Long Term Review Spar vs Opti Pro **PICS**

[jrs1418]

First review for me. I know now there is Opti-Lens, which has stronger UV blockers than Opti-coat pro. When I get my hands on some I will add it to this durability test.

I live in Hawaii.. Headlights and plastics stand no chance to the level 10 UV index's and salt air that we endure on a daily basis. I've been using the Spar method for headlights and overall am 7/10 happy with that method versus a polish and seal/maintain method. Out here, even if you wax regularly after a restore, your headlights will re-oxidize in under a month.

SO I decided to put the spar to the test. And while I was at it, i had some Opti-Pro i decided to put side by side. The test subject is a headlight i purchased off craiglist from a tacoma. The headlight wasn't too bad, probably the top 1/2 of the light was completely yellowed out while the bottom half was starting to die. I just realized I never took pics of the headlight before I sanded it, but it doesn't matter since I sanded off whatever coating was on there. My process was #600 then #2000. Yes i know, I should have done #1500 but I ran out... I just had to do a little more sanding with 2000.

Heres the lense after Sanding & IPA Wipe:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8559301054_29e58288c8_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8558194295_2bb7178a4e_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8086/8558194277_80d888f9e6_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8558194259_9dd5fcddc9_b.jpg

OK So first, I wanted to see if OC would fill sanding marks like the Spar does, SO I taped a line down the middle and applied the Spar/MS to the left side, and OC Pro on the right. The OC Pro went on real nice and clear and it looked like it was going to fill, however after a minute or two went by, it hazed up and looked like crap. So now I had to wait several hours for the spar to dry enough for me to tape it, then polish off the OC Pro & polish the sanding marks off the lens and the re-apply the OC Pro.

Here's the Spar/MS on left & OC pro right directly over sanded lens:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8558194255_59b2fef9fc_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8558194251_c4edeff777_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8558194237_17b616e54c_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8558194303_f377ea0cc2_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8559301046_d11922b441_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8558194235_7242435794_b.jpg

So as you can see from the last 2 pictures, the OC DID change how the lense looks versus where it was sanded, however did not do good as a filler. SO I Taped off the Spar/MS Side after it dried, and polished out the right side of the lense using D300, then 2 IPA wipes followed by OC Pro.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8559301042_a750b54d11_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8559301032_9cd6a4c1b7_b.jpg

Final Thoughts before it gets thrown up on my shed roof to get pounded by UV rays & Rain & Salt:

I am truly amazed how nice and clear the OC Pro side is compared to the Spar/MS side. It really looks brand spanking new where you can tell the SPar isn't 100% optically clear. Also, even tho the spar levels out nicely, there is still a leftover waviness where you can see that it was applied by hand. The OC side looks super clean and clear. Although you can tell it is a used lens, this has got to be the best looking lens restore I've done IMO! Here's pictures side by side:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8558194301_51ced2bf48_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8558194287_48bfe4aa6a_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8558194269_db480c9cb2_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8558194247_794eb16694_b.jpg



AAAAND, an added long term durability test BONUS, I had a brand new mud flap I decided to put Spar/MS on, and OC Pro as well. I would have put C4 but I had none left. I wanted to see how Spar would do on black exterior trim on the long term as well. Left is Spar/MS, middle is bare, right is OC Pro

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8558194261_2bb7178a4e_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8558194265_6ee5bbfd32_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8558194319_a8295ca6d8_b.jpg


And here is their not so final resting place, on top of my shed which gets sun morning till sunset and rain almost every night.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8558194245_1fc45068df_b.jpg

I'll update in 3 months.

Thoughts?

[jrs1418]

Hmmm, My pics were showing when In the thread editor, not now? Can anyone else not see?

[timaishu]

I cannot see them.

[DaHen]

Pictures not displayed here as well.

[jjj]

Not here either.

[Setec Astronomy]

Oh wow, the Spar leaves those little red x's on the headlights! Oh wait, there's no pictures :p

[DaHen]

Do those little x's mean that the pictures are X-rated!!!! lol.
:laughing:

[g35_coupe]

do those little x's mean that the pictures are x-rated!!!! Lol.
:laughing:

meooowww!

[builthatch]

pics are mia

[Ray@Autogeek]

Image links have been fixed! Flickr links are funny.

http://shuckittome.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/cat-techsupport.jpg

[Setec Astronomy]

Great test! Keep us posted.

[jrs1418]

Image links have been fixed! Flickr links are funny.

http://shuckittome.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/cat-techsupport.jpg

Thanks Man! :props:

[DaC]

would you mind climb the roof to give us an update ?! :D

[rmagnus]

Nice test, looking forward to the update.

[jrs1418]

Ok Here's the update. Pix were taken about 2 weeks ago, not much has changed on the OC side. The sanding marks can be seen a bit more on the OC side. I didnt finish with #3k grit, and polishing this thing on a table didn't help (excuses).

Left Side: Spar
Right Side: OC

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz61/jr418/IMG_20130728_144117_199.jpg

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz61/jr418/IMG_20130728_143948_276.jpg

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz61/jr418/IMG_20130728_144111_190.jpg

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz61/jr418/IMG_20130728_143957_483.jpg


Hawaii.. Level 12 UV index
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/uv_index/uvi_map.gif