Headlight Restoration Kit VS. Polymer Vapor, Which is Best. Alfa Giulietta Headlight Restoration

[@deramon1000]

Interesting video. Your Giulietta is looking great by the way! I'm a polymer chemist and I think the "polymer" in this kit is likely just acetone (maybe a bit diluted). Acetone can dissolve polycarbonate. The vapor has the same interaction with the polymer but can't actually dissolve any significant amount of it so it just lets it swell or turn glassy to self-level again. Should be a like new finish but, as you suspected, without any kind of protection. It's just bare, smooth polycarbonate. A new UV barrier is essential.

[@arcgarage]

Thank you very much for clarification, I was doing the research on the liquid, but all I found out was that there are some chemicals from the paint thinner, whether it has acetone, I am not sure. The finish is looking as good as new, and I think that UV protection is going to help a lot...

[@Two_maligators]

Do not need protection.

[@AlexPtc89]

Did mine 6 months ago, they still look like day one. That polymer also sticks to the plastic and protects it. Its not just melting

[@BenjaminShuetrim]

Does that acetone mix cause the lens to be soft for any amount of time afterwards? I’m wondering if we have to allow it to harden off before coating it.

[@timdaniels8905]

Very good video comparison of the two methods, and demonstration in general on how to refurb cloudy head lights. I have done this many times on my Giulietta, each time an initial great result only lasts about a year, the main problem being that you have sanded through the factory UV protective layer. Many of the kits have a liquid for you to wipe on as UV protection, and while this works, it is temporary. I guess a little more permanent solution would be to mask up the area and spray paint it with clear coat lacquer.

[@arcgarage]

I did all of the methods possible in the past, including the clear coat, and they all yellow out eventually, but I think this one is pretty good since I applied the UV protection, but we will see

[@OKHansen]

Very nice comparison. I have been thinking about reconditioning the headlights on my G as well, and this definately helps! Keep it up! Cheers from Denmark 🇩🇰 ♥️🇮🇹🚗

[@arcgarage]

Glad it was helpful, thanks, will do

[@itsreal170]

How do the lights look now still clear?

[@manuelsolsona5795]

Very good video, useful and well explained, as usual😌. Thx!!

[@arcgarage]

Thank you for support my friend

[@Robert-Mk]

Super je izašla svaka čast 👌

[@arcgarage]

Hvala, pozdrav

[@lakak4056]

Nice car. The headlights makes a big difference. Thanks.

[@arcgarage]

Thank you. Agree, they do

[@JeZZGro]

Samo da javim sa sam juce radio ovo na Fiat Bravu. Samo sto sam ja uzeo neki najjeftiniji kit od 10e(najjeftiniji koji sam uspeo da nadjem), i zastitu sonax kao sto si ti preporucio, i ispalo je odlicno. Koliko sam skapirao onaj polimer je nista drugo nego neka vrsta acetona koja topi povrsinu plastike i u pravu si morala bi zastita preko. Samo se razmisljam dal sam trebao da idem do 2500 ili 3000 vodenu smirglu mozda bi bolje ispalo, posto sam ja isao do 2000.

[@arcgarage]

Pozz, vjerovatno bi, ovi su ispali kao novi

[@johnjkizer6399]

Excellent review by far, thank you for helping me make my decision. God bless

[@arcgarage]

Welcome, thanks for watching

[@Strike86]

I've heard those vapour kits are basically acetone steam guns - they lightly melt the top surface of the plastic and flatten it out. Not sure how well it holds up after a few more years of UV though.

[@arcgarage]

That is exactly right, but the liquid is not acetone, it might contain it, but I know it also contains things found in paint thinners. Since it only repairs the surface of polycarbonate, I don't think it protects it from UV at all, that's why I applied that UV protection at the end.

[@elioo_z]

had mines cleaned with polymer vapor....came out looking brand new...it's been like 4 months or so since i did it and they still look soo good...no issues at all@@arcgarage

[@alfa668]

​@@arcgarageBRATE PA OVO SU BOSANSKE TABLICE😂🙋🏻

[@arcgarage]

@@alfa668 Da da

[@jeffreymoore4132]

Thank you so much for the comparison video. I'll be using the vapor kit like you recommended.

[@arcgarage]

Welcome

[@MalSub393]

great video man, is it possible to provide the links we can supply both products?

[@arcgarage]

Thanks, of course, I have added all the links into the description

[@reubprue8602]

The chemical is acetone. Good thing you used protection. I know you masked just a little but you really should apply it liberally because acetone can remove paint also.

[@efaefafeasfseaf3904]

Can you tell me please, what is the current condition of lights, is they still bright?

[@GearMasterUS]

This headlight polishing kit is fun.

[@mrwise7067]

Where can I buy it?

[@geckotube9]

Very helpful comparison, thank you.

[@arcgarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RobbertdeRouw2022]

Thank you for this clear comparison video👍

[@arcgarage]

Glad it was helpful

[@miroslavangelov84]

Hi bud beautiful alfa and lovely red colour. Is the chemical liquid enough for 2 headlights?

[@arcgarage]

Thanks, yes it is

[@slavenleko]

Gdje se može nabaviti taj uređaj? Odličan video, pozdrav iz Osijeka 😎

[@arcgarage]

Hvala, mozes na netu, ako nema u hr, mozes ovde kod nas u bih, pozdrav

[@areklipniacki2732]

Thanks. Good job.

[@arcgarage]

Thank you

[@AlexPtc89]

The polimer melts the plastic and also sticks to it and acts as protector.

[@mart11]

So there is no uv protector needed?

[@nichoadrian1847]

idk, i still put coating anyway ​@@mart11

[@tattletalestrangler]

This would be my question, too - what about the longterm (UV) protection?

[@lensesvictim9945]

can this method apply on the motorcycle;s windshield?

[@arcgarage]

I think yes, if it's made from polycarbonate

[@abuhamza1970]

What happens if you wipe nail polish remover or acetone on the headlamp and then use a heat gun? Will that work?

[@arcgarage]

No it will not

[@Kpostma100]

Would aplying a sprayable clearcoat also work to protect the headlight?

[@arcgarage]

Yes, but then you wouldn't even need to use the vapor to restore it, you can clearcoat it after you scrub with with sandpaper

[@Kpostma100]

@@arcgarage agreed,but the result would not be nearly as neat as when the vapor is us3d

[@alxmatadrmz]

any updated photos on how the polymer headlight has held up?

[@arcgarage]

Excellent, like the day they were restored

[@alxmatadrmz]

@@arcgarage Thank you!

[@arcgarage]

@@alxmatadrmz No problem, it really is a great method, just make sure to protect them from uv

[@ebubekirtecer734]

Thanks for video

[@arcgarage]

Thanks for watching

[@salvimeca8678]

Any update on how long lasted?

[@arcgarage]

It still lasts, I recently applied annual UV protection

[@salvimeca8678]

@arcgarage nice , so I'm going to try the vapor method. Thanks for the info

[@philipjayordanza8763]

Can you use 600 grit first and 800?

[@arcgarage]

Yes

[@manhtran4043]

I think the life time can be different, depend on the polycarbonate quality of the headlight

[@mariusfurtuna9422]

Clear coat but 2K like the one used to paint the car. Or ppf transparent foil i think is ok.

[@arcgarage]

Both great options, but UV protection does the same job

[@marcomolinariperez46]

Good job

[@arcgarage]

Thanks

[@naysaway4381]

After sanding and polishing my headlight is still cloudy. I polished for a while, where did I go wrong? Can it be fixed?

[@NAjKONn]

it means u didnt sand all of the old coat fully

[@misterservicepro9407]

If your headlights don't drip a yellowish milky color when you spray water on them while wet sanding and if you run your hand over the light and it feels smooth to the touch more then likely your problem is on the inside of your headlights and not the outside

[@vinkopintaric6664]

Da li je polimerizacija trajnija od klasičnog poliranja? Nakon klasičnog poliranja bez uv zaštite farovi požute za manje od godinu dana.

[@arcgarage]

Jeste, ali je opet potrebno zastititi

[@jamielancaster01]

After the “UV protection wears or washes off this is how your lights will always look 3:18 You could have saved yourself from doing all that work & just rubbed some WD-40 or Rainey or even car wax on it & it would look the same as your finished product.

[@arcgarage]

Simply not true, I have been doing this for years, all the stuff you mentioned would revert it to damaged state much quicker. Almost a year has passed and these headlight look still like new. So if I apply UV protection annually, they should be good

[@airgliderz]

Not true at all.

[@JeZZGro]

Kako se drzi posle 3 meseci?

[@arcgarage]

Isto, bez promjene

[@SoSpicy-Gmac]

That thing will over time weaken the plastic on the headlight. It Melt plastic which makes it weaker and prone to uv breakdown when exposed to sun over times

[@arcgarage]

False, this method only melts the thin outer layer of the polycarbonate which I then protected from UV as you can see it in the video, method is proven and my headlights are still like new. However, you still have to apply UV protection annually

[@uros9151]

Po pedantnosti, domišljatosti rešenja, ideja za video, stvarno si na mnogo višem nivou nego što brojke pokazuju, mislim da si dostigao već taj nivo da snimaš bilo šta ljudi bi gledali… Kad bi birao best buy motor i menjač, je l’ ipak C635 i 1.4TB kao kod tebe, bez MA jedinice ili QV (sem problema sa turbom, po forumima je izuzetno pouzdan motor)?

[@arcgarage]

Hvala ti na podrsci, znaci puno. Da sam mogao uzeo bi QV, ali za moje potrebe realno i ovaj motor je super. Gledao sam da bude bez MA bas zbog pouzdanosti. u sustini oba su veoma dobra samo da su odrzavana kako treba

[@deanoh6414]

For longevity, needs a 2K clear top coat. That'll see you right for 10 years. More chemicals I'm afraid

[@arcgarage]

As long as you apply UV protection annually, they'll be good

[@Ermin1982]

Objasni na nasem da te razumijemo 😀🤪

[@arcgarage]

Bice bice

[@matejgr.8879]

Koju uv zastitu koristis ? Ja sam koristio sonax ali kao da malo pozuti nakon toga.. Isto sam radio polimerozaciju. Hvala.