Advice on painting headlight's

Hi guy's. I'm planning on taking the headlights apart and painting the inside's black, masking off the chrome rings to give it a facelift look. How do you go about painting them. They have some sort of plastic chrome covering of some sort so I thought I would give it a rub down with some 1200 wet and dry and then use a plastic primer ontop of the chrome stuff. Then paint it black with what ever was on the shelf (car paint) Does that sound ok? Also do you recommend using laquer or not.

I'm glad you asked this as I'm planning to do this myself over the next couple of day's. If you dont mind me asking, What are you using to seal the light's back up with?

I was planning on using black silicone. I dont know what else would work as good.

when I did my lights - I couldnt be bothered to mask the rings off so painted the whole lot. I didnt use any extra silicone to seal them as there was load of the mastic stuff left to real seal them D: I just used plastic paint - didnt bother with sand paper or primer

when I did my lights - I couldnt be bothered to mask the rings off so painted the whole lot. I didnt use any extra silicone to seal them as there was load of the mastic stuff left to real seal them D: I just used plastic paint - didnt bother with sand paper or primer

lol, so did you just use something like plasticote or what ever its called straight onto the surface?

Chris,

Would you do a couple of us a favour! if you manage to do it over the xmas period! would you do a step by step guide to painting them,- with pics (if possible) as i know it would be benefical to alot of us!

Ps how many times could i say would!!

Might want to consider something that take heat.

lol, so did you just use something like plasticote or what ever its called straight onto the surface?

yup

I like your rear lights heckler there different and look really good.

I think when I do the fronts I may well use primer and paint but I'll have a look at the plastic paints and see how they compair Has yours shown any form of flacking or is it holding strong?

Chris,

 

Would you do a couple of us a favour! if you manage to do it over the xmas period! would you do a step by step guide to painting them,- with pics (if possible) as i know it would be benefical to alot of us!

 

Ps how many times could i say would!!

If it's not been done before then yes, I suppose I could do that I'm hoping to have them done in the next few weeks so keep an eye out.

I'm planning on doing this too! looks like there are few with the same plan.

seems so I'm now undecided whether or not to use laquer after the paint coat.

I done this plus adding new lenses as well.

once the headlights were out i heated the light where they come apart with a hair dryer. Using a few knifes i prised the two halfs apart, (this takes a while so dnt rush plus you burn your figers a bit) Once apart i masked the rings and painted them black, When assembling again i just heated the original glue and it sealed fine.

I'm going to clean/degrease then just spray it, dunno what specific paint to use yet though.

Erm WOW at your lights they are fab, what paint did you use?

Erm WOW at your lights they are fab, what paint did you use?

i did not use anything posh, just black matt or something, if you have haze glase you wont see the finish that well anyways

So did you just clean the surface and then spray black paint directly onto the chrome stuff?

So did you just clean the surface and then spray black paint directly onto the chrome stuff?

well i put on plastic primer before though but yes.....got the paint from halfords...

I prepped mine with a scouring pad.

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/580/imgp09370zo.jpg

I prepped mine with a scouring pad.

 

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/580/imgp09370zo.jpg

i thought of that as i did not think the paint would stick that well, but it did .

Some nice lights coming up here I think I have all the info I need now. I'm going to use a 1200 or 1500 wet and dry to prep the surface followed by a plastic primer and then paint black. I think I will leave the laquer out and reseal with black silicone. Should work fine hopefully

seems so I'm now undecided whether or not to use laquer after the paint coat.

Depends whether you want that true facelift look or something different

If they were mine I'd laquer them cause they look so much better but that's just my opinion

The laquer would make it look shiney and without, it would have a more mat like finish. I think either way would look good, just depends on what you like

The laquer would make it look shiney and without, it would have a more mat like finish. I think either way would look good, just depends on what you like

my advise is dnt make to much of a fuss with them with clear lac and stuff. If you have hazed lenses you wont see the finish that well anyways. I have clear lenses on mine, i did not do clear lac or any fancy rub down or good paint, and mine came out really good, well you can see the finish in the pic,s on page 1. If you think there not that great finish do the rub down and lac thing

I think your headlights look brilliant and I agree completely about not being able to see the finish as wel as yours so it's not vitally important to get a spot on finish but I think I will still key in the surface and then just give it a coat of primer and paint. Thanks for the help guy's