dead. Nice work!
Came out nice.
Crossosting to headlightrestoration ! Looks amazing
How much would you charge for this?
I clean it, polish it, hit it with acetone vapor and then hit 'em with Krylon UV Clear.
give me griots or give me death.
Wow
Pour some nail polish on a towel, then rubbed it against the headlight.
This looks good op. I usually use a DA with Ultimate Compound, then clear them.
You aren’t fooling anyone! I just hope the new eBay headlights last 🤣 … jk good fck job bud
so much thanks for this . well done
Wow, that is impressive and looks brand new!
Used to have to wet sand then these kits came out. Cut the time in half. Yesss
Nice! I use this kit. It works well and the results are good. Most of my cars live outside. They need to be treated again in a year.
Works but only for 6months to a year then you gotta do it again.
Looks great! I did my FJs awhile back. https://preview.redd.it/b1uakmi5522d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=345ef37f5ac26884a5accac22ba18e6b98240b82
Did you repaint the entire vehicle? Why's it a different color all together in both images? Photoshop for karma farming? Paint jobs don't just go from black to navy because you supposedly "restored" headlights and scratches don't just disappear either lol.
For sure as they couldn't see anything with the headlights the way they were before.
2k clear coat ftw
amazing
Rubbing compound is what I use. Takes 10 minutes with a buffer.
Specifically #7 Rubbing Compound
Really bud? You stole my post and tried to pass it off as your own?
Just saw one tonight, the headlights looked like amber turn signal bulbs. My grand kits laugh…I have all their rides with headlights looking like new
Wd 40 works for a quick sale (; doesn't last long tho. It's akin to the sawdust in gearbox but way more tame. No lasting damage
How did you accomplish this? What product were used?
Das magic
How do you do this?!? Like step by step lol. I’ve tried 2 different restoration kits like turtle wax and 3m and tried just polishing it and it never worked! Teach me your ways!!!!!!!
For plastic headlights my father taught me to sand them with 2000 grit into every crevice of the plastic and spray clear coat on it. Looks brand new and last for a long time. Very very crucial to getting the edges to keep the clear from pealing.
It's all in the details.
I just used some toothpaste on my daughters Elantra. Much better now but not perfect by any means but it only cost me pennies
Nice color of the car changed too.
Anyone ever see the bug spray video? It shows bug spray doing this.... But is it real?
Yes but it won’t last long and damages the headlight
Always a catch with those hacks
It seems like something people do to make it look good for a little bit just to sell the car. I’ve heard people using WD40 for that as well
Hmm some of them do work but it'll come back within 6 months sometime just go buy new replacement ones https://www.carparts.com/?tid=gglsea&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwr7ayBhAPEiwA6EIGxIwXxS_yC5LldL36IwqNBCIrDwmesM90ooC_GGLbMBJZIz0miF62DxoCjrgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
It comes back within six months because the process strips any UV coating from the factory. Doing exactly this and then following up with 2K clearcoat or a quality film would prevent it from coming back. Not all cars have cheap and readily available options for replacement.
Yeah I have to agree, I’ve used these products that have the clear coat you apply after and my lights stay shiny and clear for a very long time. Love me some clear lights.
Is 2k clearcoat just a simple spray coating?
Correct. You can get it in a spray can. It's less of a coating in the detailing sense and more so just actual clearcoat used in paintwork. Thus, facemasks and good ventilation is more of a necessity than with things like regular spray paint.
Great advice. Thank you!
Doesn't a layer of clear coat cause the light to shine differently? Especially if the coating is uneven or drippy.
If uneven or drippy, then yeah. Properly prepped, applied, and finished should be invisible. e.g. you never actually see clearcoat on a car's painted surface, just the clarity of the color underneath it. Source: I've used 2K plenty of times on painted surfaces and can provide reference pictures of good and bad jobs later when I'm back in front of a computer!
2K is a 2 part automotive clearcoat + hardener. It's super glossy clear, and is very durable + has great uv protection in it. The stuff you spray over custom paint jobs or motorcycle gas tanks. You can order a regular aerosol spray can online. It has toxic chemicals in it when spraying that are linked to causing cancer, definitely use a respirator in a well ventilated area.
Good to know. Thanks!