DIY: Headlamp restoration using Clear-Coat For those who own older cars with headlamps which are either expensive or hard to find in the market, this DIY restoration may be helpful.
And in this case, as with most Maruti cars (except the older cars with SGP), the spares come at a reasonable price. A pair of headlamps for swift cost around 3000Rs, I guess. However I didn't want to paint the bezel again or replace the bezel of new one with the current one. And hence decided to try clear coat over the headlamps to restore its shine. Things you need: - Spray can (Clearcoat)
- 600 grit sand paper
- 2000 grit sandpaper (optional)
- Wax polish (optional)
- Wax and grease remover (or anything similar)
- Masking Tape
- Cotton waste for cleaning.
How it's done?
1) Remove the headlamp assembly. If you don't want to remove the headlamp, mask the painted areas around the headlamp using masking tape.
2) Wet sand the lamp surface with 600 grit sand paper till the surface turns milky (as shown in the picture).
3) Now clean the surface with wax and grease remover and allow it to dry.
4) Paint the clear coat. Spray from a distance of about 8-12 inches. Allow it to dry for 10 minutes between each coats. For better results, apply several thin coats. Avoid thicker coats as it may lead to paint runs and drips. Don't bother about the paint finish during the first coat. Ensure the clear coat is sprayed evenly on to the whole surface. First Coat Second coat Third coat.
5) Allow it to cure for another 24hrs.
6) If you want to remove the 'orange peel effect' (which I haven't done yet), wet sand with 2000 grit paper and use wax polish. Ensure that this step is done only after the paint has cured completely. Here is the result. Special Thanks: ChrisFix
Thank you everyone.
Arjun C Mohan
Last edited by ACMohan : 24th July 2017 at 16:29.
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