repairing pitting on lenses

[///M42 sport]

anyone try the windshield repair kits to fill in the pitting?

[Jordan]

You can try buffing with cerium oxide, it will smooth out the jagged pits, but its not going to make them look new by a long shot.

[Jand3rson]

The best remedy I've seen for pitted lenses? Clear Lamin-X protective film.

Not only will it keep your lenses from getting more pitted or possibly broken, but the adhesive actually fills in 90% of the pitting in the lenses, making them look a hundred times better. I've seen Lamin-X installed on horribly pitted lenses, and they looked almost new.

[Fidhle007]

Would Lamin-X work in a wet-apply situation? It seems to me that that would improve your chances of filling pits and reduce bubbles but I'm not sure how the adhesive would react... I've never worked with Lamin-X, I'm simply drawing on my experience with the vinyl company I freelance for and was wondering if it would work before I ruin some good lamin-x... Which brings up another point, are the Urethane Headlight Shields that Bav Auto sells actually relabled lamin-x or is it their own thing?

[golde30]

lol @ bav auto piss cups...

a local guy cleaned the lenses very well, then sprayed with clear coat. they looked better, but not new.

[Fidhle007]

No no, I meant the sticky ones... But yeah, the piss cups are pretty funny, there were a few cars with them at Show 'n' Shine this year and I really had a hard time not slapping the owners.

My question is moot at this point though because I just ordered straight from lamin-x. I'm still curious about the wet-apply though...

[red]

found it on the website:

TO INSTALL:
Small sized applications may be applied dry and medium to large light installations may be applied wet for best results.

They don't define what large or small is so that is to your discretion I guess.

[Fidhle007]

Yeah, I guess it's basically vinyl, I'll just go with what my training has taught me and do wet.

[Fidhle007]

Although, now that I think about it I would assume by small they mean headlights and by large the mean body panel protection things...

[red]

Well they said you "may" apply it dry; as though its an alternative to a wet application. You obviously have some expertise in this field and can Lamin-x is very forgiving, I re-did mine about 3 times before I realized it wouldnt get any better and just left it how it was. Then again, I did do a dry application

[FL318is]

SOLUTION!

I tried this and the results are amazing. Use the clear coat paint that is made for rims. I can get the name if you want it. Autozone carries it.

Once it dries then Lamin-X. I really like the results on mine. PM if you want the name or pics.

[///M42 sport]

Ok I just clearcoated my lenses, so far they look pretty good. THere was minor pitting and the clear coat covered up 100% of them. I was thinking about wet sanding them before I applied lamin-x. Should I just use 2000 grit?

[Jordan]

You don't have to worry about the LaminX establishing a good bond to the paint you just hosed the glass with... now the paint to the glass on the other hand....