Headlight sealant: spar urethane vs. opti coat 2.0

[GP49]

Don't use lacquer thinner unless you have already tested it on other headlamps that were made with EXACTLY the same plastic formulation.

Lacquer thinner often will dissolve the plastic itself. So will Acetone. In fact since "Lacquer thinner" can include any number of different chemicals, I steer clear of it for this purpose.

Use mineral spirits first. It will soften most of the spar urethane, even after months, to where you can remove most of it before re-sanding.

[timaishu]

hi all,

my spar treatment after all that time shows holes and I need to redo.
Any helps how to remove old spar to apply new 50/50 spar for another year or two?
Should I use liqueur thinner to remove old spar?
Will I need re buff headlamps?

thanks.

I had to redo mine as well due to a sumilar reason. I took 800 grit sand paper to it and it ate right up. The spar turned into a ton of little balls as I was sanding. Be careful though, Im not sure why or how, but the spar somehow trasnferred to my bumper during the rinse stages and and actually re-solidified on my bumper in the form of long runs.

[mr.fusion]

Pressure washer will remove the old coating. Or as mentioned, its pretty easy to remove by sanding. Too easy really.

[Part-timer]

hi all,

my spar treatment after all that time shows holes and I need to redo.
Any helps how to remove old spar to apply new 50/50 spar for another year or two?
Should I use liqueur thinner to remove old spar?
Will I need re buff headlamps?

thanks.

I have experimented on my own car headlights more than a few times with a number of coatings. Generally speaking, I find it very quick and easy to simply resand with 800, 1500 and 3000(or compound) and then follow the cleaning/recoating procedure. I've had zero problems with that.....I do wet sand all steps by hand.
I also use about a 70/30 mix....(the 70 being spar)

[mikek753]

thank you all for prompt reply ;-)
I plan to tape newspapers around just in case
then use Minerals Sp to remove old Spar and a little 1000 + 2000 wet grit
then Meg's plastic polish
and 50/50 or 60/40

[ray6]

If the Meg's polish has anything other than abrasive in it, I wouldn't use it. Might interfere with adhesion of the spar, especially if it contains any wax or silicone. Also, scrub the headlight with 100% alcohol to really clean the surface. Don't use rubbing alcohol because it has 30% water.
ray6

[Rsurfer]

If the Meg's polish has anything other than abrasive in it, I wouldn't use it. Might interfere with adhesion of the spar, especially if it contains any wax or silicone. Also, scrub the headlight with 100% alcohol to really clean the surface. Don't use rubbing alcohol because it has 30% water.
ray6

Are you saying that 92% rubbing alcohol has 30% water. Where can you buy 100% alcohol?

[Part-timer]

thank you all for prompt reply ;-)
I plan to tape newspapers around just in case
then use Minerals Sp to remove old Spar and a little 1000 + 2000 wet grit
then Meg's plastic polish
and 50/50 or 60/40

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

[BillE]

Are you saying that 92% rubbing alcohol has 30% water. Where can you buy 100% alcohol?

Check out, "denatured alcohol' at your local hardware store. About $5-6 for a quart can.

Bill

[mikek753]

Check out, "denatured alcohol' at your local hardware store. About $5-6 for a quart can.

Bill

will Wal-M 92% for a $ work?
or it has to be "denatured"?