Headlight sealant: spar urethane vs. opti coat 2.0

**mikek753** · 09-23-2012, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Part-timer

I wouldn't use ANY type of polish,......compound?, yes.....polish?...no,

sorry,...
do you say Meg's Ultimate Compound

would be better then

**ray6** · 09-23-2012, 01:41 PM

Home Depot, Lowes, etc. The whole idea is to remove any trace of moisture. The higher the percentage of alcohol, the more moisture it will capture.

Shouldn't cost more than $15/gallon, and a gallon will last a long time.
ray6

**GP49** · 09-23-2012, 03:13 PM

Denatured alcohol generally has NO water but the denaturants MIGHT etch the headlight plastic, since there is no standard formula and different makers may use different solvents as denaturants to be mixed in.

92% isopropyl alcohol is 8% water.

**mhphoto** · 09-24-2012, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by Chris@Optimum

We should have a plastic specific coating ready by SEMA that will permenantly prevent UV degradation on lenses...so stay tuned.

Any update on this? Really excited about it.

**mr.fusion** · 09-24-2012, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by mhphoto

Any update on this? Really excited about it.

I got my hands on some and have been using it for a few weeks. So far, it's holding up very nicely.

For best results, you need to get the lens fully refinished, including a compounding step, prior to applying the coating. It's not going to fill/hide sanding sins like minwax. But it does leave a nice flat natural look, without streaks of a thick coating or pattern of a spray coating. It may not have the same gloss of some other coatings, but the bottom line is that it looks good, period. If it proves to be a "permanent" coating.... still looks great after a year and continues to hold up pretty decent for another year or more, we have a winnner.

**lilperm187** · 11-20-2012, 06:08 PM

i love the spar mix method but i was wondering if anyone has tinted/colored the spar urethane mixture. i think you can use Artists Oil Colors but I don't know how much i would put in the mix. i would like to maybe try to add some black to give a slight smoked look. on some cars it seems too shiny.

**Part-timer** · 11-21-2012, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by mikek753

sorry,...
do you say Meg's Ultimate Compound

would be better then

I use turtle wax compound myself......in place of the 3000 grit final sanding...just prior to wiping with MS and then spar application.

**pedro_paydro** · 12-03-2012, 02:02 PM

hey guys one question (sorry i've noticed nobody has posted on here in a while) what are some things i should tell my customers not to do after applying the spar urethane method. (btw i used a 70/30 on my headlights when i first tried restoring them) and that was months ago and still holding on. but i barely wash the car and never took it through a car wash.

so could anyone here be able to help me out?

should you not take your car through a car wash?

anything else that customers should know?

**mr.fusion** · 12-03-2012, 02:23 PM

My .02 is to find a different coating. Seriously, if you are going put in the time and effort to do a job, and charge people good money.... it's not that much to add a better coating to the process.

Besides spar varnish, some of the coatings I have used... UV cure spray coating, 2 part mix wipe on coating, and the new headlight coating from optimum. IMO, spar varnish is worse than just doing a sand and buff job. At least that is a quick polish to make it shine again when it goes dull and you don't leave the car in worse condition than when you started.

**pedro_paydro** · 12-03-2012, 03:00 PM

well for my own use should i be aware of anything that will remove the coating? how should clean it if dirty? or before adding a 2nd coat?? i need to redo my driver side headlight since i was trying something new and i messed up BIG time. thanks