DIY: how to make your headlights black housing with 20 bucks...

chknhawk · 06-21-2012, 11:17 AM

HOW TO: Bake and Paint Headlights (FULL DIY!) - YouTube

Great DIY guys!!! I also found this video that talks about baking and it also says 250 Degrees for 8-10 min, no tools just hands. Thought this might help some people also. I think this is a Mazda 3 he is doing the mod to.

~J~

dmhenderson · 08-08-2012, 08:01 PM

A bunch of us mid-atlantic people are going to get together and do this all at once. Should result in some amazing pictures.

b1adesofcha0s · 08-09-2012, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmhenderson

A bunch of us mid-atlantic people are going to get together and do this all at once. Should result in some amazing pictures.

Yeah it should be fun. How many cans of paint does it take to do a set? I'm thinking 1 or 2 should be enough.

Gauge · 08-09-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1adesofcha0s

Yeah it should be fun. How many cans of paint does it take to do a set? I'm thinking 1 or 2 should be enough.

I used less than one and I did a ton of coats on both. Still need to open them back up and finish the trimmings.

Also, I still recommend not using any tools but your heating source. Pull it off. If you have to use a flat object, use a long flat object, much longer than a screwdriver. Like a paint scraper, and be VERY gentle using it. When the black plastic heats up it is very formable. You can deform it quite easily. If you bend it, don't worry it sits under the hood and the fenders, you don't see the part that can deform, but if you're like me, you want it to be perfect.

b1adesofcha0s · 08-09-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gauge

I used less than one and I did a ton of coats on both. Still need to open them back up and finish the trimmings.

Also, I still recommend not using any tools but your heating source. Pull it off. If you have to use a flat object, use a long flat object, much longer than a screwdriver. Like a paint scraper, and be VERY gentle using it. When the black plastic heats up it is very formable. You can deform it quite easily.

Thanks!

Jasonle · 08-09-2012, 08:07 PM

Afraid doing it myself. I wish I had some help here why can't you guys live closer

eastwest2300 · 08-11-2012, 03:14 AM

Thats where that heat gun comes into play, you can heat certain areas directly, instead of baking the entire headlight.

eastwest2300 · 08-11-2012, 03:16 AM

man, I really cant wait to do this, Im sooo excited for this. Mentally, Im walking myself through the process of doing it, now all I gotta do is go out and actually do it. This sh1ts exciting!

xweaponx · 08-12-2012, 10:00 AM

I did my headlights and found that using a heat gun is just a pain. It's A LOT easier using the oven method and it requires less prying. I made the mistake of prying on my first headlight. Not pretty. Can't tell from the outside, but once the hoods up :/ Learn from my mistake and use the oven method. The plastic warps too easily.

dmhenderson · 08-15-2012, 07:43 PM

How hard is it to paint the shrouds too? I want to either the whole thing black or do red/black like the guy at the top of the page to match the car's red/black theme.

eastwest2300 · 08-16-2012, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xweaponx

I did my headlights and found that using a heat gun is just a pain. It's A LOT easier using the oven method and it requires less prying. I made the mistake of prying on my first headlight. Not pretty. Can't tell from the outside, but once the hoods up :/ Learn from my mistake and use the oven method. The plastic warps too easily.

excellent information here... thanks

jlbrenne · 08-16-2012, 01:50 PM

Quick question- When opening up your headlights doing any MOD..AFTERWARDS, dont you need to bake the headlight to seal it again??? Every mod that I have done to headlights I ALWAYS get the moisture creeping back into the light after so long.

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated on this matter. The last thing I want is foggy headlights.

yellogixxer · 08-16-2012, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlbrenne

Quick question- When opening up your headlights doing any MOD..AFTERWARDS, dont you need to bake the headlight to seal it again??? Every mod that I have done to headlights I ALWAYS get the moisture creeping back into the light after so long.

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated on this matter. The last thing I want is foggy headlights.

Yes, you will have to re-bake to seal them up again. I also recommend going around the seal with silicone sealant as well. Just be sure to do a nice job around the area that you can see when the hood is up.

eastwest2300 · 08-21-2012, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellogixxer

Yes, you will have to re-bake to seal them up again. I also recommend going around the seal with silicone sealant as well. Just be sure to do a nice job around the area that you can see when the hood is up.

would you recommend removing all of the previous sealant and reapplying new sealant?

b1adesofcha0s · 08-22-2012, 06:20 PM

So how much sealant does it take to re-seal the headlights. Going to reuse the factory sealant, but still want to put on another layer to make sure it's air tight and to prevent any condensation.

06-21-2012, 11:17 AM	#151 (permalink)
chknhawk Track Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 541 Drives: Like a batouttahell! Rep Power: 14	HOW TO: Bake and Paint Headlights (FULL DIY!) - YouTube Great DIY guys!!! I also found this video that talks about baking and it also says 250 Degrees for 8-10 min, no tools just hands. Thought this might help some people also. I think this is a Mazda 3 he is doing the mod to. ~J~ __________________ \| AEM \| INVIDIA \| GREDDY \| STANCE \| NISMO \| SETRAB \| STOPTECH \| HAWK \| TOYO \| HANKOOK \| BRIDE (wishlist) \|

08-08-2012, 08:01 PM	#152 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	A bunch of us mid-atlantic people are going to get together and do this all at once. Should result in some amazing pictures. __________________

08-09-2012, 08:07 PM	#156 (permalink)
Jasonle A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: St. Louis Posts: 3,509 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 25	Afraid doing it myself. I wish I had some help here why can't you guys live closer __________________ 2009 Nissan 370z/2003 Honda Soccer Van Shineauto Amuse Body Kit/UAM Fenders/Bc Br Coilovers/Topspeed Exhaust/Racing Hart Wheels and More My Sexy Beast

08-11-2012, 03:14 AM	#157 (permalink)
eastwest2300 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: South FL Posts: 90,972 Drives: '16QX70/'21 Supra3.0 Rep Power: 2684550	Thats where that heat gun comes into play, you can heat certain areas directly, instead of baking the entire headlight. __________________ Infiniti QX70 & Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium

08-11-2012, 03:16 AM	#158 (permalink)
eastwest2300 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: South FL Posts: 90,972 Drives: '16QX70/'21 Supra3.0 Rep Power: 2684550	man, I really cant wait to do this, Im sooo excited for this. Mentally, Im walking myself through the process of doing it, now all I gotta do is go out and actually do it. This sh1ts exciting! __________________ Infiniti QX70 & Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium

08-12-2012, 10:00 AM	#159 (permalink)
xweaponx Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: North Carolina Age: 33 Posts: 100 Drives: 2011 370Z Rep Power: 14	I did my headlights and found that using a heat gun is just a pain. It's A LOT easier using the oven method and it requires less prying. I made the mistake of prying on my first headlight. Not pretty. Can't tell from the outside, but once the hoods up :/ Learn from my mistake and use the oven method. The plastic warps too easily. skolman likes this.

08-15-2012, 07:43 PM	#160 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	How hard is it to paint the shrouds too? I want to either the whole thing black or do red/black like the guy at the top of the page to match the car's red/black theme. __________________

08-16-2012, 01:50 PM	#162 (permalink)
jlbrenne Track Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 586 Drives: Roadster BLACK Rep Power: 14	Quick question- When opening up your headlights doing any MOD..AFTERWARDS, dont you need to bake the headlight to seal it again??? Every mod that I have done to headlights I ALWAYS get the moisture creeping back into the light after so long. Any help or insight is greatly appreciated on this matter. The last thing I want is foggy headlights. __________________ Black Rdstr:GTHAUS Meisterschaft FCB.Tint(20%+50% windshield).3"Carb Stub Ant.Z Lisc Plt & LED.Rr fog.VF Fend.Cust Handles.EVO Cust Rdstr Wing.Varrstoen 19" Whls.Stillen HFC&CAI.Swift Spring.VQ37 Cust Mani.Z1 UPREV.Amuse.310whp/254torq

08-22-2012, 06:20 PM	#165 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 141	So how much sealant does it take to re-seal the headlights. Going to reuse the factory sealant, but still want to put on another layer to make sure it's air tight and to prevent any condensation. __________________ Project: b1adeZmobile (2009 370Z) \| Uprev Tune by AAM Competition \| Berk Exhaust Project: b1adeZmobile 2.0 (2014 C7 Z51) \| Corsa Xtreme Exhaust

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