Headlight micrographs

[ray6]

These are 100X photos of headlight surface during a restoration. Here's what the headlight surface looks like prior to stripping. What you are seeing is disconnects in the cross linked coating. If you could see it sideways, it would look like both deep and shallow ravines.

pre-strip

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Here's after first strip. Each strip removes deeper ravines. Doesn't matter if it's chemically stripped or by sanding.

After 1st strip
After 1st strip

chemstrip500 wide.jpg (150.44 KiB) Viewed 268 times

Here's what it looks like after sanding with 500 grit. All old coating has been removed, but significant scratch damage has been done which must be removed with finer grade abrasives.

500 grit wet sand

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Limited to 3 pix, will continue with next post.
ray6

[ray6]

Contunued from last post.
Here is 1000 grit.

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Here is 2000 grit coated with single coat of Infinity.

Image19500 wide.jpg (85.67 KiB) Viewed 267 times

Here is 2 coats. Black specs are dust. Ignore. Notice how second coat helps fill in scratches.

Image3001001.jpg (64.21 KiB) Viewed 267 times

ray6

[Old Blue 66]

OK, more questions come up. Cool pics by the way.

RE: two coats of Infinity, what is the purpose to the naked eye? Whne do yo apply a second coat (wait or dry time in between?). is that something thats need based on your process and can/should if be done with the Infinity process?

[ray6]

OK, more questions come up. Cool pics by the way.

RE: two coats of Infinity, what is the purpose to the naked eye? Whne do yo apply a second coat (wait or dry time in between?). is that something thats need based on your process and can/should if be done with the Infinity process?

It increases the thickness which should increase lifetime. It also tends to fill in scratches better.
ray6

[pommy]

Agreed.

First coat - hit with hairdryer, 5 mins or less and second coat can go on.

Two coats fills much better than one - but I find it can increase the milky/foggy effect I personally find with the Infinity

If you're happy with the results of one coat - all good!

[Old Blue 66]

I cant see adding a second coat of Infinity. My first thought is that it would just cloud up. Most of the cars I do are dealer cars so it doesn't really matter anyway.

[glassdoctor]

cool pics!