Headlight refinishing

[Joesson]

Sometimes mentioned on here are various ways and/ or products to use to restore those cloudy headlights.
Having just seen an advertisement for a wonder product called Restowipe, that seemed too good to be true I had a look at Trustpilot to find that it really is too good to be true:

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/restowipe.com

AVOID!

[The Other Stu]

I did see a novel approach today. Someone talked about going from 400 grit through to 1500 then simply covering it in 2k lacquer. It involved horizontal then vertical sanding between each grit. So 400 is vertical, 600 is horizontal and so on until you get to 1500.

Personally, I've only ever used 900 through to 3000 grit, then cutting with a DA polisher and using proper UV coating. But that's what works for me. And sadly, my lights are coming to the end of the road - they're getting milky and micro-cracks inside

[Trebordoody]

I tried the 400 to 1500 grit method + 2K lacquer a few months ago. All good until the second heavy coat of 2K. After 20 mins or so it ended up with a weird orange peel/cracked effect. And its been an absolute b*st*rd to sand it back again due to the hardener in the 2K.

And of course, this was the week before my MOT was due, so I ended up getting a replacement headlight on eBay (thankfully only 40 quid) to get me through that.

I'm sure others might have got good results with 2K and not sure why mine went so wrong, but I was really frustrated and disappointed with it all.

I've gone back to Autoglym restorer and 3M or Megs UV coat and does the trick for me!

[inigopete]

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/restowipe.com

Wow! That's quite a collection of reviews. Well spotted!

[Joesson]

@Trebordoody  said:
....coat of 2K. After 20 mins or so it ended up with a weird orange peel/cracked effect.

Similar to the satin black 2K that I used on the front suspension arms when I fitted SuperPro bushes, they were left with the crackle effect as out of sight. Only used the 2K product once, but wouldn't rush to use it again.

[Joesson]

 

Wow! That's quite a collection of reviews. Well spotted!

There does seem to be a theme!

[The Other Stu]

I'm sure others might have got good results with 2K and not sure why mine went so wrong, but I was really frustrated and disappointed with it all.

I've gone back to Autoglym restorer and 3M or Megs UV coat and does the trick for me!

In my other post, I added about the 3M wipes one review said
"Thay work but are over priced."

Clearly, if "thay" work, then they're priced right, surely?

But yes, I've no wish to put 2K on my lights. I'm happy to sand them down to 3000 grit before cutting.

[Carolyn]

I've found that, once the sanding process has been done (I go up to 5,000 grit), an occasional wet power mop with a good plastic polishing compound like Holts abrasive compound and then use of a UV protectant keeps them up to scratch. Turtle Wax do a good protectant polish, which I've found to give a good finish.

Mine do have bit of crazing, but they are more than acceptable for headlights on a 22 year old car. 

Mind you they are pre-facelift which are much less prone to interior yellowing thanks to the black, rather than chrome interior plastic surround.

[The Other Stu]

I've found that, once the sanding process has been done (I go up to 5,000 grit), an occasional wet power mop with a good plastic polishing compound like Holts abrasive compound and then use of a UV protectant keeps them up to scratch. Turtle Wax do a good protectant polish, which I've found to give a good finish.

Mine do have bit of crazing, but they are more than acceptable for headlights on a 22 year old car. 

Mind you they are pre-facelift which are much less prone to interior yellowing thanks to the black, rather than chrome interior plastic surround.

I'd like to paint the interiors of mine navy blue to match the car - I've seen this done and I think it should have the same effect.

Sadly, the wife has told me absolutely non. The new oven will not be used for splitting headlights