smoking my headlights after thinkin it went so well

[coldo1987]

hey all im going to have a shot at smoking my headlights today.I'm using salmon1's guide to do it minus the oven part(think i'll use a hairdryer) just wondered for anyone who has done this, are there any tips anyone can give me before i start?thanks

[TU-Tuning]

Take your time, give coats lightly many times for a good finish. Careful when you put the lenses back on that hot glue doesnt drip onto the smoked insert. Happened to me, so ive got to do em again now.

[Holmes23]

the oven is the best way to heat up the glue imo

way quicker, but this was on the mk1 headlights

[coldo1987]

the oven is the best way to heat up the glue imo

way quicker, but this was on the mk1 headlights

mk2 headlights im doing.just dont fancy the oven idea incase i melt the lights lol.dont want that happening.

[coldo1987]

Take your time, give coats lightly many times for a good finish. Careful when you put the lenses back on that hot glue doesnt drip onto the smoked insert. Happened to me, so ive got to do em again now.

thanks ben hopefully that wont happen then.i've got matt black paint.you think that should give a reasonable finish?

[Holmes23]

yeah fair enough, i did melt a little bit of platic on mine in the oven :p

i used matt black on mine, should look good on the mk2's

[rushy_23]

Dont stick them in the oven cus chances are you will melt the backing like I
did with mine :(

What a waste of £40!

[Jungle_Jim]

also when you peal the lens away from the body of the light becarefull not to get any of the sealant on the lens as its a mission to get off

[coldo1987]

thanks guys i'll try remember all this

[TU-Tuning]

Aye, basically be careful where th eglue goes its nasty stuff. Also be careful of glass chips, as they tend to fly off a bit when you prise the lens away and i cut my finger open when i di the fogs.

You dont need to use the oven imo, just get a haridryer on full heat and heat up the lens on each light all round the outside for about 5-10 minutes, then prise off.

Matt black paint will look fine mate, the Ultra lights have a matt finish too. I used gloss myself and im glad i did cus they look awesome at night when the light brings em up all shiny inside

[coldo1987]

Aye, basically be careful where th eglue goes its nasty stuff. Also be careful of glass chips, as they tend to fly off a bit when you prise the lens away and i cut my finger open when i di the fogs.

You dont need to use the oven imo, just get a haridryer on full heat and heat up the lens on each light all round the outside for about 5-10 minutes, then prise off.

Matt black paint will look fine mate, the Ultra lights have a matt finish too. I used gloss myself and im glad i did cus they look awesome at night when the light brings em up all shiny inside

thanks again ben sounds like this could be a bit of a challenge to do.you think 3 coats of primer?how many coats of paint and do you advise laquer?

[TU-Tuning]

No worries, spend about 10 minutes sanding each one down get a really decent surface for the paint to grip to. Then start spraying on the primer id say about 3-4 coats, again make sure theyre light sprays or it will run and/or take ages to dry properly.

Then 3-4 coats of the colour and the same with the laquer. Give yourself time to do it all, leave 15 minutes between coats to be safe. It may look dry before then but its not, its still not bonded. It helps if you find something decent to watch on tv or do between coats or youll just get bored n get impatient with the drying

[Predator_R32]

just take your time and let it dry between coats :) take all weekend plus more if you have to :)

[coldo1987]

cheers guys.i saw on samons guide he done sumthing that was supposedly illegal by painting a part of his hes by law shouldnt have??is the part he painted, part of the insert im going to be painting? or do i just paint all the insert black?

[TU-Tuning]

Just paint the insert black, the bit that goes around the headlight recess and holds the indicator lense.

Salmon painted the reflective dome around the bulb, which i wouldnt do persoanlly

[Predator_R32]

yeah just the surround not the relfected part :y:

[SaxOmniaC]

do you reckon both headlights and fogs can be done with one can of spray ie 1 can primer and 1 of matt black?

[Predator_R32]

here we go, just paint this bit

http://www.teamwoah.co.uk/fileupload/uploads/17qn1_copy5.jpg

and yeah one can of each should do both headlights, just depends on how much paint you put on, id recommend just dusting it on, or even better in a compressor :)

[coldo1987]

ok thats the both inserts out and gave them 3 coats of primer.that glues 1 pain in the arse to seperate using a hairdryer when taking the lenses off. I'm thinking i'll give them 4 coats of primer to be sure.whats the opinions on laquer?is it really required even though the lights are encased?or does it just give a better finish?

[Predator_R32]

well if you want a matt finish dont put laquer on if you want a shiny finish put it on

[coldo1987]

well if you want a matt finish dont put laquer on if you want a shiny finish put it on

hmm now i dont no whether i want matt or shiny lol.can you give any recommendations as to what looks better atall?

[Predator_R32]

have a look at chandlers thread i think he has the matt effect finish looks great in my opinion

EDIT here we go :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/270481b3n/Project%20Saxo/SaxoMk2lights.jpg

[coldo1987]

thanks predator they do actually look really good in matt effect.I've just gave mines a 1st coat of black and they already look good so far so i may stick to the matt look.

[Predator_R32]

:y: do it everyone has laquered theres and matt looks loads better, i might actually spray my lights in a matt effect, ive got 2 sets :)

[coldo1987]

well i'll post some pics up later tonite if there finished and let you see the results.by the way theres looking just now though im pretty impressed by the way theres looking so far

[Predator_R32]

good good, get them pics up asap :y:

[coldo1987]

just out of interest the small clear round cover thats shown over the sidelight in the picture there of chandlers light, mines seems to be orange.do you think you can buy the clear ones as orange doesnt look the nicest when you see the lights front on

[coldo1987]

finally got the lights fitted back on this morning and couldnt believe how good they looked only to hear "crrraack"the cold snow and air shattered the glass lens on one headlight.so gutted!

[Holmes23]

unlucky

how did the cold manage to shatter it? sorry if i sound dumb asking this :panic:

[coldo1987]

i was using the hairdryer to melt the glue on the glass lens and i think there was still heat on the light and the cold air shattered it

[Holmes23]

oh i see :n:

trip down to the scrappy then is it lol

[Steve]

finally got the lights fitted back on this morning and couldnt believe how good they looked only to hear "crrraack"the cold snow and air shattered the glass lens on one headlight.so gutted!

gutting mate, get some pics of what has cracked, mine never cracked and i fitted in the cold rain just after put them back together and still hot.

[rushy_23]

Bad luck mate, at least its just a lense your after and not the whole unit.

Still cant beleive I melted the crap out of mine in the oven lol. At least you
got 3/4's of the way there.

[Steve]

Bad luck mate, at least its just a lense your after and not the whole unit.

Still cant beleive I melted the crap out of mine in the oven lol. At least you
got 3/4's of the way there.

how long you put them in for? i did mine 5 mins 80 degrees checked them every couple of mins though, eased the glass off a bit each time and put them back in

[coldo1987]

oh i see :n:

trip down to the scrappy then is it lol

tried all the local scrappies around me but no-one seems to have any.seems like a rare car to find at a scrap yard these days when you need bits

[Holmes23]

there is quite a few down at my local scrappy, remember seeing quite a few

[Predator_R32]

you tried ebay??

[coldo1987]

tried ebay.they've got a headlight for sale but im gona try giving citroen a fone tomorrow to see if they sell the glass lens seperate from the unit.i really doubt they will though.

[Holmes23]

if my mate replaces his broken headlight soon, ill get the lens off it for you

[coldo1987]

thanks bud that would be great.its the passenger one thats broken but i'l try citroen tomorrow morning anyways see what they say.

[Predator_R32]

probablies be cheaper buying some already smoked tbh lol

[Holmes23]

yeah it passenger side he is replaceing aswel

[coldo1987]

yeah it passenger side he is replaceing aswel

even if it is the full unit im replacing i'l just seperate the glass lens off it and put it onto the smoked light i have just now

[Holmes23]

yeah, if i get it ill get the lens off and post it you

[coldo1987]

yeah, if i get it ill get the lens off and post it you

thanks holmes

[Holmes23]

be abit cheaper to just send you the lens :y: