Restoration of the headlight reflector by one's own hands: instruction, description and feedback

Any details in a modern car are subject to severe wear and tear, and sometimes these elements can fail even before their life. This fate also affects the car headlights. In them, a particularly delicate detail is considered a reflector. If the level of damage is insignificant, and the part is only slightly dull or burnt out, it is possible to restore the headlight reflector with your own hands. This will not cause any special difficulties.

Why restore?

When the reflectors are dim, this leads to a deterioration in the performance of automotive optics. Do not try to ignore this situation. After all, the visibility and safety of the driver of the car depends on the quality lighting of the roadway. It is also impossible to find the reflectors that will fit the replacement. And the new headlights are too expensive. Therefore, the best option - home restoration headlamp reflector.

Types of reflectors

Car headlights have a fairly simple design. So, this product consists of a lamp and a reflector. The first one can not adequately illuminate a section of the road. For this, and use reflectors, which help create a light flux from the rays. For high efficiency of the optics, this part should be in good condition.

According to the design and capabilities of this or that model of optics, the following types of these parts are distinguished:

• Parabolic.
• Bifocal.
• Confocal.
• Polyellipsoidal.

Causes of damage to headlight reflectors

Over time, the condition of the reflector coating can be destroyed, then it is necessary to restore the headlight reflector. The integrity and specularity of the coating can be violated due to a number of reasons. Often this may be due to physical effects, with a breach of tightness, moisture ingress. In addition, the quality of the optics can be affected by temperature changes.

Experts do not recommend using incandescent lamps with inadequate power indicators. This can significantly disrupt the operation of optics. If the requirements are not met, the surface will simply burn out, and then a mirror coating of the headlight reflector will be required.

Naturally, it is much easier to replace a part, but you can find the right part only on car parsing. Recovery is the optimal solution to this issue. With this process, you can achieve greater efficiency of the reflector and its resource.

Among the simplest, most effective and popular solutions you can apply the following actions:

• Restoration of the coating of the headlight reflector by means of metallized scotch tape.
• Use of foil and epoxy glue.
• Application of a mirror film "Orakal 325" or "Orakal 351".
• Use chrome inks.

Method number 1

Before starting the repair process itself, it is necessary to dismantle and disassemble the headlight completely. Then the structure needs to be warmed up, so that the sealant has lost all its properties and characteristics. Then all the elements of the headlight can be separated from each other. Reviews say: to warm up the optics, it is better to use an ordinary oven. And if there is a building hair dryer, you can apply it. In the case of an oven, it will be enough for 30 minutes at a temperature equal to 75 degrees.

Next, direct restoration of the headlight reflector begins. All work will be done using metallized scotch tape. Only this material has all the necessary characteristics and is perfectly glued to the surface of the reflector.

First we measure, and then cut off the pieces necessary for work. To cut it is necessary on the form which will approach maximally to the reflector. Then the surface of the reflector must be degreased and then it is possible to start to glue the individual elements. Then the grooved part is best covered with chrome.

Method number 2

The restoration of the headlamp reflector by this method will be carried out with the help of metal foil and epoxy glue. So, as a result, the product will have high strength, and the service life will also increase significantly. It is worth saying that this method has one significant disadvantage - the adhesive dries very long.

Initially, all dismantling as well as preparatory work are carried out. Then a pattern is made of paper. After that, pieces of foil are cut off and pasted onto the products. That's all.

Method number 3

In this method of reconstruction, a mirror film is used. Motorists talk about the high efficiency and effectiveness of the method. For this method, any film is suitable. But the product from "Orakal" No. 351 and 352 best copes with this task.

This mirror film is made of polyester. This material also has all the necessary properties and has a good reflectivity. In addition, these films are not subject to deformation and wear. In order to perform the restoration of the headlight reflector at home, it is necessary to dismantle, disassemble, clean and degrease the reflector working surface.

Then, using a scotch make a pattern. Based on the layout, the film is cut and cut. Strips are glued using a construction hair dryer. After gluing the film must be smoothed. This can help a building hair dryer. Corrugated parts can be painted with chrome from a can.

Restoring the headlight reflector with paint

The reviews say that this procedure will be effective only if the reflector is a bit dull or clouded. If the reflector is covered with cracks, the surface is oxidized or swollen, then with the help of paints the problem can not be solved. First, carefully clean the inner surface of the reflector. Reviews say that for the effect you can apply a microfiber and white spirit or kerosene. It is very important to remember that it is inadmissible to use any other types of solvents or alcohol. This can adversely affect the characteristics of the reflector.

So, further it is necessary to heat the mirror to 40-50 degrees. This is done by a hair dryer, or the reflector is heated in a thermal cabinet. Next, spray the entire Motip Clear Vanish layer over the entire surface. This is a special lacquer. It is very important that the sputtering process takes place in a single setting.

Then it is necessary to withstand the reflector for about 2-3 minutes in the air. At the same time, you need to constantly monitor the situation, so that there is no flow. Then the reflector, covered with a layer of varnish, is again placed in the cabinet for several hours. It is necessary that the paint to restore the headlamp reflectors is thoroughly dry. This will take no more than 5 hours. At the last stage, the headlight is assembled. Reviews of motorists recommend to use a new sealant for the assembly, since the old one no longer possesses the necessary properties.

Professional headlight reclamation

If none of the above methods have helped, then you should contact the professionals. Today many STO are ready to offer this service to the motorist. In the professional restoration of reflectors do not use film or paint. For this purpose, the restoration of the headlight reflector using vacuum spraying is used. This process requires the availability of certain equipment. Therefore it is very difficult to conduct it in a garage. Even if it turns out to restore the mirror coating at home in this way, then this is inefficient.

Reviews say that chromium, galvanized, is inefficient, as it is decorative. Especially when you consider that the restoration of the headlight reflector is by no means small (5 thousand rubles), it is much more effective to apply one of the described methods.

In general, to restore the state of reflectors, no serious investment of resources and efforts is required. The main thing in this business is to get high-quality materials and fully follow the proposed instructions. And then everything will necessarily work out.