There are a variety of common headlight restoration questions. Let’s start by breaking dry time down into two categories, with the first being the amount of time before the customer can drive away and the second being the amount of 
time required for a full curing of the coating.
Drive away time is the point at which the vehicle can be driven without damaging the coating. Headlights should air dry at a minimum ambient temperature of 50° F for at least 60 minutes before allowing the customer to drive their vehicle. We say “at least” because the exact temperature and humidity during application may significantly increase dry time.
This time period can be reduced by using a fan, hair dryer, radiant heater, or heat gun. Circulate warm air around each coated headlight. Turning the headlights on will also generate heat and speed up the initial drying process. Any heat source used should allow you to comfortably hold your hand in front of it. If it’s too hot, you risk damaging the coating or the headlight. After the first 10 minutes of dry time, the solvent in the coating will have flashed off and additional heat will be of minimal benefit, but constant airflow will continue to aid in dry time.
The bottom line is that the coating must be dry to the touch and the customer should avoid washing the car for at least 24 hours as the brushes and pressurized water will likely mar the coating.
Coat2Protect will perform differently at different temperatures. The ideal temperature range for application is between 50° F and 100° F. While it is still possible to apply Coat2Protect outside this temperature range, the viscosity of the chemicals may be less than optimal.
The colder the temperature, the more viscous the coating will become. At temperatures below 50° F the increase in viscosity may make application more difficult resulting in streaks and increased dry time.
Conversely, temperatures above 100° F will lower the coating’s viscosity, increasing the risk of runs and reducing the thickness and uniformity of the final coating. The coating needs to be viscous enough to allow for curing at a uniform thickness.
Depending on driving conditions, environmental factors, and the customer’s care of their vehicle, the expected service life of a headlight restoration is at least one year and may be as long as 3 years.
In development trials, headlights restored using Delta Kits’ Coat2Protect were exposed to heat, intense sunlight, sand, pollution, car wash chemicals and road salts under normal driving conditions. These elements all contribute to the discoloration of new and restored headlights. Proper preparation of the lens and application of Coat2Protect are essential for maximum service life, as are adequate dry and cure times.
In the original Delta Kits Headlight Restoration Systems, a liquid polish was used in the final step to create a very smooth and shiny surface on the headlight.
Most polishes contain wax, silicone, Teflon, or other chemicals. If not thoroughly cleaned from the lens before applying the coating, sometimes compromised the chemical bond between the coating and the lens surface. Additionally, the use of a polish made the process messy and required more cleanup and care of the customer’s car.
Delta Kits’ response was to develop the current process of dry sanding and polishing. Not only is the cleanup easier than before, but it also improves the quality of the restoration through a better bond between the lens and the coating.
Water can cause the coating to become cloudy or spotted after it dries. Ideally, perform headlight restoration indoors. Protecting it not only against water spotting. But windblown dust and debris that could stick to a freshly applied coating.
It is essential to dry the lens and surrounding surfaces thoroughly before the application of Coat2Protect. Even small traces of moisture picked up from the edge of the lens during application and drying can cause streaking, spotting or clouding. It may show up immediately, or in some instance may show up hours or even days after application.
If you have a job that spots or dries cloudy, it will be necessary to reapply Coat2Protect. If the first application has not dried, you may be able to remove it using mineral spirits. Naphtha and some other hydrocarbon-based solvents may also be used. Be sure to clean thoroughly with Clean2Prep after use of any solvents! Failure to do so may cause poor coating adhesion.
If the coating has already dried, you will need to sand off the first application of coating. In this case, you should be able to start with a 600 grit sanding disc instead of the courser 320 grit disc as you only need to remove the recently applied coating.
Thinning Coat2Protect is not recommended. Thickening of Coat2Protect primarily occurs due to low temperature, age and constant exposure to air. To minimize thickening, be sure to follow the temperature recommendations noted above. Do not buy more than you can use in 3 months, and always replace the cap immediately after use.
Coat2Protect left in the measuring spout of the bottle may harden over time. To remove, pour a small amount of mineral spirits into the spout. Allow it to remain for 10 minutes, or until the hardened chemical has dissolved. Then empty the spout completely before using.
The tail pipe of single exhaust vehicles is typically located on the passenger side. Therefore, in heavy traffic, the positioning of the headlight on the passenger side of a vehicle is directly behind the tail pipe of the vehicle in front of it. The emissions from the tail pipe contribute to the deterioration of the headlight.
While Coat2Protect is very stable in temperatures between 33° F and 150° F, for maximum shelf life Delta Kits recommends storing Coat2Protect at a temperature between 40° F and 70° F.
Delta Kits does not recommend a 2nd application of Coat2Protect. One evenly applied thin coat will provide optimal protection. The exception to this rule is if the application of the 1st coat was faulty. In this case, remove the 1st coat before the application of the 2nd coat. See instructions for coating removal options above.
1090 Bailey Hill Rd, Ste A
Eugene, OR 97402
sales@deltakits.com
