Can I Get My Headlights Refinished Professionally?

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Eurythmian

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Is this even something which is available?

I have done the a total of three times now and personally I'm sick of doing it. I want it done professionally and back to factory standards.

If I can... how do I go about finings someone to do it?
 
Yup, by me! Something i do on the side for extra loot

I dont know about "professionally" tho. We offer that service at the shop i work at, yet the quality of there work when doingheadlights is way below decent
 
Eurythmian said:
Is this even something which is available?

I have done the a total of three times now and personally I'm sick of doing it. I want it done professionally and back to factory standards.

If I can... how do I go about finings someone to do it?
Click to expand...

Have you ever tried the Crystal View Headlight kit? I bought mine at Walmart but I believe you can also find it at CVS and other stores. It's $20 and comes in a foil looking pouch about 4"x6" It beats any other method I have used including polishing methods. The final step of the Crystal View kit actually uses a fast drying compound that is clear and dries fast to replace the UV coating that wore off and made your headlights look crappy in the first place. If this is an issue on the outside of the lenses, I would highly consider this kit. You can also check out some videos on youtube of people using the product.
 
Eurythmian said:
Is this even something which is available?

I have done the a total of three times now and personally I'm sick of doing it. I want it done professionally and back to factory standards.

If I can... how do I go about finings someone to do it?
Click to expand...

What did you use in the past? The 3m kit.... With a little tweeking...will do amazing work.... Very nice writeup on here somewhere
 
From what i gather you need to actually sand off the top layer of plastic and then polish it clear and then reseal it with the UV coating.

remember the good ol days when cars had glass lamps? They stayed clear.
 
BlackLS06 said:
From what i gather you need to actually sand off the top layer of plastic and then polish it clear and then reseal it with the UV coating.
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That pretty much sums up the Crystal View kit. The sanding process removes some plastic, yes, but just a very very small amount mainly to target the UV damage and remove that. The resealing step at the end is key. Headlight polishing kits don't offer that and you will be polishing your headlights again in a month when they are dull again.



Crystal View Chemicals Headlight Restoration System - YouTube
 
Might I suggest that after you get them refinished you buy a bottle of Meguiar's Plastx or similar product and rub it into your headlights every time you wash your car. Will keep them looking nicer much longer
 
Plastix is good but i think its really just a wax and nothing more.
 
It's somewhere between a wax and a polishing compound. It's definitely got some form of microabrasive compound in it
 
Shredicus said:
It's somewhere between a wax and a polishing compound. It's definitely got some form of microabrasive compound in it
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I would use something without any microabrasives to maintain the finish personally. Once the headlight is resealed, just use a basic wax to protect the finish. Microabrasives start cutting back into that fresh finish which is what you don't want.
 
KStromberg said:
That pretty much sums up the Crystal View kit. The sanding process removes some plastic, yes, but just a very very small amount mainly to target the UV damage and remove that. The resealing step at the end is key. Headlight polishing kits don't offer that and you will be polishing your headlights again in a month when they are dull again.



Crystal View Chemicals Headlight Restoration System - YouTube
Click to expand...

Impressive stuff but dont you think he would've taped off the area when using sandpaper :eek:

I used blue magic headlight restore on my old set and it made it look alot better at the time, and also used it with the 3m kit that G-rell had mentioned came out pretty good.
 
Take them to a body shop. Have them wetsand them and then clear them with a high quality automotive clear. Polishing is temporary. The UV stabilizer is gone from the plastic. It will dull again. Clear is a better more perminant fix.
 
I'd like to know how people are doing that have used the MinWax product as many of us that do woodworking commonly find that the product yellows over time.
 
Yea - that's me. Mine haven't yellowed and still look decent. I plan on doing this again soon (I drive on highway A LOT so they're starting to show signs of wear). I wish there were a more permanent fix and I think when I do it this time around, I may spray the lights with a couple coats of clearcoat.
 
I noticed you used the "spar" version, which is an oil modified alkyd resin that retains some softness due to the oil. Not sure if in 8 months it would yellow, but I'm sure you've used it in thinner coats then normally used in exterior woodworking which may be helping.
 
The idea to use minwax wasn't mine - in fact when I first read that it worked fairly well, I didn't believe it. My dad has his own shop (builds chairs, cabinets, tables, etc.) and he even thought it seemed like a stupid idea. I forget what website directed me to use it, but it does get the headlight much clearer and glossier.
 
I'm going to be taking the urethane route in the next few weeks. The headlights aren't too bad, but it's obvious that the wear has already started so I'd like to nip it in the bud earlier rather than later. I've already got the supplies for it.

I've refinished a couple sets of headlights in the past. It's very time-consuming, but totally worth it. With my Camaro, I polished them once and they wore out within a few months. The second time I polished them, I sprayed the lens with some clearcoat made just for plastic and they looked great up to when I sold the car over a year later.

I'm really interested in the urethane method. A buddy of mine did it and the headlights look great so I have really high expectations.
 
I also posted on that thread how ever long ago.... Still look brand new... Hite saw them a while back and complemented on them.... Highly recommend that write up.
 
I sanded down an emblem once and cleared over it with paint clearcoat... it looked boss and still does.
 
myfirstlincoln said:
The idea to use minwax wasn't mine - in fact when I first read that it worked fairly well, I didn't believe it. My dad has his own shop (builds chairs, cabinets, tables, etc.) and he even thought it seemed like a stupid idea. I forget what website directed me to use it, but it does get the headlight much clearer and glossier.
Click to expand...

You might have hit onto something. Within the woodworking community it's often commented on that this coating yellows. It could be that MinWax has changed their formula, and many companies do. I know there are some of the fast-drying products that they are no longer going to be selling due to VOC.
 
I've been thinking about doing this as well as mine are starting to oxidize (think that's the proper term) on the top. I polished them before but it's coming back with a vengeance.

After wet sanding and polishing people have resealed them or applied clear coat, why not lamin-x? Doesn't that offer UV protection, clear, and is pretty durable from what I've seen. I assume the only problem would be the heat causing the lens to melt but I'm sure there's something out there that doesn't do this but offers the same protection.
 
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