"Bouldaru" (alphadogg14)
03/22/2015 at 10:30 • Filed to: headlight restoration
7
14|
"Bouldaru" (alphadogg14)
03/22/2015 at 10:30 • Filed to: headlight restoration | 7
| 14 |
As some of you may know, I recently purchased a 2001 Subaru Outback Wagon. As it is a 14 year old car that was registered in Vail, it was driven on the highway for a majority of its 189k mile life. Here in Colorado, that means it was driven in snowy conditions for 3-4 months out of the year. That means the whole front end got sandblasted at ~50mph for 3-4 months out of the year. So my headlights were pretty marred up. The headlights weren't the worst I've seen, but it was definitely worth restoring. Here's what I did to get a perfect finish:
Before:
After:
Tools needed:
Bucket full of water
Towel
Wet/dry sandpaper in the following grits: 500, 800, 1000, 1500, and 3000 (if you can find it)
Trashbags
Masking tape
Clearcoat (I used !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! one)
Plastic polish
Microfiber cloth
1. 500 Grit Wet Sand
Wet sand your headlights with 500 grit sandpaper, moving the sandpaper along one axis (either up and down or side to side). Sand enough that, after drying the surface, it looks uniformly cloudy.
2. 800 Grit Wet Sand
Wet sand with 800 grit sandpaper, moving the sandpaper along the axis perpendicular to the 500 grit axis. This is so you can see if you've sanded through all the 500 grit sanding marks. Make sure you sand past all of the 500 grit marks. Pay special attention to the edges of the headlight, where you're least likely to remove all of the sanding marks.
3. Wash
I used a power washer to do this, but you'd be fine just doing a few good wipeovers with some soap and clean water. You want to make sure all of the fine plastic powder is off your headlight.
4. Masking
Mask off your entire front end. I did this by going around my headlights with painter's tape Then I tore holes in a couple of trash bags taped the edges of the holes in the trash bags to the tape I already put down. Then I loosely secured the edges of the trash bags to the body of the car.
5. Removing Oils
You want to remove any oils or residues from your headlights, in preparation for the next step. I used Finish Line Speed Degreaser, an aerosol degreaser consisting primarily of acetone, xylene and other petroleum distillates.
6. Clearcoat
You're going to want to buy a rattlecan clearcoat that has a UV protectant in it. I used rustoleum that I fount at wallyworld for under $5. Now spray your headlights using light, even strokes. I didn't do that so I got runs in the clear. If you do get runs in the clearcoat, don't worry, you can fix it.
7. Wait
Give your clearcoat time to cure. I had to drive my friend to the airport (45mi each way) within a couple hours of clearing my headlights so I protected them with ziploc bags taped to the body around the headlight. I did this because the clearcoat was still like a gel and I didn't want road grit embedding itself in my soft headlight coating at 60mph. It worked exactly as planned and didn't cut into my visibility (I was driving at 11pm).
8. Wet Sand
If you got any runs or drips in your clearcoat, you'll want to sand down the high spots. Start at 800 grit and work your way up to 3000 grit.
9. Polish
Use a plastic polish and a microfiber cloth to remove all sanding marks from your clearcoat.
10. Rinse
Take off all that dried up polish from your headlights.
11. Enjoy
Enjoy the new clarity of your restored headlights. They should last you a good long while.
Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
> Bouldaru
03/22/2015 at 10:40 |
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As someone who does this professionally: Yep, this is how you do it. Nice writeup. I usually avoid putting any kind of coating on the light, because I've seen what happens when the coating goes wrong and the result is LOTS of sanding and usually ruined headlights. Though I am considering just buying new headlights for the Civic, so I might try some clearcoat on them. Hmm...
Funktheduck
> Bouldaru
03/22/2015 at 10:58 |
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A family friend does this to all their cars they keep or flip. He does some body work too and he does this to new headlights too. Non OEM headlights are much thinner and yellow quicker.
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Funktheduck
> Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/22/2015 at 11:01 |
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Here's how I approach all fixing of anything: if it's already broken or you plan on replacing anyway try the cheaper solution first. If it doesn't work or doesn't last then you're not out much.
RiceOwl
> Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/22/2015 at 11:15 |
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Don't you worry about UV light quickly harming the headlights again without coating?
PowderHound
> Bouldaru
03/22/2015 at 11:16 |
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I need to do this badly. What sort of plastic polish did you use?
505Turbeaux
> Bouldaru
03/22/2015 at 11:45 |
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permanently is subjective though. This method does work, and does provide more longevity, but in time it will still end up the same without redoing the clearcoat.
Still better than replacing banged up headlight assemblies, and glass lenses still rule the roost
Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> 505Turbeaux
03/22/2015 at 14:27 |
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That's my first step, have glass lenses.
The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
> Bouldaru
03/22/2015 at 20:04 |
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I blue piece of tape across the top here and down around the wheel openings would have been great.
SALfan
> Bouldaru
04/08/2015 at 22:55 |
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Does anyoone have a good fix for headlights that are slightly yellowed and going cloudy from UV rays? Car was in south GA its whole life, so no sandblasting from snowfighting sand or salt. Shouldn't be much abrasion from road grit (low mileage and not driven much on dirt roads.
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Bouldaru
> SALfan
04/09/2015 at 02:10 |
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my method works for yellowed and cloudy headlights too. The yellowing/cloudiness is oxidation of the clearcoat applied to the headlights in the factory. So sand off that clearcoat at your problem disappears
thepocketdrummer
> Bouldaru
01/23/2016 at 23:28 |
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And then 2 months later the problem reappears. Just sanding isn’t a permanent solution.
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Bouldaru
> thepocketdrummer
01/24/2016 at 17:29 |
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If you read, I clearcoated. My lenses are still as clear as the day I refinished them
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Ducky
> Bouldaru
03/23/2016 at 12:21 |
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It’s been about a year since you wrote this... how are the headlights holding up? I’m probably going to be doing this on my car soon.
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Bouldaru
> Ducky
03/24/2016 at 12:01 |
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The clearcoat is just starting to chip off on the edge of one of the headlights. Other than that, they’re still clear and in great condition! Definitely recommend it