for all of you with the clearcoat peeled off on the headlights

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Old 07-20-2009, 10:53 AM
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for all of you with the clearcoat peeled off on the headlights

Here is a very simple DIY I did a few days ago:

tools needed:
bucket of water
600+ wet sandpaper
masking tape and some newspaper
duplicolor clearcoat spraypaint

cost: <10$

time:<1 hour

Directions:
first wetsand your headlights until all off the clear coat is gone (they should be very foggy at the end)
wait till the headlight dry up
tape up around the headlights(i recommend raising the hood for less masking)
shake the can
do a 2-3 coats of clearcoat on your headlights(you can do more or less untill you like what you see)
Enjoy your brand new headlights!
Old 07-20-2009, 01:22 PM
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You got any after pics??
Old 07-20-2009, 08:54 PM
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There's a clear coat on the headlights?!
Old 07-20-2009, 09:42 PM
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Exclamation Do not use sandpaper

I bought plastx and thats all you need i did the sand paper before and it really messed them up so i went out to walmart and bought the plastx its in the automotive section and theres a kit and there is just the bottle i got the kit but i found out i did not have a drill to put the buffer it came with on. So i just used the plastx and some papper towles i did it three times and it made them brand new i will post pics when my wife gets back with the camrea but its only 5.94 at walmart dont wast your time with painting and sanding them just use the plastx and papper towles with alot of elbow grease and they will turn out perfect almost brand new.
Old 07-20-2009, 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted by DAiNiUS
There's a clear coat on the headlights?!
Yes. You can only notice it at the top of the headlight near the hood, fender, and grille when it begins to peel.

Originally Posted by bwallace530
I bought plastx and thats all you need i did the sand paper before and it really messed them up so i went out to walmart and bought the plastx its in the automotive section and theres a kit and there is just the bottle i got the kit but i found out i did not have a drill to put the buffer it came with on. So i just used the plastx and some papper towles i did it three times and it made them brand new i will post pics when my wife gets back with the camrea but its only 5.94 at walmart dont wast your time with painting and sanding them just use the plastx and papper towles with alot of elbow grease and they will turn out perfect almost brand new.
Other people have tried this and it has gone back to the way it was over time.
Old 07-21-2009, 12:21 AM
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I've done the 600, 1000 and 2000 grit wet sanding. At first I was not aggressive enough to remove the peel, but then I got it all off and used Plast-x with an orbital buffer. Finished up w/ an acrylic sealant/wax and its been looking great for about nine months so far w/o a touch up.
Old 07-21-2009, 12:42 AM
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Originally Posted by monkeybutt
I've done the 600, 1000 and 2000 grit wet sanding. At first I was not aggressive enough to remove the peel, but then I got it all off and used Plast-x with an orbital buffer. Finished up w/ an acrylic sealant/wax and its been looking great for about nine months so far w/o a touch up.
yeah i ment to say that you have to do something else with it to finish it off but for just buying the plastx and rubbing it out for awhile really helps alot
Old 07-21-2009, 08:27 AM
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i tried all sorts off headlght renewing products before and this is the only thing that worked for me.
Old 07-21-2009, 08:28 AM
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believe it or not but CLR works amazing for 2 days..lol
Old 07-21-2009, 10:28 AM
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Pics of before and after would have been awesome. But, any picture is better than zip!
Old 07-22-2009, 01:11 AM
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Does that fix this?

Old 07-22-2009, 07:04 AM
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Yes that is what he is talking about.
Old 07-22-2009, 04:12 PM
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I just use some 3M Final Cut rubbing compound works great. Needs to get redone every now and then but thats ok with me. I'll have to try this after I repair the more important things.
Old 07-23-2009, 04:55 PM
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Gave it a try today. Not particularly impressed by the results. It kind of made the headlights blurry. But I do have before and after pictures, although the after picture makes it look better than it really is.
Before


After


FWIW I do suck at both sanding and painting. The top of the light looks weird in the picture for some reason.

And the only place you'll find sandpaper that fine is at an auto parts store. I tried Home Depot, Osh, Lowes, and a paint supplier, but all they had was 600. Kragen had 1000, 1500, and 2000.
Old 08-18-2009, 11:17 AM
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Mine came out a bit foggy too; its not perfect but looks a lot better.By the way what clearcoat did you use?Mine are also about 5% foggy, probably because we both suck at spraypainting
Old 08-18-2009, 11:27 AM
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^ yeah mine like ran a little and it was so obvoius it had been sprayed.. i ended up wetsanding and it is still a bit foggy. i have a 3M headlight clearing kit lying around i need to do it soon
Old 08-18-2009, 03:00 PM
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i wet sanded mine with 800 the 1000 the 2000 then i polished them and they cam out clean as helll......... lol
Old 08-18-2009, 03:08 PM
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what did you polish them with? i have this buffer but its kinda crappy autozone brand is there a different pad i can buy that will go on mine you think?
Old 08-18-2009, 03:17 PM
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i used a foam pad and a buffing pad... ahhhhhhhh forgot the name of it but i used 2 pads and the 3 polishing compunds..... if you dont got that dont sand them and u can get some mothers aluminum polish is a little white container. just put that on you head lights and leave it for a min or 2 the and scrub them down with a towel and they will com out clean too. but when you wipe them down wipe them down till they are clean an clear
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