Removed haze with PlastX. What to use to seal/UV protect?

Hey all, just used Meguiars PlastX on my hazy headlights with great results for 10 minutes of work. My question is what is an inexpensive sealant/UV protective coating to use to stop them from immediately hazing up again?

 

Keep them waxed

Or have a body shop clear coat them

 

a small bottle of Plast-X came in my Meguiar's Heavy Duty headlight restoration kit, around $20 from Wal-Mart.
As well as round sanding pads (1000 and 3000 grit I think) that it said to use wet, and then a final protectant coating. Which I guess you don't have.
Good thing is the kid comes with that. Potentially bad thing is I don't know how good it is, and if it only lasts a year.
I kept what's left over in the kit for future use on the tail lights, and for if I need more in the future.

But I hear certain 3M polishes are better.

As for other protectants on the market that can be sourced separately, I don't know what they are, their quality, or their cost. I'd research it.
I have heard Opti-Lens is good but I never tried it, and it's expensive.

What I found tricky with the protestant included in the Meguiar's kit is that it goes onto their foam applicator pad really thin/drippy, might dry it out, and is runny so it's a challenge to avoid getting it on paint surrounding the headlight.
I don't know if something else like Opti-Lens might be easier to apply.

Some people say wax them but I don't know if that protects against UV.
I've even seen tail lights ceramic coated; I have no idea why a person would do that. Ceramic coatings are typically used to protect paint from things like door dings. But if someone smacks a plastic tail light instead of a metal door, it will just crack, maybe regardless of what it's coated with. Because the material itself underneath is just plastic.

 

I did a 3 step wet sand (1,000 / 2,500 / 4,000) using my hand drill and then finished my headlights with my Porter Cable using Meguiars M105 and M205.

Once I finished sanding/buffing, I sealed them with 1:1 ratio mix of Mineral Spirits and Spar Urethane (rubbed on). It's been almost a year and a half and they still look like new. Many people have had a lot of success with this type of sealer.

I plan on re-applying the clearcoat after winter just to freshen them up.

 

Meguiars Headlight Coating sold separately at some auto stores or Walmart in 4 oz spray bottle and says good for 1 year. Two coats required on 1st use.

 

303 Aerospace

 

McKee 37 Headlight Protectant

 

Guys thank you for all of your responses! A lot of different opinions on this one, lol!

 

Was looking at this. Have you used it with long term success? No adverse reactions etc.?

 

That's really interesting - haven't heard of that technique. What did you use to apply it? Did it dry smooth?

 

My '13 looks fresh and has never been garaged in it's 7 years of life.

I will say I'm preserving the original, not resealing a sanded off unit.

 

Perfect. My lights are still in good original condition. Thanks.

 

@Clearwater Bill

Is this the product you use:

McKee's 37 MK37-130 Headlight Protectant Spray 8 Fluid_Ounces

$19 McKee's 37 MK37-130 Headlight Protectant Spray, 8 fl. oz.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IB15TZ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5i8FDbVC1EQE3

or is it this one:

McKee's 37 MK37-121 All In One Headlight Restoring Polish 8 Fluid_Ounces

$30 McKee's 37 MK37-121 All-In-One Headlight Restoring Polish, 8 fl. oz.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXZVSY9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Gj8FDbSDR2829


or this one:

McKee's 37 MK37-270 Headlight Coating, 4 fl. oz

McKee's 37 MK37-270 Headlight Coating, 4 fl. oz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BZV29DM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4j8FDbJFJKD7Y

I do realize that the first one specifically says “protectant”, just want to be certain...

 

This may have some pointers for you.

-J

 

When I restored the headlights on my '96 Thunderbird, I clearcoated them with a UV-blocking paint made for the sign making industry. It was from a company called Sign Painters' 1-shot. They looked crystal clear for five years, and then I got rid of the car.

Remember that most of the yellowing and hazing is caused by exposure to UV light from the sun, so you need something that will block it.

 

This.

 

Coppertone ultra UV, Dont laugh it works. I put Coppertone original on my boats vinyl seat cushions after noticing a shiny clean butt print a year after I sat my Coppertone coated butt there. I started putting it on the white rubber fenders too and they stay looking new.

 

The Spar stuff failed miserably for me. I can't imagine a worse product. Not sure if the sun was just too crazy out here in CA or what but it quickly turned yellow and then began to crack and chip/peel off the lens.

IMO the best solution for faded headlights is to sand them to remove any previous coating or imperfections, clear coat with a 2 part, automotive grade clear coat and then keep them waxed or treated with another UV type protectant.

 

BTW, a great way to shoot clear coat, or other automotive paint, on your own in small batches for stuff like this is to use Preval system. https://preval.com/

Basically bridges the gap between 2K rattle can and having to take the parts to a body shop.

 

TLDR; 2 sets headlights, good experience with Sylvania kit on both.

I tried the Mother's kit on my daughter's Civic. Worked ok, 1 year later, they were hazed and yellowed again. I debated between Mother's and the Sylvania (didn't know about Mckee's). Picked up the Sylvania, has the sandpaper, has the sealant. Still good 2 years later. After the Civic experience (which was my test case for my '02 Tacoma) I used the Sylvania on it as well. Still clear, 1 year down the road on the Tacoma and 3 years on the Civic.