Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Topic: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers (Read 950 times) previous topic - next topic

Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

May 06, 2011, 07:08:05 pm

The headlight lenses on my 1999 Suzuki Vitara had become so fogged and cloudy that I anticipated having to replace them. My spouse who likes cleaning and polishing projects had tried using a NAPA headlight lens refurbishing kit and it helped a little but not so you would notice the improvement.
We happened to be parked in front of a thrift store and I noticed a guy polishing what I thought were his personal headlights. They weren't his. He was selling his services.
As I showed interest, he looked at my car next to the one he was working on and saw that I REALLY had a problem and he had the solution.
He wanted $15 to do the job which based on my limited knowledge of the results over long term, I negotiated the price down to $10.
He used something like a 400 or higher grit emery cloth/wet sandpaper and wet sanded the entire lens to a REALLY dull finish, which kind of panicked me a little.
Like, what was I thinking..........

When he was done (took about 10-15 minutes for sanding both) he masked off the area around the lenses with tape and newspaper and then proceeded to paint the lens with a rattle can of unknown contents.
The instantaneous results were nothing less than spectacular. The lenses appeared as new. I could not believe the transformation.
I thanked him and paid my bill.
That was about ten days ago and they still look like new. I asked him how long the job would last and he said he guaranteed the work for six months, but should last a lot longer than that.
I am a happy guy.

However, I wish that I had figured out what he sprayed the lens with to get it so nice. I would like to know so that I can do the same treatment to my 96 U-270 when the lenses I JUST REPLACED, get nasty.

Anybody got any ideas on what the rattle can had in it? I assume some kind of acrylic spray...............
Regards,

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #1 – May 06, 2011, 08:42:44 pm

Jon,
My 1996 Toyota T100 pick-Up lenses were so cloudy I too thought about replacing them. Then I found the Permatex product from the link at a local K-Mart store. I believe many other stores carry it as well. Worked great. I followed the instructions using a spray bottle with water to clear off the sand paper grit & dirt with various grit wet sand papers. Then the kit brings a wax like application as the final polish.

http://www.permatex.com/products/automotive/specialized_maintenance_repair/professional_repair_systems/auto_Permatex_Headlight_Lens_Restoration_Kit.htm

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #2 – May 06, 2011, 10:05:55 pm

I see that the Permatex kit takes about 1.3 hours to do both headlights and the finished result most likely lasts a lot longer that what I had done. The 10-15 minute thing is what I liked, BUT at this point I have NO idea how long the benefit will last. At ten bucks the Permatex kit seems very reasonable but, it will take a lot of labor, it seems. I sure want to find out what the guy had in that rattle can.

Regards,
Jon Twork

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #3 – May 06, 2011, 10:33:06 pm

Quote from: Jon Twork – May 06, 2011, 10:05:55 pm

I sure want to find out what the guy had in that rattle can.

I bet some type of spray on clear coat with UV protection.

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #4 – May 06, 2011, 10:59:19 pm

Interesting thread. A quick Google... perhaps he used Solaray UV Headlight Repair spray: SEM Products - Catalog - SOLARAY UV HEADLIGHT REPAIR

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #5 – May 07, 2011, 12:06:08 am

Actually Micro-surface has been making a similar product to repair aircraft windows for years. The KR-70 kit contains Micro-mesh sheets in 1500, 1800, 2400, 3600, 4000 and 6000 grit along with a sanding block and a polish to finish the job. I bought it to refurbish a faux marble counter top and have since used it on a number of things.
Here is their website:http://micro-surface.com/

It appears they have greatly expanded their offerings and now have headlight restoration kits, too.

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #6 – May 07, 2011, 01:11:21 am

OK, here is the way to do a perfect job without any spray. Mask off the chrome and painted areas around the plastic lens. Use a hose or bucket with water and wet sand the lens with 600 wet or dry or 1200 if only a little damaged. After you think you have removed all the UV damage, buff the lens with a low speed buffer (1250-1400 rpm best) using a medium grade rubbing compound. Don't stay in one spot very long or you will burn the lens and have to start again. Be very careful if using a higher speed buffer as it is easier to leave burn marks. After the lens looks good but slightly hazy, switch to "final finish" a super fine compound and carefully buff until it looks like new. Experiment until you find the right combination of paper and compound.

Taillights can be restored to new condition the same way. The custom car guys use a sanding block (or a block of wood) and the wet or dry to sand off the small letters and numbers on the face of the taillight lens and then buff. After buffing there is no place to catch dirt or your polishing cloth where the letters and numbers were and it looks even better than new. Much of the time you can go straight to the buffer and compound as taillights usually have less damage than headlights.

Glass headlights can be restored using a only slightly different technique. Auto parts or auto paint stores sell the kit you need with only your electric drill (and patience) needed to complete the job. This takes longer than plastic restoration but also looks great afterwards.

I have used this technique to restore a lot of Plexiglas aircraft windshields. I never ceased to be surprised how good they looked afterwards.

Pierce & Gaylie
'93 U300/36

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #7 – May 07, 2011, 02:30:48 am

If he was using Solaray, he used the Arizona sunshine as his curing illumination. The procedure was very similar but, it was much more brief in the application process.

Regards,
Jon Twork

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #8 – May 07, 2011, 04:13:48 am

I remember reading about Pam cooking spray working.

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #9 – May 07, 2011, 06:43:21 am

I recently tried Mother's plastic polish and one of their ball applicators with a cordless drill on my headlight lenses. Took about 10 minutes per headlight; the yellowing is gone, and they are clear again. Planning to go at it one more time though. The taillights only took a couple of minutes and look great.

Steve

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #10 – May 07, 2011, 09:45:24 am

Quote from: Patricia – May 06, 2011, 10:59:19 pm

Interesting thread. A quick Google... perhaps he used Solaray UV Headlight Repair spray: SEM Products - Catalog - SOLARAY UV HEADLIGHT REPAIR

This is an UV cured, acrylated urethane similar to windshield chip repair and should be an excellent lens coating for long term repair. The reason to use it is that the lenses are acrylic and pretty soft. Without a protective finish, they will dull again pretty quickly from both abrasion and UV. The urethane spray coating is very abrasion resistant and will delay the recurrence of the yellowing and hazing much longer than untreated lenses or acrylic lens repair kit coatings.

And yes the sun in AZ should be adequate to cure if pretty quickly. If used indoors, you will need a UV light similar to those used to fix windshield chips

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Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

May 06, 2011, 07:08:05 pm

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #1 – May 06, 2011, 08:42:44 pm

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #2 – May 06, 2011, 10:05:55 pm

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #3 – May 06, 2011, 10:33:06 pm

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #4 – May 06, 2011, 10:59:19 pm

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #5 – May 07, 2011, 12:06:08 am

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #6 – May 07, 2011, 01:11:21 am

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #7 – May 07, 2011, 02:30:48 am

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #8 – May 07, 2011, 04:13:48 am

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #9 – May 07, 2011, 06:43:21 am

Re: Headlight Lens Dull & Fogged Quick Repair Question-Answers

Reply #10 – May 07, 2011, 09:45:24 am

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