headlight sealants that actually last longer then 1 year?

J

jeff79

New member
Joined
Aug 19, 2014
Messages
77
Reaction score
0
I have ran a small headlight restoration business for a little over a year now. I gotten a great response from the public and have a very very good system for restoring the plastic to like-new condition in around 30-45min, even for the worst lights. The only problem i have is the sealant/clear coat.

I have been searching literally day and night for a sealant/clear coat that i can apply to the lights and feel confident giving a one year warranty. ive done over 400 hundred lights over the past year and i can def say customers are willing to pay a premium price(extra $30-40) even for a one year warranty rather then basic wax/polish method.

I was using the spar/OMS method for the first 6 months but had to find a sealer when i started receiving complaints regarding the longevity after 5-7 months. i had about 10-15 re dues out of about 150 lights(which isnt bad but not good enough.) After 6 months i started using glaswelds GClear, despite spending $90 for a 16ounce bottle(38 cars) i received 4 complaints regarding the longevity.

Once again i am searching for a new sealant coating to use. If anyone has any ideas on a sealant(preferably liquid) that will actually last longer then 1 year please let me know. I am willing to invest a premium price on a quality sealant/clear coat that i can feel safe attaching a 1 year warranty too.








* yes i have read all about opti-coat/lens on multiple forums/threads with a mixed review. Many claimed it didnt last the year mark.


Please let me know. would also be happy to answer any questions.
 
opti-lens is your best overall bet, hands down.

if anyone has any issues, it's a prep problem or installation issue.
 
builthatch said:
opti-lens is your best overall bet, hands down.

if anyone has any issues, it's a prep problem or installation issue.
Click to expand...

are you a consumer of opti lens or a rep? i only ask becuase that is all anyone seems to rave about on here for some reason. on autopia(and even on here) many claimed the spar/oms lasted longer the opti lens in some cases but i would be willing to give it a shot since i havent yet(and have nothing else to loose at this point)

what kind of prep issues or installation issues could arise and how many cars can i service with only 10cc? i would need each car to be under $3 for the sealant in order to stay in business.
 
jeff79 said:
are you a consumer of opti lens or a rep? i only ask becuase that is all anyone seems to rave about on here for some reason. on autopia(and even on here) many claimed the spar/oms lasted longer the opti lens in some cases but i would be willing to give it a shot since i havent yet(and have nothing else to loose at this point)

what kind of prep issues or installation issues could arise and how many cars can i service with only 10cc? i would need each car to be under $3 for the sealant in order to stay in business.
Click to expand...

It does last in excess of a year. But it will cost more than $3 an application. I have used it on several cars with excellent results. With a lot of these coatings the prep is key; but nothing that inspection and IPA can't fix.
 
I use Wolfgang Glossy Paint Sealant.
It won't last a year but does last a long time, one bottle would last you a very long time being how little you need to use, also makes the plastic shine.
That's what I use most of the time.
 
ValuGard's NiteBrite Headlight Restoration System uses
a Clear (UV-cured) that'll last longer than a year.


Bob
 
jeff79 said:
are you a consumer of opti lens or a rep? i only ask becuase that is all anyone seems to rave about on here for some reason. on autopia(and even on here) many claimed the spar/oms lasted longer the opti lens in some cases but i would be willing to give it a shot since i havent yet(and have nothing else to loose at this point)

what kind of prep issues or installation issues could arise and how many cars can i service with only 10cc? i would need each car to be under $3 for the sealant in order to stay in business.
Click to expand...

nah, someone like Chris Thomas could be considered a rep. i'm a consumer but contribute to OPT where i can because Dr. G makes really solid stuff that has made my detailing life so much easier and efficient.

Opti-Lens is made specifically for what you are doing. it's made to handle the UV load and bond particularly to polycarbonate.

but it's definitely all in the prep.

as far as cost, imo even if you pay full retail at $60, i think you could get at least 20 sets of lights even if you are doing two coats. the main point of all the Optimum coating products is that a little goes a long way, so it's best imo to carefully apply a coat, review your process to make sure that you aren't wasting product my making one huge high spot that you just have to level out aggressively with a towel (hence removing product and possible compromising your layer). then, once that layer starts to cure, apply a second layer being just as careful as the first.

another thing to consider is that, for instance, the OPT Hyper compound and polish are compatible with coatings, so if you were to use those to remove your sanding marks and refine the lens, then wipe with IPA, you'd assure yourself a perfectly clean surface for coating installation, because when using the Hyper stuff you techincally don't need more than a damp MF wipe to remove residue then assure the surface is dry prior to installation.
 
Carpro Dlux lasts quite a while, at least a year if not longer.
 
Jaretr1 said:
Carpro Dlux lasts quite a while, at least a year if not longer.
Click to expand...

i'll say this about my experience with Dlux...

alkaline cleaner and scrubbing with MF removed it after several months of installation. it took a lot of elbow grease and full strength OPC, but it definitely came off.

that's not happening with Opti-Lens imo. it's a lot tougher and i think you'd have to rely on actual abrasion to remove it.

i think Dlux can work well for certain uses, but imo it's not on headlights.

headlights in particular are not only super duper exposed to UV but also road wash, that is the little bits of dirt and such that constantly bombards leading surfaces of cars.
 
I've been using Opti lens since it came out, (more than a year ago) and results are still good! it really doesn't take that much, 20-30 cars per syringe is totally posible
 
I am just throwing it out there but what about automotive clear coat paint shot with a touch up gun. They make it in rattle cans too like Eastwood sells but I imagine buying gallons of clear and spraying yourself would be cheaper per application


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Rattle cans are probably the cheaper or more reasonable alternative for "small business" (as per the OP), but can be a bear because of the extra prep and protection of nearby surfaces. Doing it outdoors on dealer lots might be a no-go at all. In my opinion, a WOWA solution is still the best but it comes down to the prep work. For a sideline business to make a reasonable profit on the supplies and time invested, the steps need to be cut way down -- it shouldn't take an hour or more per headlight as is the case with all the suggestions to sand then compound then refine and polish before coating. I can clean, mask, sand from 320 to 3000, wipe, clear, cure and clean up a pair of normal headlamps in about an hour...

But as the OP asks, it remains to be seen whether Gclear is the answer. I've been using it about four months on a dozen cars and the first car -- which had by far the worst headlamps -- still looks great after 10,000 miles in extreme weather and being outdoors 24/7. Others here do many headlamp sets a week with it and report no issues; again, just my opinion, it comes down to technique. I know I messed up one lens, and one other looks somewhat less than perfect because I didn't sand off enough of the OE coating. But the rest look new and I am hopeful and confident that they will last well over a year if not several years.
 
MattPersman said:
I am just throwing it out there but what about automotive clear coat paint shot with a touch up gun. They make it in rattle cans too like Eastwood sells but I imagine buying gallons of clear and spraying yourself would be cheaper per application


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
from what ive read that seems like a that is solid answer for insuring a warranty but spraying a 2k clear catalyst and hardener 20+ times a week will fuk up your health if your not properly prepared with a spray booth, heavy duty respirator, gear. ive read inhaling even small amounts of that stuff will kill you quicker then crack. not sure how much truth there is to any of that but as a mobile guy w/out any professional training, id rather not find out. My health is way more important to me then the business. This is why im so set on finding a liquid sealant because i don't like the mess of spraying and the health hazard of possibly inhaling aerosol clear coats 20x a week even with a respirator.

You are definitely right though as that is probably the best option for keeping the lights clear for years but remember i only need them to stay clear for a year. there has got to be an affordable liquid sealant for this.
 
SameGuy said:
Rattle cans are probably the cheaper or more reasonable alternative for "small business" (as per the OP), but can be a bear because of the extra prep and protection of nearby surfaces. Doing it outdoors on dealer lots might be a no-go at all. In my opinion, a WOWA solution is still the best but it comes down to the prep work. For a sideline business to make a reasonable profit on the supplies and time invested, the steps need to be cut way down -- it shouldn't take an hour or more per headlight as is the case with all the suggestions to sand then compound then refine and polish before coating. I can clean, mask, sand from 320 to 3000, wipe, clear, cure and clean up a pair of normal headlamps in about an hour...

But as the OP asks, it remains to be seen whether Gclear is the answer. I've been using it about four months on a dozen cars and the first car -- which had by far the worst headlamps -- still looks great after 10,000 miles in extreme weather and being outdoors 24/7. Others here do many headlamp sets a week with it and report no issues; again, just my opinion, it comes down to technique. I know I messed up one lens, and one other looks somewhat less than perfect because I didn't sand off enough of the OE coating. But the rest look new and I am hopeful and confident that they will last well over a year if not several years.
Click to expand...
i agree spraying is no good as a mobile guy for many reasons. Also the sanding usually goes very quick for me as well when i use the drill. On average, the time from start to finish is 30-40 minutes(starting and ending prep included) and the lights almost always look new/completely clear. a few times the lights were so bad even a 320 would remove the damage but this has happened about 3 or 4 out of 400 cars.

i think the gclear is good but i dont think its likely that it will last anywhere near a year. i got a light from a junkyard and keep it outside and after 5 months its starting to get relatively cloudy again. it def doesnt look as good as it did the first month i put on the glclear. maybe they look better for you since youre using the curing lamp while im just letting the sunlight cure them.. who knows.

also i think its best to stop at 1500 as the gclear ALWAYS fills in the scratches. ive read clear coats will adhere much better to surfaces that are slightly tacky.


also your applying only one coat right?
 
Rob, your experience is interesting to note, as C4 and an actual uv-blocking clear coat are two completely different things. C4 normally lasts only a few months on regular plastic trim, so I doubt it has lasted two years on headlamps. But hey, your lenses are apparently still clear so there's that.
 
Rob4092xx said:
Nothing works better than gTechniq C4 for headlight repair and longevity. I did a set of headlights over two years ago and sealed it with this. The car sits in the hot Phoenix AZ sun 24/7. Headlights still look like the day I corrected them. One drop per headlight. Pick it up at AutoGeek.
Click to expand...

Well, that's interesting. That should mean that DLux would also be effective at that. My problem is I find that C4 isn't "permanent" on trim, of course it would be a lot easier to remove on headlights than on textured trim, windshield cowlings, etc. The life of the coating may have something to do with the substrate, as well.
 
Jeff, I've had an opposite experience with Gclear. It doesn't fill as well as true clear coat (1k or 2k) applied thickly, and I've found stopping at 1500 or even 2000 doesn't look as good as finishing with 3000 (I use Trizact discs).

Also, have you considered finally switching to a DA for sanding? I've found a drill to be very difficult to use for achieving a flawless finish. You wouldn't use a drill to wet sand a car's paint, but again, if it works for you who am I to wonder about it?
 
jeff79 said:
I have ran a small headlight restoration business for a little over a year now. I gotten a great response from the public and have a very very good system for restoring the plastic to like-new condition in around 30-45min, even for the worst lights. The only problem i have is the sealant/clear coat.

I have been searching literally day and night for a sealant/clear coat that i can apply to the lights and feel confident giving a one year warranty. ive done over 400 hundred lights over the past year and i can def say customers are willing to pay a premium price(extra $30-40) even for a one year warranty rather then basic wax/polish method.

I was using the spar/OMS method for the first 6 months but had to find a sealer when i started receiving complaints regarding the longevity after 5-7 months. i had about 10-15 re dues out of about 150 lights(which isnt bad but not good enough.) After 6 months i started using glaswelds GClear, despite spending $90 for a 16ounce bottle(38 cars) i received 4 complaints regarding the longevity.

Once again i am searching for a new sealant coating to use. If anyone has any ideas on a sealant(preferably liquid) that will actually last longer then 1 year please let me know. I am willing to invest a premium price on a quality sealant/clear coat that i can feel safe attaching a 1 year warranty too.
Click to expand...

I can't give personal experience for over a year since the product has only been out about a year and I did my first headlights with it about 8 months ago. But I have been using Pinnacle Black Label Surface Coating on headlights and taillights and so far it has been perfect.

PBL Surface Coating is not cheap, but it is rated for 2 years by Pinnacle. (I use it on wheels, windows and lights). It goes a long, long way in application.

<TED>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top