Over time, the procedure for booking a car with a protective film is becoming more popular, and there are a number of good reasons for this. Of course, such a material is not able to save the paintwork and headlight glass with a strong impact or even hit a large stone. But it copes with the task of protection against small pebbles, the harm of insects, scratches by tree branches and other negative influences from the outside. What does it mean to book headlights, what material is used, what are its advantages and disadvantages, and is it possible to carry out this procedure yourself? You can get answers to the most important questions right now.
What is a reservation?
The film to protect the car from minor damage is also called anti-gravel and has been around for decades. More precisely, it is a prototype of a material that has long been used for pasting helicopter blades in order to protect them from sand damage. Almost all elements of the car are being booked, including optics (headlights and foglights). Usually "anti-gravity" is not applied to plastic parts, such as the rear bumper and side mirrors.
Why is it necessary to glue the optics?
Reservation of headlights is carried out in order to protect them from the negative effects of the environment and increase the life of the lighting devices. The anti-gravel film is able to protect the surface from chips, scratches and other minor damage. Booking also helps protect the optics from heavy pollution, which is not only ugly, but also negatively affects the quality of lighting. It is for these several important reasons that today many car owners have resorted to the procedure of sealing headlights with a special protective film.
What film for booking headlights exists? Varieties and manufacturers
Protective material of this kind is of two types:
It is immediately worth noting that the first is the best option. Polyurethane film is characterized by elasticity, porosity, strength and a long service life of up to 5 years. When hit, the headlamp glass will not scatter in different directions, but will remain on the film. Polyurethane perfectly takes any form and with the correct application procedure does not bubble and does not peel off. Despite the relatively high cost, this type of film quickly conquered the world market in its segment.
Vinyl film for booking headlights is cheaper for the price, but also significantly inferior in quality to its opponent. She appeared earlier polyurethane. If the latter is closer to rubber in terms of properties, then vinyl is a plastic having a solid structure, poorly amenable to the desired shape, which requires strong heating of the film. In addition, he literally bursts. Polyurethane is impossible to break. By the way, this is how you can check the kind of film.
As for the manufacturers, there are enough of them in the modern market. However, the undisputed leaders in the production of anti-gravel film are the American companies 3M and SunTek and the Canadian company Ricochet.
Benefits of booking optics
The anti-gravel film is able to highly protect the optics from minor damage, preserving it for a longer period. Speaking specifically about polyurethane, it "works" due to its properties, while vinyl - due to its thickness. Any special protective properties and strength should not be expected from such a film. Reservation of headlights will only help to disperse the blow, in other words, the load will go evenly, which will help preserve the integrity of the glass. It will not even leave a single chip. As well as the scratches that children can leave: only the "anti-gravel" will suffer.
In addition, the reservation film protects the optics from dust and dirt. With it it will be much easier to get rid of pollution, returning the headlights shine and radiance.
Disadvantages of using protective material on headlights
Polyurethane film is relatively expensive, and the price along with the work of the master will be even more. Vinyl literally turns to stone when exposed to low temperatures, and also turns yellow over time. The same effect can overtake polyurethane material. However, this phenomenon can be avoided if the armored headlights are polished once every 6-12 months.
The anti-gravel film is not able to protect against major damage. Perhaps these are all the disadvantages of this procedure. As you can see, she has more pros than cons.
How are headlights booked with their own hands?
The procedure for applying anti-gravel film is carried out in many tinting and tuning centers, as well as in deteyling studios. Masters with experience, the necessary material and tools will be able to do this quickly and efficiently. They can also buy a piece of film or even order patterns to stick on their own. This will greatly simplify the task and help save money.
Headlights, on the other hand, are not a body. Therefore, you can try to glue these small elements on your own by buying only a piece of material. In addition to the film, it is also necessary to prepare:
- building hair dryer;
- rubber spatula;
- clean rags;
- degreasing fluid;
- blade;
- spray gun;
- a thin needle or insulin syringe;
- Johnson`s Baby shampoo for children.
Why exactly baby shampoo and why do you need a soap composition? It does not contain alkali and will help to glue the film in the highest quality. For example, if formed by a crease, the material will be much easier to detach from the surface and reapply.
So, the first step in the process of booking headlights with your own hands-on film is surface preparation. The optics must be washed well, and then degreased (you can use alcohol). The main thing is that there should be no stains on the headlights.
The second step is to create a pattern. A contour of the headlights with a margin of a couple of centimeters is drawn on the film. Then you need to cut the workpiece and, without removing the substrate, attach to the headlamp. When the material takes the desired shape, allow it to cool slightly, then remove the protective layer from one edge, immediately applying it to the glass. When the film is on the headlight, begin to expel the air with a rubber spatula in movements from the center to the edges. Then you need to cut off the remaining excess at the edges and bend them as if under the spotlight. If nevertheless there are bubbles under the film, they can be removed by carefully piercing with a needle.
It is much more difficult to book curved large headlights, for example, like the Toyota Land Cruiser Prada. In this case, in some areas it will be necessary to make incisions so that the film lies evenly.
About all the intricacies of booking headlights, the pros and cons of this procedure can be found by watching the video. Having studied all the nuances, it will become much easier to understand whether it is worth gluing an "anti-gravity" or if there is no need for it.