|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
04-13-2013, 06:25 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 158125
Join Date: Sep 2007
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Bellingham, WA
Vehicle:2004 WRX WRB |
DIY Headlight Clearcoat
Hi guys, I just wanted to share my experiences with a technique I've seen on the autopia forums (http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-det...e-answers.html)
Basically, the process involves mixing a 50/50 mixture of odorless mineral spirits and a can of Minwax Urethane Clear Gloss. You'll need some blue Scott shop towels for application. I had to buy the Minwax online, the local Home Cheapo didn't sell it. This is the link if you're interested. http://www.amazon.com/Minwax-43200-Helmsman-Urethane-High-Gloss/dp/B000VZJGTK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365891202&sr=8-1&keywords=minwax+43200 The mineral spirits and shop towels should be readily available. Anyways you'll need very little of each when mixing. I filled a plastic party cup with about 1/4" of the mineral spirits and Minwax, and swirled it around a bit. Afterwards, I took the shop towel and folded in half about 4 times and saturated it with the mixture in the party cup. I made about this much and I still had plenty left over: I had just polished my headlights with my orbital buffer, and before applying this stuff, I wiped down the surface with the mineral spirits and wiped any excess off. You'll want to use gentle horizontal strokes when applying the Minwax, working from the top of the headlight surface down to the bottom. I repeated this process about 5 times. Any streaks you see during application will go away, trust me. Maybe having the headlights perpendicular to the ground helped, I'm not sure. I let it dry overnight, and now the headlights look like glass...these pictures don't do them justice! I'll post again after a while to let you guys know how durable the coating is, and hopefully they don't peel and yellow like my old headlights did after a few months. [IMG][/IMG]
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
|
04-14-2013, 01:10 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 340009
Join Date: Dec 2012
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Arizona
Vehicle:2007 STi CGM 1990 Toyota Cressida 2JZ |
Wow! they look great! I might have to give this a try, my head lights are fairly chipped up.
|
04-14-2013, 04:38 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 262030
Join Date: Oct 2010
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Upinyourgirl.
|
Wow.. good job. Someone on this forum gets it!
|
04-15-2013, 02:39 PM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 335146
Join Date: Oct 2012
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: LaPlata, MD
Vehicle:2004 STi PSM |
Those look really good. I may have to try this when my headlights get nasty.
|
04-15-2013, 02:42 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 296700
Join Date: Oct 2011
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: 203
|
^hopefully you clean em first!
|
04-15-2013, 04:27 PM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 345943
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Vehicle:2004 Audi A4 1.8TQ Green |
Awesome! I'm definitely going to have to give this a try. My headlights could use to TLC.
|
04-16-2013, 12:26 PM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 345478
Join Date: Jan 2013
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: North OC, CA
Vehicle:2005 WRX Wagon Platinum Silver Metallic |
Awesome! What kind of polish did you use to buff them? Also did you sand or anything prior to buffing? Definitely need to do this soon.
Last edited by SW4GGON; 04-16-2013 at 12:51 PM. |
04-16-2013, 12:30 PM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 183188
Join Date: Jun 2008
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: LOS ANGELES
Vehicle:2007 Sti ASPEN |
do you have a before picture?
|
04-16-2013, 05:10 PM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 348494
Join Date: Feb 2013
|
that looks really awesome! sadly I think I'd have to do this to my 2011; the plastic these days just doesnt seem to hold up as well; the tops of my lights have what look like watermarking or haze; would you consider putting a UV clear vinyl cover over this now or is it best to leave it like that?
|
04-17-2013, 12:35 PM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 111755
Join Date: Apr 2006
|
thats ok, but the minwax is not as durable as the acrylic/polycarbonate.. it looks good now, but after a few months of driving and intense UV, it MAY not hold up well and require another buff-down/recoating...
|
04-17-2013, 02:42 PM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 10197
Join Date: Sep 2001
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Gtown, MD
|
They do sell several UV spray on clear coats specifically for headlight restoration, just an FYI
|
04-17-2013, 03:01 PM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 158125
Join Date: Sep 2007
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Bellingham, WA
Vehicle:2004 WRX WRB |
Well, the Minwax is an outdoor product. The formulation contains UV inhibitors, and from what I've seen over the internet its held up pretty well despite the $14 price tag.
You might be right about it not being as durable as acrylic/polycarbonate, but having a $XX UV light to bake on a hardcoat yourself or paying to have it professionally done really isn't feasible for people on a budget like me. I'm hoping it'll last more than a few months though! |
04-23-2013, 05:49 PM | #13 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 111755
Join Date: Apr 2006
|
doc82, let us know how it holds up!
if we could find some pitting/chip resistant coating, i'd be all for it!! |
04-23-2013, 06:02 PM | #14 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 4414
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Dublin, CA
Vehicle:2002 WRX Sedan Midnight Black |
|
04-24-2013, 10:09 AM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 304299
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Nor'East
Vehicle:2018 2018 sti, black 2014 Crosstrek, tangerine |
Looks great, but wouldn't a Lamin-X type film be a lot more durable?
|
04-24-2013, 11:11 AM | #16 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 25187
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: So. CA
Vehicle:2020 Forester 2010 Challenger R/T |
Quote:
Also, I have often wondered if a Lamin-X or XPel like film could be an effective alternative to spray-on coatings after correction. .....given the fact that they adhere to the lens and provide effective UV protection already (not to mention resistance to damage from impacts). |
|
04-30-2013, 10:25 AM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 340009
Join Date: Dec 2012
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Arizona
Vehicle:2007 STi CGM 1990 Toyota Cressida 2JZ |
How is the lamin-x film? I've been looking at getting the clear, but I'm not sure if I have $44 to spend on headlight film unless its totally worth it. I will probably just end up sanding them with 1000 grit and working up to 2500. They have a decent amount of chips.
|
04-30-2013, 04:35 PM | #18 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 320513
Join Date: May 2012
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Madison, WI
Vehicle:1997 Outback 4T6, red/gray |
I've been using this method for a while. Did my Legacy's projector headlights with it last year, still look perfect after suffering through the salt and sand of a harsh Wisconsin winter. The car is outside 24/7.
I recently picked up Opti-lens, application is easier and faster than working with the urethane. We'll have to see how that holds up, since it's a new product. |
07-27-2013, 11:55 AM | #19 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 267079
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indialantic, FL
Vehicle:2011 WRX HB OBP |
What were the headlights polished with in the first place to remove the initial oxidation/haze?
|
05-28-2015, 08:27 AM | #20 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 4273
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: CT
Vehicle:2015 Taco & 2015 Legacy Ltd. |
This process worked great on my girlfriends '03 Accord. Her lights were so bad that it was difficult to see at night and now they are 100% better. I did this back in October and they still look great!
|
05-28-2015, 03:29 PM | #21 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 206257
Join Date: Mar 2009
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Yukon, OK
Vehicle:2009 WRX 5-door White |
Quote:
For heavy oxidation, wet sand with 1000 grit followed by 2000 grit sandpaper, then polish with the UC. They'll look like new! |
|
06-03-2015, 08:16 AM | #22 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 378263
Join Date: Jan 2014
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Yellow
Vehicle:2006 WRX WRB |
|
06-03-2015, 09:07 AM | #23 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 304299
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Nor'East
Vehicle:2018 2018 sti, black 2014 Crosstrek, tangerine |
|
06-03-2015, 12:00 PM | #24 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 64289
Join Date: Jun 2004
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Vehicle:2004 wrx wagon wrb |
|
06-11-2015, 09:38 PM | #25 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 45076
Join Date: Oct 2003
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rockland County, NY
Vehicle:2004 Stg 2 wagon AT 16 BRZ. Both silver |
This method does work great. Just make sure it's not more than 50:50 and try not to put too much on so that it runs. I can see a few streaks when I did it and it was because it was too thick. Still looks great but up close you can see some streaks.
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|