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Re: How to prevent runs Did you stir the mixture well before wiping? MS is thinner than spar and would tend to rise to the top. ray6

Thanks, Bill for your support. Chemistry 101 It might be helpful to those just getting into headlight restoration to learn a little chemistry (don't groan, this won't take long). The reason headlights turn cloudy is because the factory applied protective coating turned cloudy. Polycarbonate...

You might also try using a foam applicator instead of folded towel. Much easier to control coating thickness. These are the same as what women use to apply makeup. Available from most drug stores. Only problem is they should be latex free if using spar method. Fine for water based. If you find...

As the temperature increases, or humidity decreases, you'll have to add more solvent to slow down the drying. This will give you more working time, but a thinner coat. I'd try 60/40, and after the first wipe, if not right, wipe it off and add more solvent or mix a new batch at 50/50. This is...

Sorry you feel that way. If others feel the same way, I'll stop posting. ray6

The 3" 3000 grit polishing disks used as the last step in headlight restoration are expensive, about $1 each, but you should be able to use it on 3 or 4 headlights. As an alternative, you can hand sand with 3000 grit paper and sanding aid. Might take 3 minutes vs 1 minute by machine, but will...

Thanks. ray6

I may of stirred up a hornet's nest by calling some products PRO. Let's call them alternative coatings. There is a common misconception that alternative coatings are special or hard to work with or cannot be purchased by just anyone. It's true that some need to be sprayed, some cured with UV...

Great website. I'm jealous. Still waiting for my daughter to finish ours. ray6

Nice job on the headlights and great photos. ray6

It depends on the coating and how long it has cured. You could try a solvent such as mineral spirits or alcohol, but if the coating has been on for a long time (months) you'll probably have to sand it off. If the surface is smooth, you might try sanding with 500 grit. You want to remove the...

There's no restriction to buying headlight coatings that I'm aware of, other than the fact that they come in larger packages usually costing more than $100. Some coatings are distributed through local distributors and there may be requirements from them, but anyone can buy them and they are easy...

Re: How to prevent runs David- Runs usually mean your coating is too thin, or you are applying too thick a coating. Never been a big fan of the paper towel technique. Too subjective. How much coating to apply? How much pressure to apply, etc. I would try the foam applicator application method...

Send me a PM. ray6

Re: Headlight Restoration-neyw UV sealant idea The best pix would be outdoors in the shade. If possible, using a polarizer filter will also help. I camera is adjustable, use a tripod and longer shutter speed to stop down lens. This will give you sharper focus and greater depth of field...

Yours is a common problem with the spar method. My guess is that there are 3 factors contributing to your situation: 1. Thin coating. The thicker the coating, the more UV it can handle. 2. Poor adhesion. Coating not sticking. May be because surface was contaminated or too smooth. I always...

Did you wipe down the headlights with alcohol before coating? If you used any sort of polish or patent solution on the headlight and it left a residue, it can contaminate the spar coating. We don't use the spar method anymore, but did try it years ago. Quickly learned that it was unpredictable...

I am not familiar with products sold as headlight protection coatings that you simply wipe on. The key to keeping headlights from clouding up again is to protect them from moisture and UV. Moisture protection is pretty easy, not so for UV. As a general rule, the thicker the coating, the...

It doesn't have to be that complicated. I'd work in reverse. Are you planning to put on a permanent coating after you remove the old one or are you going to use wax/polish/mystery coating? What are you expecting for coating lifetime? Are you going to guarantee your work? Too much emphasis is...