Headlight Restoration-new UV sealant idea

Wills.WindowsAndWheels said:
To the junk yard! Im the MAN

I'd still like to get some pricing on what you guys charge to do the inside of lights...has to be a bit of a lengthy process...
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Opening up headlights like I said before is not for everyone. Right now I have a starting price of $65 dollars per headlight. This is only to open it up and does not include headlight removal. In some cases I dont have to open them up to remove water or condensation. Headlight customization on the other hand, takes a lot of patience and can some times be a nightmare....I feel comfortable offering it though because it sets the bar higher for my competition. Customers see that I can do both and realize that im not trying to make a quick dollar. I dont have any competitor that offers everything that I do, everyone else just offers "headlight cleaning" with no warranty what so,ever........I offer Headlight installation and removal, water/condensation removal electrical diagnostics, headlight customization, etc. etc. I consider myself a Headlight Restoration Specialist...lol ....Some of my work can take as little as 10 mins for both, but the average is usually 30 mins. I price my restorations are priced according to how much labor its going to take to bring them back to new again. I rock pitting and scraches are may be more if the customer requests these things be removed, most of the time they are removed when the restoration is taking place. No! I dont half arse the work, EVER! But when you get to the point that you know what to start with, you can finish fairly fast. After im done i get the customer to turn on the high beams on the vehicle and they dry up fast. I can also look at a headlight and tell if there is contamination from the inside or water for that matter. The harderst lenses I have ever had to do are ones from the 03 04 05 Chevy Impala, what ever year that generation is. Ill use 220 to start and the sandpaper just glides over lol... it wont make a dent.. theses headlight can be restored though. The labor is about 3 and half hours though. Well ive rambled on too much, hopfully I can help someone out or I can learn from others experiences.:xyxthumbs:
 
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so i finally did some headlights with this UV sealant idea today! i normally take them off and sand em and then shoot about 3 coats of clear. but i know thats a hassle since i dont always have somewhere to shoot clear so i finally decided to give this a shot and see the results.

Process:
1.wiped them down with water
2. 3'' 500 Meguiars unigrit (dry sanded)
3. 3" 800 Meguiars unigrit (dry sanded)
4. 3" 1500 3M Trizact (wet sanded)
5. 4" wool pad with M105
6. 4'' foam wool pad with m105
7. 4" foam pad with M205
8. Mineral spirits wipe down
9. UV sealant.

Note: i forgot my 1000 sandpaper to wetsand after 800 grit since 800 to 1500 is big jump and once i finished you could still see tiny 800 grit scratches.
before:
IMG_0480.jpg


Before:
IMG_0481.jpg


After with the UV sealant:
IMG_0482.jpg


After with the UV sealant:

it looks a little hazy since it was really cloudy with the sun poking out now and then.


i really liked the results. this is going to be my 2nd option when doing headlight restoration. one thing i noticed is that you need very very very little UV sealant mixture. like instead of 1:1 you could do 0.5:0.5 . I did 2:2 thinking i was going to need that much and ended throwing alot away. just a little tip :dblthumb2:
 
ok.... 0.5 to 0.5 is still 1:1, and 2:2 is still 1:1. I get your point of making sure to mix less, I am just saying there is better ways of saying it.
 
nitro78 said:
ok.... 0.5 to 0.5 is still 1:1, and 2:2 is still 1:1. I get your point of making sure to mix less, I am just saying there is better ways of saying it.
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Haha, I was thinking the same thing. It's still 50/50 either way. But yeah, you don't need much at all. I actually just do about a cap full of each.
 
I made a thread on this already but figured i'd post it here also since there are many headlight guys here (obviously!)


I was thinking about buying the 3M headlight restoration kit so i dont have to use my PC on headlights anymore...but i was wondering where i could buy 3" replacement sanding discs (probably ranging between 800-3000 grit) for a decent price...any suggestions?
 
nitro78 said:
ok.... 0.5 to 0.5 is still 1:1, and 2:2 is still 1:1. I get your point of making sure to mix less, I am just saying there is better ways of saying it.
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Um i know its still 1:1... Im talking about quantity.
 
Kristopher1129 said:
Haha, I was thinking the same thing. It's still 50/50 either way. But yeah, you don't need much at all. I actually just do about a cap full of each.
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I know its still 50/50 1:1 one part to one part etc... All i was saying is 0.5 ounces of product rather than one whole ounce. I guess i should of specified that!
 
Wills.WindowsAndWheels said:
I made a thread on this already but figured i'd post it here also since there are many headlight guys here (obviously!)


I was thinking about buying the 3M headlight restoration kit so i dont have to use my PC on headlights anymore...but i was wondering where i could buy 3" replacement sanding discs (probably ranging between 800-3000 grit) for a decent price...any suggestions?
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The best place to get them is here at AG! i got the meguiars ones for $10.99 a box of 50 disc. its $10.99 only for the 320, 500 and 800 grit disc. the 1500 ones are $24 i believe. now the finishing disc are more expensive than the sanding disc. the 1500 and 3000 finishing disc are like over 30 bucks. if i was you id go with the meguiars ones. i worked in a body shop and they used the 3m 3'' and those things are an arm and a leg for sanding disc. so for a decent price id get the meguiars one, i used them on those headlights i did and they did a great job. im thinking of getting 3 boxes of the 800 grit next time i order!:dblthumb2:
 
93fox said:
The best place to get them is here at AG! i got the meguiars ones for $10.99 a box of 50 disc. its $10.99 only for the 320, 500 and 800 grit disc. the 1500 ones are $24 i believe. now the finishing disc are more expensive than the sanding disc. the 1500 and 3000 finishing disc are like over 30 bucks. if i was you id go with the meguiars ones. i worked in a body shop and they used the 3m 3'' and those things are an arm and a leg for sanding disc. so for a decent price id get the meguiars one, i used them on those headlights i did and they did a great job. im thinking of getting 3 boxes of the 800 grit next time i order!:dblthumb2:
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I do wanna try the Megs ones just cause of how much cheaper they are. Do they hookup to the Hookit II backplate?
 
Kristopher1129 said:
I do wanna try the Megs ones just cause of how much cheaper they are. Do they hookup to the Hookit II backplate?
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Im sure they do! Look at my backing plate:
62c2cb5d-38c5-c37f.jpg

I found it in the garbage can at the body shop i used to work at. I didnt know what use it had at the time but its perfect for my drill.

Interface pad:
62c2cb5d-3904-8a37.jpg

(hook n loop)

Disc:
62c2cb5d-3928-612a.jpg

(hook n loop)

Disc with interface pad:
62c2cb5d-3948-3903.jpg


All together:
62c2cb5d-395d-c097.jpg


You might want to get the 3" interface pad as well. Its perfect for doing headlights. It shapes perfect to the round contours of the headlight.
By the way, i also use this backing plate with my wool pads and foam pads on my drill. Its a must have for on the spot repairs.
 
That looks exactly like what I have. Sweeeet. When I need some new discs...I'll give them a spin. I really wanna try the Unigrit discs.
 
Kristopher1129 said:
That looks exactly like what I have. Sweeeet. When I need some new discs...I'll give them a spin. I really wanna try the Unigrit discs.
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no one cant beat $10.99 for 50 disc!!!!!!!!!!!!!Im the MAN
 
I tried this method yesterday on a scrap set of lights. The urethane varnish leaves the light sort of sticky, it does not feel smooth like when you just wetsand the headlights.
 
I do not think you are waiting long enough for the coating to dry. It takes some time due to the dilution with mineral spirits.
 
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