# DIY Headlight Restore using clear coat

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/diy-headlight-restore-using-clear-coat/108148>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** headlights, restoration\
**Created:** [September 27, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diy-headlight-restore-using-clear-coat/108148 "2017-09-27T21:02:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 11

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**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diy-headlight-restore-using-clear-coat/108148/11 "2017-09-30T22:45:46Z")

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Let me share pictures from “paint clouded headlights with clear coat” project as of today:

My daughter’s 10-year Altima before:

 ![IMG_20170930_103526](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/9/93a6aac707d46dfed059d5f27693d7771e0fdf63.jpg) ![IMG_20170930_103518](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/7/77267789db18f9173a0614c1926492509dde0ffa.jpg)

Sanded down and prepared for painting:

 ![IMG_20170930_125549](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/9/90a5520476102dc38ec6cb121d5af4358726c099.jpg)

Final product:

 ![IMG_20170930_182859](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/4/460f9971a01747239318c6c2046395b563c7bea4.jpg) ![IMG_20170930_182907](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/d/d21b28324162313f25f023ba990bed96a998828f.jpg)

The process:

- sanding with 320 grit
- sanding with 600 grit
- final sanding with 1500 grit
- protect with masking tape
- remove contaminants with rubbing alcohol, wait 30 minutes to dry (important!)
- slight coat of Dupli-Color adhesion promoter, 10 minutes wait
- slight coat of acrylic clear, 15 minutes wait
- moderate coat of clear, 15 minutes wait
- heavy final coat of clear
- remove masking after an hour
- wait overnight before trying to buff (I’m gonna skip this one)

At first I messed it up and it went “rustic texture” after I’ve impatiently applied adhesion promoter only 5 minutes after rubbing alcohol - BIG MISTAKE - wait an hour and back to sanding, then I timed it and it went flawlessly

Hopefully this detailed description will help OP and somebody else 🙂

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_[View the full topic](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diy-headlight-restore-using-clear-coat/108148)._