@@Oreguns85lasted me a couple years so far on newer vehicles if you do the prep right. Cerakote is a space age ceramic protection product that was originally designed for firearms. If it’s good enough for a firearm that can get extremely hot it’s good enough for your headlights.
@@Oreguns85 so if you use the kit the way they, they say it lasts the lifetime of the car. But actually, not sure. I want to cut and polish because otherwise it always leaves a haze and just use the sealant.
After watching your video, I used the kit today. In hindsight, I presume that it's intended for headlights that have not been "restored" in the past. I used a different method on my 20 year old vehicle some years ago and used some brand of wipe-on protectant that I bought at the auto parts store. The wipes in Step 1 didn't remove much yellow. Sanding in Step 2 did a lot more. Overall, they look much better, but I suspect that I should have done more pre-sanding before Step 1. I'm not complaining, just putting it out there for comment/discussion.
I used this kit on my 17 year old car. Followed the instructions and was very pleased with the results. I have a second kit and am going to use it on my 20 year old truck. I'm hopeful for the same results. But I do recommend this product.
I used this kit when my 2006 Yaris nearly failed it’s MOT on the lights. Tried other kits but none touched it. Had low expectations when trying this but WOW they came up nearly like new!! Unbelievable stuff
I understand it you put some type of wax, polish or r sealer once in a while on the headlights, say every few months or so the protection will last for quite a long time.@@Oreguns85
@@SalandFindles in the UK every car has to have annual MOT (Ministry Of Transport) test to ensure your car is roadworthy. You can’t buy insurance or drive your car on the road without one 🙂
Omg, I used this today on our 2007 Hyundai Santa fe. The headlights were bad, but, it really worked great! I took my time and my wife was impressed when she saw the results. Took an hour start to finish, but I was in no hurry. Definitely would recommend it!
Thanks for the demo, I been wanting to use this kit for my detailing business to be able to do people’s rough headlights as an add on if they are needed and my dad used this kit on like 3 peoples cars with great results, and swears by it. thanks for the demo and tips. I’ll def buy one to keep on the shelf for when customer wants headlights restored also.
I used this kit on my 2014 CRV that had pretty bad oxidation. Results are not absolutely perfect, but fantastic as long as you don't go up and look closely. For my purposes, thats more than good enough 👍
Cerakote products ROCK!!! I used their Trim Restorer Kit on my car and that of a friend and it worked WONDERS for our car trims. That said, I am not surprised by the results of their Headlight Restorer Kit! Will be sure to use should my headlights get oxidized. Cool video! Thanks for posting!!
Used this stuff on my Camry. The headlight housing was YELLOWED and this stuff brought them back to new. I almost want to start a side hustle with this stuff. Cash only lol
wow I"m definitely going to try these in the future. Those Oxidation wipes look perfect for use on new------ish headlights that are a tiny bit yellow, but not needing a full sand!
I’ll agree with the rest of the comments, yesterday I did my daughter’s 2005 ford. The headlight lenses were so yellowed you couldn’t see the headlight themselves. For $16.88 at local store I would say it brought back over 85%, I used power sander technique in the past but this chemical process is better. A few points, the lens really needed to be burnished and after five minutes still less than desired. If I do it again I’ll buy 1000 grit and use first and since the coating is a filler, the 2000 to 3000 should smooth it out. The tip of drying it off, I used a hair dryer ( don’t tell ‘she who must be obeyed’) really made a difference. Thanks for the tips.
Just did mine in the past hour. Came out beautiful. 2011 Lexus ES350, light yellow tint. $18 with tax from Walmart. Dont forget the driving/fog lights too. Detailer wanted $150 to do them.
Good morning Josh. I used this kit on my 1992 f150 headllights and it works great. Can it be used on red tail lights? I didn’t see anything on the website about colored lenses. Thanks for the great video
I just recently applied this to my headlights. I have a 2016 Rogue and they had become totally hazed over with oxidation. Although this product does work well it certainly does not bring them back close to the original appearance. Following the instructions is quite simple and you really can't go wrong. But it is not that you are going to see your headlights look like totally brand new again. It simply does not work that way. Especially if your vehicle is 5 years or older where the oxidation likely has built up quite a bit. It is a good product but it's not nearly as good as simply replacing your headlight assembly with new ones.
I tested it on the very worst conditions: Direct sunlight all day every day for a year and it doesn't last that long. Other garage kept vehicles are fine.
What would you recommend for 5 year old headlights in pretty good condition to avoid future UV damage? Also, can you put PPF over the top of a coating?
Another very informative video. This looks like a great time saving product. I was a little disappointed that there were no after photos as you usually do.
I was excited when I ordered the kit...well the kit was missing the 2 ceramic clear coating wipes. Just returned it and ordered another one. Hopefully, it won't be another bust.
Great video. I have the product and look forward to using. The only recommendation I’d make is seeing the before and after pictures would be nice. Thanks!
I've used that stuff on my head lights that had very light oxidation. I used everything in the kit exactly as directed. After all of the preparation and some polishing to get the completely clear I applied the ceramic. A year and a half is all I got before they started to get hazy again . McGuire's is a much better product, and can last up to 2,3 and more years.
Needs some help here, I can't seem to find any solution before I purchase another headlight restoration kit for my R34 Skyline 1999. I originally used the turtle wax brand and it barely had any real result change. Also just notice a other reviewer used it and it was the worst in results when a micro lenses shot was taken regarding the yellowing. So never again. Now I am considering this brand because of the CERAMIC aspect being different than others. Would you say this may help? The headlights weren't in horrid condition with yellowing or fog, but definitely bad enough that it ruins my show car aesthetics. P.S. The clear coat left streaking also. So I am concern with this application being the same. It was recommended to wipe once on with the 50% overlapping. But I see you wiped a multitude of times. Which you suggest? I don't do this for a living. P.S. 2 I used the 3M headlight restoration kit (No Tool) in the past and it worked great!! But I notice it's discountined and any left on the market have a surcharge for it. Quite ridiculous. I rather not risk getting it again with expired liquids/withered pads (that's if possible).
Just bought a couple of the kits. I've got a 2004 Porsche Boxster S, it's headlights aren't bad, but for the price, figured I'd give it a shot. thanks for the vid and the info. :)
Used it on my 2006 Miata. Lens weren't yellow and cloudy but I thought they were kinda dim looking. Didn't see much if any improvement. I think if I had a car with a really bad case of the cloudies I might try it again but I didn't think I got much benefit from it on the MX5.
About to visit family in Arizona who have a 2011 Buick Lucerne that has lived its life outdoors (albeit its first 6 years in covered parking). The headlights are really cloudy and yellow. Do you think this kit will address it, or should I plan on some extra sanding in Step 2 (starting with 800 grit and progressing upward)? Thanks!
I've seen some user complaints about streaking from the product not leveling out right. If I recall, the comments generally stated it was mostly visible when the light were on. Just sharing, but please note I have not tried this product so it may be a non issue and user error on their part.
As soon as you buy the kit make sure the packets are sealed. I got a kit and when I broke it open both sealer wipes were leaking and one was completely dried out. Had to buy another kit just for the sealer wipes.
I contacted Cerakote tech support told them the oxidation remover was unnecessary and I didn’t use the oxidation remover because I sanded the oxidation knowing that if you don’t keep sanding until the original protective is gone entirely. Over time the underlying old coat will start to show through. Cerakotes response was. “BARE” and clean surface is necessary for a good bond. And you have taken the track to get the best results from our headlight restoration kit. If your lenses are clouded. The oxidation remover. And 2000 3000 grit Wont do the job. But it will still look 10x better than it than it did. The old process of sanding with multiple grit is the best process. If you’re making money Cerakote the way to go . Cerakote lays down the best of any wipe on headlight product no streaks. I hope it lasts. I feel the same about their trim restore I put it on 17 year old black trim a year ago and it still looks like just applied it
Yesterday , I did great on the sanding but I did not go vertical with step 3 like u did because their instructions said one coat and no touch up and all that nonsense that made me nervous ! Now I have some areas that look like they weren’t completely covered (still thirsty) or not thick enough coat! Can I touch up on those spots with the still wet wipes tomorrow for example (I kept them in a sealed ziplock bag)?
I like Cerakote for their trim restoration product it mostly does what it says. The headlight restoration looked good initially but i found that it yellowed pretty quickly and it got some overspray from IPA in one instance and I had to sand and re-apply it. I managed to get a hold of Rustoleum's Wipe New Headlight Headlight Restore product at $4.00 per kit and the vehicles I have done with it (one is going on 4 years now) look great. Unfortunately, it always seems to be out of stock and my local shop no longer carries it, they now carry Meguiars Keep Clear Headlight Coating (1 year max in my environment) and like Cerakote does not come close.
Nice video! How many man-hours would you say it takes to restore a set of two headlights by this method? I’m wondering if replacing the headlights makes as much sense.
20 min or so with this kit.. There are cases where replacement is the only option but for the cost and minimal effort its worth trying to restore them first
Good video on this, but what would you recommend for new-ish headlights (2021 Corvette) that definitely don't need any sort of sanding? I still want to coat them but I'm thinking honestly a quick clay bar might be enough, unlike with paint I don't think I would need to worry about marring with headlights? Or should I even just forgo the clay bar and do a dish soap wash, isopropyl alcohol prep, and then use a regular ceramic coating like cQuartz? They look perfectly fine I just want to keep them that way and protect them.
Just bought this for my 07 STS and STS V. The v6 is kind of faded, the V8 is minimal. Gonna have to do this at night cause I'm in Texas and it's either straight sun or rain and we have no garage.
I like this coming back and giving a “how to” Josh. I remember you testing several brands before. How about a vid “how to” with the best way to clay windows/windshields? I cant recall if youve done a vid on that subject. I have a lite scratch from wipers in the windshield. Now that the weather here in RI is getting warmer i can do these little projects now.
I always polished my headlight before using my sealant. What scares me about this kit is will the hazing from the sanding comes back after the coating wear out?
Permanent doesn't mean eternal. It's going to last a long time but depending on how long you have your car, you MAY have to do it again. But this will set you up for a good amount of time.
when u just starting to sand itll be a milky color, after sanding for 3-4 min (time mostly depends on the sand paper, if its 400 grit itll take 2 min, if its 1000 grit itll take 4-5) itll be clear and thats when u know that u need to move to the second one, if u have more questions about headlight restoration or paint correction u can ask me
Great, could you actually use oxidation wipes, and then go straight to coating /sealant wipes without sanding, my headlights are 95% clear only the top section is the most exposed to the sun, that area its appearing yellowish, just curious, could you skip sanding steps, don’t want to introduce sanding marks to rest of the headlight.
hey Josh -- great videos. For a BMW headlight that's pitted (not hazy), could we still start with a lower grit, and work our way up? Can we start with 320, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 2000, 3000? If we did that, would we get a better result? Would we use the oxidization wipes between the 800 and 1000 grits? or before the 320?
No point in using the oxidation wipes if you’re wet sanding with an aggressive grit anyways, you’re going to level more than oxidation, you’re going to remove the factory headlight coating as well. I would start with 600 grit and see if that levels the pitting, if not drop down to 320, 600, 1000, 3000, then polish, seal.
I used it on my Honda CRV 2017. One headlight was so smoky it was interfering with my ability to see at night. I would say 1/2 to do the work and 1 hour to dry. My headlights are 95% better and look great again. 5 stars.
The instructions did not give a temperature range for optimum success. We had a warmish afternoon here in NE Iowa starting at upper 40's and as the sun went down the temps dropped, but not down to freezing. Vehicle was our daughter's '09 CRV and masking was not needed as her's is one of the Hondas where the paint is peeling off like it was Saran Wrap. Decided to try this new to me product and experiment with a ceramic product formulated to bond to plastic. Your video shows a red and a gray sanding disc and I received Velcro sides with maroon and green sticky backs and I was left to guess which of the sanding surfaces was the 2000 and which was the 3000. Apparently the darker gray one was the 2000, or at least that's what I rolled with. Was amazed at how well the Step one cloths did their job nicely and once the yellow quit showing on the pads I was ready to sand. All that went as well as can be expected on a 40 degree day. Was apprehensive as to how long to let the Step Three ceramic application dry, especially with the temps getting closer to the 30's. Applying it in the dark was a trip as well. Headlamp light to the rescue.! Will be interesting to see if a cold surface retains moisture while the application process goes on. Thoughts of heating the leans with a hair drier or heat gun made me think that condensation would form in the etchings, so I chose not to do that. I had no indoor space available to do this job. We'll see how the coating cures here in an hour or two. Perhaps updating the video with the different disc info would help the first times buying from Walmart's inventory. Otherwise the video did it's job for my needs. Thanks
Another great video. Thank you. Have you done or could you talk about how to fix yellowed/hazy radio/gps screens? My screen also shows the backup camera and if there is any type of light coming through the windshield the screen is completely blurred out rendering the backup camera useless. I know the screen is plastic and touch-sensitive so I'm sure it's not the same as headlight restoration but it seems the chemical method would be the right choice. This system is from a 2009 Mazda so it's not the latest and greatest but I certainly don't want to ruin it or make it worse, which would probably be impossible. Thanks again.
hey josh can you do more sealants/paint protection product reviews? Looking to start my detailing business but not sure which products to use or include in different packages, like which product to advertise as 6 month or a 1 year protection
I used this kit this weekend, but because I'm a perfectionist, I sanded with the 2, 3, 5, and 10K grit papers I had on hand. I then used an optical polish, cleaned it with soap and water, cleaned it with denatured alcohol, and then ceramic coated it. The headlights look amazing.
I emailed Cerakote for lifetime warranty and they never replied to the email. I bought 3 Cerakote boxes from Walmart. Their product is decent but not great. You still see haze and streak marks. I suggest using Meguiars spray product. Spray makes streak free and spread evenly on the headlight. Whats the point of lifetime warranty when you cant contact them?
Hi bruce, permanent probably wasnt the best word becuase like the factory finish, it can start to oxidize over time. However, if you properly clean them consistently the should last a long time. Cerakote doesnt usually put a time frame for a few reasons. 1. it depends on the substrate its going on to. Not all paints, headlights, etc.. are the same. Some headlights are softer than other which can effect the longevity of the product
@@imjoshv First think, thank you for the fast reply. I do headlight refinishing and I go to a few used car dealerships and i know how important wording is, Scotty Kilmer did a video i saw today that said how to permanently fiv your headlights then he sprays some Plaxis on them and says there you are just like new and if you do this 3-4 times a year your headlights will stay looking new. So i commented, saying if you need to apply it 3-4 times a year it isn't permanent is it? but i never heard back. The reason i ask questions is if i tell a customer something is permanent and it isn't then i have to do it again for free. so i make people mindful of their words.
@@bruceaugustine6486 Yea i agree with that! Whenever i do a serviuce like that for a customer i let them know that we reapply protection, but since even the factory headlights had the issue, this can also go bad depending on how they are cared for. Whenever i compare it to the OEM factory headlights and how that finish went bad, the customer always understands that comparison
I use this in my mobile detailing business, used it about 3 times already and people always love the outcome. Easy to apply , great results
Yea they even sell a pro kit that just gives you more!
@@imjoshv exactly , btw I just ordered the maxshine mini polisher and used your promo code 🙌🏽
How well does it last?
@@Oreguns85lasted me a couple years so far on newer vehicles if you do the prep right. Cerakote is a space age ceramic protection product that was originally designed for firearms. If it’s good enough for a firearm that can get extremely hot it’s good enough for your headlights.
@@Oreguns85 so if you use the kit the way they, they say it lasts the lifetime of the car. But actually, not sure. I want to cut and polish because otherwise it always leaves a haze and just use the sealant.
After watching your video, I used the kit today. In hindsight, I presume that it's intended for headlights that have not been "restored" in the past. I used a different method on my 20 year old vehicle some years ago and used some brand of wipe-on protectant that I bought at the auto parts store. The wipes in Step 1 didn't remove much yellow. Sanding in Step 2 did a lot more.
Overall, they look much better, but I suspect that I should have done more pre-sanding before Step 1.
I'm not complaining, just putting it out there for comment/discussion.
I used this kit on my 17 year old car. Followed the instructions and was very pleased with the results. I have a second kit and am going to use it on my 20 year old truck. I'm hopeful for the same results. But I do recommend this product.
I love this kit! I’ve used it on 2 car already one it’s been on over a year and the headlights look brand new !
Awesome
Every now and then put a wax, polish or sealer on the headlights and they will last just about forever.
I used this kit when my 2006 Yaris nearly failed it’s MOT on the lights. Tried other kits but none touched it. Had low expectations when trying this but WOW they came up nearly like new!! Unbelievable stuff
How well does it last?
I understand it you put some type of wax, polish or r sealer once in a while on the headlights, say every few months or so the protection will last for quite a long time.@@Oreguns85
What's a MOT?
@@SalandFindles in the UK every car has to have annual MOT (Ministry Of Transport) test to ensure your car is roadworthy. You can’t buy insurance or drive your car on the road without one 🙂
@@georgina_gsm Oh, I get it. We have yearly inspections in most states over here. My state just switched to 2 years literally this year.
Omg, I used this today on our 2007 Hyundai Santa fe. The headlights were bad, but, it really worked great! I took my time and my wife was impressed when she saw the results. Took an hour start to finish, but I was in no hurry. Definitely would recommend it!
Awesome great to hear!
Thanks for the demo, I been wanting to use this kit for my detailing business to be able to do people’s rough headlights as an add on if they are needed and my dad used this kit on like 3 peoples cars with great results, and swears by it. thanks for the demo and tips. I’ll def buy one to keep on the shelf for when customer wants headlights restored also.
You showed us a before shot, but no after shot for comparison. Either way, great video, thanks for making it. I will go out and buy this product.
Great Instructional and Informational Video! Bought my kit yesterday, and will use today.
I used this on my 22 year old Silverado it worked great!
Great body style.
If one misapplies on the first go around, is it possible to strip is off and start again? Thanks in advance for the advice!
It needs to be sanded off
Did this today. Exceeded my expectations. Well worth the time and $15 🤙🏻
How well does it last?
@@Oreguns85 so far so good. Looks same after 3 months. My car sits in elements too not garage kept
I used this kit on my 2014 CRV that had pretty bad oxidation. Results are not absolutely perfect, but fantastic as long as you don't go up and look closely. For my purposes, thats more than good enough 👍
Cerakote products ROCK!!! I used their Trim Restorer Kit on my car and that of a friend and it worked WONDERS for our car trims. That said, I am not surprised by the results of their Headlight Restorer Kit! Will be sure to use should my headlights get oxidized. Cool video! Thanks for posting!!
Thanks for watching
Used this stuff on my Camry. The headlight housing was YELLOWED and this stuff brought them back to new. I almost want to start a side hustle with this stuff. Cash only lol
I had a similar thought!
wow I"m definitely going to try these in the future. Those Oxidation wipes look perfect for use on new------ish headlights that are a tiny bit yellow, but not needing a full sand!
Used this kit on many cars worth every cent.
I’ll agree with the rest of the comments, yesterday I did my daughter’s 2005 ford. The headlight lenses were so yellowed you couldn’t see the headlight themselves. For $16.88 at local store I would say it brought back over 85%, I used power sander technique in the past but this chemical process is better. A few points, the lens really needed to be burnished and after five minutes still less than desired. If I do it again I’ll buy 1000 grit and use first and since the coating is a filler, the 2000 to 3000 should smooth it out. The tip of drying it off, I used a hair dryer ( don’t tell ‘she who must be obeyed’) really made a difference. Thanks for the tips.
Used several other kits previously. This was the best- fastest, easiest, and easiest cleanup. Oh, and the results were fantastic!
Good to see. I’ve looked at the kit but wasn’t sure if it was good
It’s worth it!
iv'e done many cars with this product! Best kit I've used !
How much you use to charge for this?
Just did mine in the past hour. Came out beautiful. 2011 Lexus ES350, light yellow tint. $18 with tax from Walmart. Dont forget the driving/fog lights too. Detailer wanted $150 to do them.
I Used this on my Accord. Excellent product. Great results
Good morning Josh. I used this kit on my 1992 f150 headllights and it works great. Can it be used on red tail lights? I didn’t see anything on the website about colored lenses. Thanks for the great video
Great tip on rinsing residue off when sanding. Makes sense
Thanks
I just got done with mine, and they look so much better. Will be getting another kit to do the wife's car with.
What kind of garage cabinets do you have?
Good to know your results, a great kit for a budget friendly price, I cannot understand why so many people drive with those yellow headlights
Good video on cleaning headlights Josh.
I just recently applied this to my headlights. I have a 2016 Rogue and they had become totally hazed over with oxidation. Although this product does work well it certainly does not bring them back close to the original appearance. Following the instructions is quite simple and you really can't go wrong. But it is not that you are going to see your headlights look like totally brand new again. It simply does not work that way. Especially if your vehicle is 5 years or older where the oxidation likely has built up quite a bit. It is a good product but it's not nearly as good as simply replacing your headlight assembly with new ones.
Left light was replaced due to accident. Right side looked terrible in comparison.
Just finished. Looks good! Thanks!
Awesome!
Hey josh interested in a long term with ppf what do you recommend for this? Any pointers welcome.
I tested it on the very worst conditions: Direct sunlight all day every day for a year and it doesn't last that long. Other garage kept vehicles are fine.
What would you recommend for 5 year old headlights in pretty good condition to avoid future UV damage? Also, can you put PPF over the top of a coating?
Another very informative video. This looks like a great time saving product. I was a little disappointed that there were no after photos as you usually do.
Yeah I wish he showed his finished results
I was excited when I ordered the kit...well the kit was missing the 2 ceramic clear coating wipes. Just returned it and ordered another one. Hopefully, it won't be another bust.
Thank you. Any good to rinse with alcohol before the coating application?
Thanks going to give it a shot. How long roughly, will this last if done properly? Did you ever try their Trim Coat Restoration kit? Any good?
Great video. I have the product and look forward to using. The only recommendation I’d make is seeing the before and after pictures would be nice. Thanks!
Question!!!! How long do these results last??!? Florida sun, normal driving?!
I've used that stuff on my head lights that had very light oxidation. I used everything in the kit exactly as directed. After all of the preparation and some polishing to get the completely clear I applied the ceramic. A year and a half is all I got before they started to get hazy again . McGuire's is a much better product, and can last up to 2,3 and more years.
Thanks! I look forward to buying and using this product! 😃
Needs some help here, I can't seem to find any solution before I purchase another headlight restoration kit for my R34 Skyline 1999. I originally used the turtle wax brand and it barely had any real result change. Also just notice a other reviewer used it and it was the worst in results when a micro lenses shot was taken regarding the yellowing. So never again.
Now I am considering this brand because of the CERAMIC aspect being different than others. Would you say this may help? The headlights weren't in horrid condition with yellowing or fog, but definitely bad enough that it ruins my show car aesthetics.
P.S. The clear coat left streaking also. So I am concern with this application being the same. It was recommended to wipe once on with the 50% overlapping. But I see you wiped a multitude of times. Which you suggest? I don't do this for a living.
P.S. 2 I used the 3M headlight restoration kit (No Tool) in the past and it worked great!! But I notice it's discountined and any left on the market have a surcharge for it. Quite ridiculous. I rather not risk getting it again with expired liquids/withered pads (that's if possible).
Mine were left streaking, I wiped 3 times as well. I gotta figure out how to remove the coating to re-do the process, any ideas?
@@kevin_ramirez2529 I think when you use the samdpaper again it removes it
Just bought a couple of the kits. I've got a 2004 Porsche Boxster S, it's headlights aren't bad, but for the price, figured I'd give it a shot. thanks for the vid and the info. :)
Used it on my 2006 Miata. Lens weren't yellow and cloudy but I thought they were kinda dim looking. Didn't see much if any improvement. I think if I had a car with a really bad case of the cloudies I might try it again but I didn't think I got much benefit from it on the MX5.
Will it work on the more deeply sanded surface, with the factory coating removed?
Would there by any benefit to using a 2k clear coat afterwards?
Any updates on this product? How good did it hold up?
Just used this and it really does work!
👍👍
About to visit family in Arizona who have a 2011 Buick Lucerne that has lived its life outdoors (albeit its first 6 years in covered parking). The headlights are really cloudy and yellow. Do you think this kit will address it, or should I plan on some extra sanding in Step 2 (starting with 800 grit and progressing upward)? Thanks!
I bought this kit but haven’t had a chance to use it yet, thanks Josh 👍😁
Do you know if this will remove iron from our well that sprays on our headlights. Thanks
Do you think this would work on a motorcycle windshield? Also is the Cerakote ceramic headlight formula the same as their ceramic paint product?
I've seen some user complaints about streaking from the product not leveling out right. If I recall, the comments generally stated it was mostly visible when the light were on. Just sharing, but please note I have not tried this product so it may be a non issue and user error on their part.
As soon as you buy the kit make sure the packets are sealed. I got a kit and when I broke it open both sealer wipes were leaking and one was completely dried out. Had to buy another kit just for the sealer wipes.
Same here, it actually damaged my couch.
Do you recommend using surface prep before applying the ceramic coating to the headlight? Something like Gyeon surface prep
I contacted Cerakote tech support told them the oxidation remover was unnecessary and I didn’t use the oxidation remover because I sanded the oxidation knowing that if you don’t keep sanding until the original protective is gone entirely. Over time the underlying old coat will start to show through. Cerakotes response was. “BARE” and clean surface is necessary for a good bond. And you have taken the track to get the best results from our headlight restoration kit.
If your lenses are clouded. The oxidation remover. And 2000 3000 grit Wont do the job. But it will still look 10x better than it than it did. The old process of sanding with multiple grit is the best process. If you’re making money Cerakote the way to go .
Cerakote lays down the best of any wipe on headlight product no streaks. I hope it lasts.
I feel the same about their trim restore I put it on 17 year old black trim a year ago and it still looks like just applied it
Just bought this yesterday and it came today so ima use it on my 370z let’s see how it works
About how long does the ceramic coat last?
Yesterday , I did great on the sanding but I did not go vertical with step 3 like u did because their instructions said one coat and no touch up and all that nonsense that made me nervous ! Now I have some areas that look like they weren’t completely covered (still thirsty) or not thick enough coat! Can I touch up on those spots with the still wet wipes tomorrow for example (I kept them in a sealed ziplock bag)?
Hmm I’m not 100% sure. I would write them on instagram ( they get back pretty quickly) just to make sure!
I like Cerakote for their trim restoration product it mostly does what it says. The headlight restoration looked good initially but i found that it yellowed pretty quickly and it got some overspray from IPA in one instance and I had to sand and re-apply it. I managed to get a hold of Rustoleum's Wipe New Headlight Headlight Restore product at $4.00 per kit and the vehicles I have done with it (one is going on 4 years now) look great. Unfortunately, it always seems to be out of stock and my local shop no longer carries it, they now carry Meguiars Keep Clear Headlight Coating (1 year max in my environment) and like Cerakote does not come close.
Thanks for the guidance, very helpful
Happy to help
What if oxidation is 3/4 of headlamp(top part) Do I still apply/sand entire even unoxidated part?
Yeah it helps the product hold on the the surface
Nice video! How many man-hours would you say it takes to restore a set of two headlights by this method? I’m wondering if replacing the headlights makes as much sense.
20 min or so with this kit.. There are cases where replacement is the only option but for the cost and minimal effort its worth trying to restore them first
Good video on this, but what would you recommend for new-ish headlights (2021 Corvette) that definitely don't need any sort of sanding? I still want to coat them but I'm thinking honestly a quick clay bar might be enough, unlike with paint I don't think I would need to worry about marring with headlights? Or should I even just forgo the clay bar and do a dish soap wash, isopropyl alcohol prep, and then use a regular ceramic coating like cQuartz? They look perfectly fine I just want to keep them that way and protect them.
What’s ur thought on the ole California duster or similar products? Have a video on them already? Or can you make one.?
first time viewer here glad i found you great video. Is the ceramic coating available separately?
Just bought this for my 07 STS and STS V. The v6 is kind of faded, the V8 is minimal. Gonna have to do this at night cause I'm in Texas and it's either straight sun or rain and we have no garage.
I like this coming back and giving a “how to” Josh. I remember you testing several brands before. How about a vid “how to” with the best way to clay windows/windshields? I cant recall if youve done a vid on that subject. I have a lite scratch from wipers in the windshield. Now that the weather here in RI is getting warmer i can do these little projects now.
I always polished my headlight before using my sealant. What scares me about this kit is will the hazing from the sanding comes back after the coating wear out?
The coating is designed to be permanent so you should be ok
Permanent doesn't mean eternal. It's going to last a long time but depending on how long you have your car, you MAY have to do it again. But this will set you up for a good amount of time.
@@georgina_gsmThe OEM UV coating is a more "permanent" coating and it failed, so.... stuff might make it 2-3 years under ideal conditions.
Nice video. When do you "know" it's time to move from the "first" sandpaper disk to the second one?
when u just starting to sand itll be a milky color, after sanding for 3-4 min (time mostly depends on the sand paper, if its 400 grit itll take 2 min, if its 1000 grit itll take 4-5) itll be clear and thats when u know that u need to move to the second one, if u have more questions about headlight restoration or paint correction u can ask me
Could you see scratches when you were finished.
Thanks
Where are the before/after comparison shots...? Did I miss that?
Is it one kit per headlight or for both?
One kit does both headlights.
How well does it last???
Used on two cars great results.
Thank you so much for your information. Will try the kits.
Hey Josh, or anyone for that matter, how do you like this product in comparison to the turtle wax headlight restorer kit?
Cherakote and Sylvania are the best headlight restoration kits that you can buy off the shelf.
Is it a waiting period to wash your car after ? Or you prefer before
I bought this kit but then saw on RUclips to use Mother's mag and wheel polish. Mother's worked
Great, could you actually use oxidation wipes, and then go straight to coating /sealant wipes without sanding, my headlights are 95% clear only the top section is the most exposed to the sun, that area its appearing yellowish, just curious, could you skip sanding steps, don’t want to introduce sanding marks to rest of the headlight.
So easy, a First Timer could do it. Love this video!
hey Josh -- great videos. For a BMW headlight that's pitted (not hazy), could we still start with a lower grit, and work our way up? Can we start with 320, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 2000, 3000? If we did that, would we get a better result? Would we use the oxidization wipes between the 800 and 1000 grits? or before the 320?
No point in using the oxidation wipes if you’re wet sanding with an aggressive grit anyways, you’re going to level more than oxidation, you’re going to remove the factory headlight coating as well. I would start with 600 grit and see if that levels the pitting, if not drop down to 320, 600, 1000, 3000, then polish, seal.
No need for the oxidation wipes, I started with 400,600,1000,2000,3000. Came out nice.
I used it on my Honda CRV 2017. One headlight was so smoky it was interfering with my ability to see at night. I would say 1/2 to do the work and 1 hour to dry. My headlights are 95% better and look great again. 5 stars.
The instructions did not give a temperature range for optimum success. We had a warmish afternoon here in NE Iowa starting at upper 40's and as the sun went down the temps dropped, but not down to freezing. Vehicle was our daughter's '09 CRV and masking was not needed as her's is one of the Hondas where the paint is peeling off like it was Saran Wrap. Decided to try this new to me product and experiment with a ceramic product formulated to bond to plastic. Your video shows a red and a gray sanding disc and I received Velcro sides with maroon and green sticky backs and I was left to guess which of the sanding surfaces was the 2000 and which was the 3000. Apparently the darker gray one was the 2000, or at least that's what I rolled with.
Was amazed at how well the Step one cloths did their job nicely and once the yellow quit showing on the pads I was ready to sand. All that went as well as can be expected on a 40 degree day. Was apprehensive as to how long to let the Step Three ceramic application dry, especially with the temps getting closer to the 30's. Applying it in the dark was a trip as well. Headlamp light to the rescue.! Will be interesting to see if a cold surface retains moisture while the application process goes on. Thoughts of heating the leans with a hair drier or heat gun made me think that condensation would form in the etchings, so I chose not to do that. I had no indoor space available to do this job. We'll see how the coating cures here in an hour or two.
Perhaps updating the video with the different disc info would help the first times buying from Walmart's inventory. Otherwise the video did it's job for my needs. Thanks
Another great video. Thank you. Have you done or could you talk about how to fix yellowed/hazy radio/gps screens? My screen also shows the backup camera and if there is any type of light coming through the windshield the screen is completely blurred out rendering the backup camera useless. I know the screen is plastic and touch-sensitive so I'm sure it's not the same as headlight restoration but it seems the chemical method would be the right choice. This system is from a 2009 Mazda so it's not the latest and greatest but I certainly don't want to ruin it or make it worse, which would probably be impossible. Thanks again.
Great video!
My headlights are not as bad, I don’t feel comfortable sanding, can I just use step 1 and 2?
hey josh can you do more sealants/paint protection product reviews? Looking to start my detailing business but not sure which products to use or include in different packages, like which product to advertise as 6 month or a 1 year protection
I used this kit this weekend, but because I'm a perfectionist, I sanded with the 2, 3, 5, and 10K grit papers I had on hand. I then used an optical polish, cleaned it with soap and water, cleaned it with denatured alcohol, and then ceramic coated it. The headlights look amazing.
Awesome!
Great information and well articulated. Thank you for the tips and sharing your experience. Garage it is. 🍻
Thank you, a before and after shot would've been nice.
About what's the average lifespan of the results?
Have you tried any battery generator?
Eco flow delta 2 easy recommend for me.
Well done video…..thank you
I emailed Cerakote for lifetime warranty and they never replied to the email. I bought 3 Cerakote boxes from Walmart. Their product is decent but not great. You still see haze and streak marks. I suggest using Meguiars spray product. Spray makes streak free and spread evenly on the headlight.
Whats the point of lifetime warranty when you cant contact them?
Awesome informative video. Pimp slap that like button people!!!
After you apply the ceramic coating and let cure…do you wipe down with any kind of topper just for added protection??
You can try a ceramic sealer I recommend 303 ceramic sealant it’s activated by water and is great
No masking the area?
Hey Josh what are you using to hold up your Foam guns. The one that's mounted on that cabinet behind you the blue and white one with the clear bottle.
Here you go: dtlrsupply.com/products/foam-cannon-mount
@@imjoshv thanks
So you said permanently what is their warranty if it fails and owner comes back in 2 years with oxidized headlights?
Hi bruce, permanent probably wasnt the best word becuase like the factory finish, it can start to oxidize over time. However, if you properly clean them consistently the should last a long time. Cerakote doesnt usually put a time frame for a few reasons. 1. it depends on the substrate its going on to. Not all paints, headlights, etc.. are the same. Some headlights are softer than other which can effect the longevity of the product
@@imjoshv First think, thank you for the fast reply. I do headlight refinishing and I go to a few used car dealerships and i know how important wording is, Scotty Kilmer did a video i saw today that said how to permanently fiv your headlights then he sprays some Plaxis on them and says there you are just like new and if you do this 3-4 times a year your headlights will stay looking new. So i commented, saying if you need to apply it 3-4 times a year it isn't permanent is it? but i never heard back. The reason i ask questions is if i tell a customer something is permanent and it isn't then i have to do it again for free. so i make people mindful of their words.
@@bruceaugustine6486 Yea i agree with that! Whenever i do a serviuce like that for a customer i let them know that we reapply protection, but since even the factory headlights had the issue, this can also go bad depending on how they are cared for. Whenever i compare it to the OEM factory headlights and how that finish went bad, the customer always understands that comparison