Parts Used in Video: 2k Clear Coat: amzn.to/4cZAfIx 3M Sand Paper Set: amzn.to/3UQ0J8q Sponge: amzn.to/4dVwyFr Plastic Drop Cloth: amzn.to/3ywx1xM Painter's Tape: amzn.to/4dXg7J4 Tac Cloth: amzn.to/3QZ3frH
Correct, do not use polish or compound as it will be hard to remove before spraying the clear coat. If any polish or compound residue is left behind under the clearcoat, it will likely peel. Just sand, rinse off any soap really well, dry completely, then you can spray the 2k clear.
I think you can use a prep spray to remove the oils from the polish for the clear coat to bond. The ceramic guys do that process even tho this is different
Orange peel usually means the coats were too heavy. All 3 coats should be very light. You can fix it though. You'll need to sand down the headlights again, I would just do 800 until all the bumps/orange peel comes off. Clean the headlights really well before respraying. Water only with a clean or new microfiber towel, then alcohol wipe down with clean towel, once dry, use a tac cloth to remove any remaining debris. Then you can respray once or twice, again, light coats. Let it dry around 15 min between coats and check to see how it's coming along. If it's clear after the 1st re-spray then you can stop there, otherwise do a second coat and that should be enough. Take your time, cleaning thoroughly, letting it dry, and light coats will get you the results you want.
@DIYGarageNation understood thank you. If the headlight has a ceramic graphene coating on top, the 2k clear coat wouldn't bond properly to the headlight would it? Just curious
Honestly 2k clear is much better. 1K is less durable, yellows over time and has lower gloss and clarity. I would just order the 2k clear so you only have to do the job once.
Great technique and video. I’ve seen some recommend no more than 1000 grit. I saw you used just a step up at 1500. Does the 1500 give you better results? I didn’t see the 1 year update just yet. How are they holding up?
I think stopping at 1000 would not be bad. However you see the results I got going to 1500. I’m working on a new video for the update, I’m going to be restoring super worn headlights no a Honda Civic and will post the update in that video. The Infiniti headlights still look just as if I restored them yesterday. Holding up very well, zero yellowing, zero wear showing.
That is orange peel. Make sure to do VERY light coats to avoid it. If it looks bad then you will just need to sand/polish to remove it and respray with very light coats.
Great video ! But from my experience, there is no need to sand with such fine grit. When I did mine, i sanded with 600, then 800, then cleaned the surface with alcohol, made sure no residue is on the surface and than sprayed 2k coat ( Even though I didn't have to mix and activate anything, just had to shake it well, it is a product by car-rep and I don't know how good it is, but so far it seems to have worked great ). My point is, some people say that for the clear coat to adhere best to the surface it's better that the surface is a bit "rough", instead of super smooth. Is it true? I don't know. I would be happy if you guys shared your experiences here ! Peace.
If topping off at 800 worked well for you, that's great. We increased to 1500, and after over a year, the headlights still look perfectly clear with no peeling and no yellowing. Technically, 1500 would still look "rough" if seen under a microscope. The 2K clear coat we recommend has a hardener/activator that provides superior durability compared to 1K clear coats, making it more resistant to wear and tear. I'm unsure about clear coats that don't require activating the hardener, as in your case. Please share your results after a year, and let us know how they've held up. Thanks!
@@brandonnguyen1486 Sorry, you should go to at least 1200. 800 will not necessarily look cloudy after spraying, it would just not be as clear as 1200 or 1500. You can do the progression again up to 1500 though.
2K clear coat is the best way to restore headlights. Buffing and polishing, ceramic coating it DIY or from a detailer is a waste of money. Its still bare plastic. Clear coat has actual UV protectant or resistant in the paint.
Dont forget to tell the people who try this to wear a good full face respirator with proper filtration (at the least) . Also best to wear paint suit, 2K clear is some nasty stuff and will ruin your lungs, not anything to take lightly and play around with. Even minimal exposure sill screw you up (Maybe not right away but later) At 3:49 looks like wind was blowing and the 2K was going your direction.
@@tomr3319 Do you park your car in a garage, away from the sun? The majority of reviews for Maguire's state it last less than 1 year. In my experience it lasts 6-9 months.
@@Gtown1981 the clear coat I linked works perfectly. After 1 year they still look brand new. I’m about to restore the headlights on another car, I’ll post a video about it as well. Plus an update on these Infiniti headlights
You know what. It could be you applied so much and make it thick. Spray gently and do not so close. My car use to like it. Peel off but it take like 4 years.
Sanding to 1500 grit, etc will result in the clear peeling later. Should only prep (wet sand) the substrate from 400 to 600 grit or at the very highest 800 grit prior to applying the clear coat finish.
While I'm sure 600 grit works to an extent, using finer grits like 1200 + 1500 will give you a much better finish. It'll make the clear coat adhere better, look clearer, and last longer. It's a bit more work, but it's worth it for a more professional looking finish.
Did this to the headlights over 1 year ago. They are still like new, super clear. No other method I've tried has worked. Follow the instructions carefully. When you spray the 2k clear coat, do LIGHT coats, no need to do heavy coats.
I don’t recommend using acetone to restore your headlights. Acetone can remove some oxidation and haze, but it provides zero UV protection, leaving the headlight lens exposed to further damage from the sun. Also, using too much acetone or applying it incorrectly can damage the headlight lens.
Drying the headlight and surrounding area is important, so the tape adheres to the car. This helps avoid scratching the paint around the headlight when wet sanding.
Parts Used in Video:
2k Clear Coat: amzn.to/4cZAfIx
3M Sand Paper Set: amzn.to/3UQ0J8q
Sponge: amzn.to/4dVwyFr
Plastic Drop Cloth: amzn.to/3ywx1xM
Painter's Tape: amzn.to/4dXg7J4
Tac Cloth: amzn.to/3QZ3frH
Followed these directions and new looking lights! Good advice and direction!
Love to hear it! Brings the whole car back to life!
So in this method I just sand and then apply clearcoat? No more polish and compund? Would it be alright if I apply compund before the 2k clearcoat?
Correct, do not use polish or compound as it will be hard to remove before spraying the clear coat. If any polish or compound residue is left behind under the clearcoat, it will likely peel. Just sand, rinse off any soap really well, dry completely, then you can spray the 2k clear.
I think you can use a prep spray to remove the oils from the polish for the clear coat to bond. The ceramic guys do that process even tho this is different
@@brandonnguyen1486 Yes, alcohol works though and most people have it in their household.
@@DIYGarageNation I just followed your video and never used a respirator lol. Just held my breath, and sprayed down a coat
@@brandonnguyen1486if you’re outdoors it’s fine but you definitely don’t want to breath chemicals in general as any other chemical.
Do you have a video on how to get rid of orange peel or a brief breakdown? I sprayed too far away
Orange peel usually means the coats were too heavy. All 3 coats should be very light. You can fix it though. You'll need to sand down the headlights again, I would just do 800 until all the bumps/orange peel comes off. Clean the headlights really well before respraying. Water only with a clean or new microfiber towel, then alcohol wipe down with clean towel, once dry, use a tac cloth to remove any remaining debris.
Then you can respray once or twice, again, light coats. Let it dry around 15 min between coats and check to see how it's coming along. If it's clear after the 1st re-spray then you can stop there, otherwise do a second coat and that should be enough.
Take your time, cleaning thoroughly, letting it dry, and light coats will get you the results you want.
@DIYGarageNation understood thank you. If the headlight has a ceramic graphene coating on top, the 2k clear coat wouldn't bond properly to the headlight would it? Just curious
Gonna give this a shot thanks!
Let us know how it turns out!
I have C496 2k hs clear. I'm from Australia
How did they look after spraying?
Will 1k do any good
Only because i have a can ?
Honestly 2k clear is much better. 1K is less durable, yellows over time and has lower gloss and clarity. I would just order the 2k clear so you only have to do the job once.
Could i also use any other 2k clear coat
It's best to use the one we linked, it's highly rated and will last. Others may flake or yellow fast.
Great technique and video.
I’ve seen some recommend no more than 1000 grit. I saw you used just a step up at 1500. Does the 1500 give you better results?
I didn’t see the 1 year update just yet. How are they holding up?
I think stopping at 1000 would not be bad. However you see the results I got going to 1500. I’m working on a new video for the update, I’m going to be restoring super worn headlights no a Honda Civic and will post the update in that video. The Infiniti headlights still look just as if I restored them yesterday. Holding up very well, zero yellowing, zero wear showing.
What soap do you use when sanding headlights?
We used a tiny bit of dish soap. However, it's not necessary, using only water is also perfectly fine.
@@DIYGarageNation ok thanks
@@KING-MUFFASA If you use soap, make sure you wash it off completely before spraying any clearcoat.
Can I use SprayMax 2K clear coat instead? The name sounds like more sophisticated and advanced than the recommended 2K clear coat, or no? Thanks!
I have not tested that brand so I can only recommend the one I used (ERA). If you end up going with SprayMax let us know how it goes!
Great job!!!!
Thank you!! Hope it was helpful!
Umm what should you do if it looks runny?
That is orange peel. Make sure to do VERY light coats to avoid it. If it looks bad then you will just need to sand/polish to remove it and respray with very light coats.
@@DIYGarageNation got it thanks
Should I use something even more lower as I only used 800, 1000, and 2000 grit sand paper? Or should that work to remove the orange peel
@@yo-xzn8600 Yes you can, as long as you go back to 800 - 1200 - 2000 after using 400 for example.
Great video ! But from my experience, there is no need to sand with such fine grit. When I did mine, i sanded with 600, then 800, then cleaned the surface with alcohol, made sure no residue is on the surface and than sprayed 2k coat ( Even though I didn't have to mix and activate anything, just had to shake it well, it is a product by car-rep and I don't know how good it is, but so far it seems to have worked great ).
My point is, some people say that for the clear coat to adhere best to the surface it's better that the surface is a bit "rough", instead of super smooth. Is it true? I don't know.
I would be happy if you guys shared your experiences here !
Peace.
If topping off at 800 worked well for you, that's great. We increased to 1500, and after over a year, the headlights still look perfectly clear with no peeling and no yellowing. Technically, 1500 would still look "rough" if seen under a microscope. The 2K clear coat we recommend has a hardener/activator that provides superior durability compared to 1K clear coats, making it more resistant to wear and tear.
I'm unsure about clear coats that don't require activating the hardener, as in your case. Please share your results after a year, and let us know how they've held up. Thanks!
@@DIYGarageNation if you clear coat over 800 grit, wouldn't that look pretty cloudy?
@@brandonnguyen1486 Sorry, you should go to at least 1200. 800 will not necessarily look cloudy after spraying, it would just not be as clear as 1200 or 1500. You can do the progression again up to 1500 though.
2K clear coat is the best way to restore headlights. Buffing and polishing, ceramic coating it DIY or from a detailer is a waste of money. Its still bare plastic. Clear coat has actual UV protectant or resistant in the paint.
Agreed, I've tried the buffing/polishing technique with all types of brands, nothing lasts. 2k clear is the only way.
Dont forget to tell the people who try this to wear a good full face respirator with proper filtration (at the least) . Also best to wear paint suit, 2K clear is some nasty stuff and will ruin your lungs, not anything to take lightly and play around with. Even minimal exposure sill screw you up (Maybe not right away but later) At 3:49 looks like wind was blowing and the 2K was going your direction.
You're right, a proper respirator is always good practice.
you're overreacting just work outside and stop being an idiot
Does the tac cloth need to be wet?
No, tac cloth should be dry.
What's the difference between this and say the 3M / Philips restore kits on Amazon???
This method last years, the 3M/Phillips kits only lasts around 6 months.
@@DIYGarageNation 3M with Maguire's clear coat 4 years ago still look like the day they were restored
@@tomr3319 Do you park your car in a garage, away from the sun? The majority of reviews for Maguire's state it last less than 1 year. In my experience it lasts 6-9 months.
Link to 2k clear coat doesn't work for me
Link has been updated, try this one: amzn.to/4cZAfIx
after 6 months, damaged permanent from 2k clearcoat ?
2k clear coat lasts for years. It’s been well over a year and the headlights still look clear as the day we restored them in the video.
I read about doing this with 2k clear but overtime apparently it starts cracking and the headlights are ruined
I did this 11 months ago. They look brand new still. Zero cracking and they are completely clear.
@@DIYGarageNationnice maybe I’ll try on my 90s Honda
I believe there is a specific 2k clear for headlights.
@@Gtown1981 the clear coat I linked works perfectly. After 1 year they still look brand new. I’m about to restore the headlights on another car, I’ll post a video about it as well. Plus an update on these Infiniti headlights
You know what. It could be you applied so much and make it thick. Spray gently and do not so close. My car use to like it. Peel off but it take like 4 years.
Excellent 👌
Thank you 🫡
God bless you bro😢🙏🏻🌹🫂
🫡
Sanding to 1500 grit, etc will result in the clear peeling later. Should only prep (wet sand) the substrate from 400 to 600 grit or at the very highest 800 grit prior to applying the clear coat finish.
More than a year later and they look like the day I restored them. 100% clear and ZERO peeling.
That's great if you have the skills
Take your time if you decide to do it: it should only take 2 hours max if you go slow.
You can literally just sand it with 600 and then clean then clear coat it no need for the multiple steps and sandpaper
While I'm sure 600 grit works to an extent, using finer grits like 1200 + 1500 will give you a much better finish. It'll make the clear coat adhere better, look clearer, and last longer. It's a bit more work, but it's worth it for a more professional looking finish.
i used that meguire crap, only one cote, the crap made my lights glazy! garbage. how long will this last more than 3 years!
will this 2x dry transparent?????
Did this to the headlights over 1 year ago. They are still like new, super clear. No other method I've tried has worked. Follow the instructions carefully. When you spray the 2k clear coat, do LIGHT coats, no need to do heavy coats.
Yes, 2k clearcoat dries completely transparent, make sure to follow the steps.
@@DIYGarageNation WHAT IF YOU HEAVY COAT ONLY ONCE WILL IT DRY TRANSPARENT???
MEGUIRS CRAP
Just use acetone & in 5 minutes you're through and it lasts a minimum of 5 years.. .
I don’t recommend using acetone to restore your headlights.
Acetone can remove some oxidation and haze, but it provides zero UV protection, leaving the headlight lens exposed to further damage from the sun.
Also, using too much acetone or applying it incorrectly can damage the headlight lens.
make sure its dry, and then you go and wet sand it hahaha clown
Drying the headlight and surrounding area is important, so the tape adheres to the car. This helps avoid scratching the paint around the headlight when wet sanding.