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

Dallaz · 01-29-2013, 12:46 AM

Now that the frustration is wearing off, I can go one of 2 routes tomorrow. I have heard to put it directly onto the rack at 200 degrees for roughly 10 minutes and that it would be just right, no melting issues. I thought that was risky, but after the rag we used was in the oven for a total of 22 minutes, it was still mostly cool, temperature wise.

And the silicone I could tell was soooo close to budging so most likely placing it directly onto the rack would do the trick, and in reality, about 1% of the headlight is actually making contact with the rack and its pretty thick pieces as well.

What would actually make contact w/ rack
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359441926.860476.jpg

OR..........

I could put the light back on my tray & damp cloth at 240-250 for 8-10 minutes and hope that does the trick.

Work station
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359441973.553811.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359441985.437564.jpg

b1adesofcha0s · 01-29-2013, 12:55 AM

What I learned DIY'ing with this mod is that it's better to be safe than sorry. I'd put it on the tray with the damp rag and maybe put the temp at 210-215 first. I wouldn't leave it in there for the whole 10 mins without at least taking it out and checking for melted spots like 2 or 3 times.

Take some extra time to figure out the best safe temp and time first then the next one will be a lot easier. We went through 3-4 full sets of headlights doing it the same way before we melted 2 of them.

b1adesofcha0s · 01-29-2013, 12:57 AM

The part that makes contact with the rack is small, but it's also where the headlight gets bolted onto the car. Definitely don't want to risk ruining that.

Dallaz · 01-29-2013, 03:49 AM

Gonna get started again tomorrow hopefully. Thanks for all the help guys

dmhenderson · 01-29-2013, 08:15 AM

Yeah what blades said. Don't up the temp. Just work slowly and carefully. Don't up the temp and definitely don't put them directly on the rack.

dmhenderson · 01-29-2013, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1adesofcha0s

Take some extra time to figure out the best safe temp and time first then the next one will be a lot easier. We went through 3-4 full sets of headlights doing it the same way before we melted 2 of them.

MKG was the only set of headlights that escaped unscathed. Yours, mine, and the guy with the 350z got melted. D broke the clip that holds his HID bulb in on the driver's side.

b1adesofcha0s · 01-29-2013, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmhenderson

Yeah what blades said. Don't up the temp. Just work slowly and carefully. Don't up the temp and definitely don't put them directly on the rack.

I'd say raise the temp only if everything else doesn't work, but do it slowly and carefully.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmhenderson

MKG was the only set of headlights that escaped unscathed. Yours, mine, and the guy with the 350z got melted. D broke the clip that holds his HID bulb in on the driver's side.

My cousin's 350 headlights didn't get melted so I guess we're 2/4. D was just the unlucky 1st trial

Gauge · 01-29-2013, 09:23 AM

Why not just buy a heat gun... I'm a complete noob at this stuff and it was incredibly easy with a heat gun.

dmhenderson · 01-29-2013, 09:52 AM

They're like $15 too. Requires a bit more patience but if I had to do it over again, this is probably what I'd do.

Dallaz · 01-29-2013, 03:05 PM

Success!!
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359493164.107808.jpg

We got it the second go around, up'd the temperature to 250 degrees for an
Initial 10 minutes, no dice. So we went in for another 3 minutes (at 250 still) no issues melting, whatsoever, and we finally got it apart after 3 minutes of pulling and wiggling a flathead around to help pry. But I still used a baking tray and instead of just getting a little water on it, we soaked it in cold water, and just wrang it out really good.....

Bullet proof idea. It was also folded in half so double the heat blocking power.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359493326.474099.jpg

After it was all said and done, the cloth on the tray still felt cool to the touch, nothing to worry about melting at 250 degrees if you go lens up.

Dallaz · 01-29-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gauge

Why not just buy a heat gun... I'm a complete noob at this stuff and it was incredibly easy with a heat gun.

We had one as backup if the oven didnt work. It's almost more stressful though. We did try and use it for a while, but your barely getting anywhere, and as you go it's all messy so IMO, just get it all heated to the proper temps, and get it apart as quickly as possible because that stuff (silicone) cools fast and it's really stringy and gets all over.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359493733.573817.jpg

Dallaz · 01-29-2013, 03:11 PM

I'm going to video the next one, start to finish, stripping the light, to getting it apart etc. and post it up here. I'm going to do one at a time and probably won't get them done for a few days. Don't have much time off

obito · 04-26-2013, 01:50 AM

it aint fun to do at all xD I took almost 2 days to finish it up xD

1slow370 · 06-15-2013, 02:15 AM

it's not silicone because silicone melts north of 400 depending on what stuff it is. it's butylene rubber sealant i posted the nissan p/n in this thread a ways back if you reseal with silicone you will never get them back apart.

Dallaz · 06-15-2013, 11:33 AM

Thanks for clarifying, I haven't really know what to call it except goop lol

01-29-2013, 12:46 AM	#226 (permalink)
Dallaz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Dallas Posts: 1,272 Drives: 09MontereyBlu370z6MT Rep Power: 15	Now that the frustration is wearing off, I can go one of 2 routes tomorrow. I have heard to put it directly onto the rack at 200 degrees for roughly 10 minutes and that it would be just right, no melting issues. I thought that was risky, but after the rag we used was in the oven for a total of 22 minutes, it was still mostly cool, temperature wise. And the silicone I could tell was soooo close to budging so most likely placing it directly onto the rack would do the trick, and in reality, about 1% of the headlight is actually making contact with the rack and its pretty thick pieces as well. What would actually make contact w/ rack ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359441926.860476.jpg OR.......... I could put the light back on my tray & damp cloth at 240-250 for 8-10 minutes and hope that does the trick. Work station ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359441973.553811.jpg ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359441985.437564.jpg __________________ AeroJacket Lip Kit \| GTR switch \| NISMO S-Knob \| Blacked-Out-EVERYTHING\| 5% Tint \| Carbon Fangs/Upper Trim \| VOSSEN CV3's \| Painted Headlights \| CF Diffuser

01-29-2013, 12:55 AM	#227 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 141	What I learned DIY'ing with this mod is that it's better to be safe than sorry. I'd put it on the tray with the damp rag and maybe put the temp at 210-215 first. I wouldn't leave it in there for the whole 10 mins without at least taking it out and checking for melted spots like 2 or 3 times. Take some extra time to figure out the best safe temp and time first then the next one will be a lot easier. We went through 3-4 full sets of headlights doing it the same way before we melted 2 of them. __________________ Project: b1adeZmobile (2009 370Z) \| Uprev Tune by AAM Competition \| Berk Exhaust Project: b1adeZmobile 2.0 (2014 C7 Z51) \| Corsa Xtreme Exhaust

01-29-2013, 12:57 AM	#228 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 141	The part that makes contact with the rack is small, but it's also where the headlight gets bolted onto the car. Definitely don't want to risk ruining that. __________________ Project: b1adeZmobile (2009 370Z) \| Uprev Tune by AAM Competition \| Berk Exhaust Project: b1adeZmobile 2.0 (2014 C7 Z51) \| Corsa Xtreme Exhaust

01-29-2013, 03:49 AM	#229 (permalink)
Dallaz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Dallas Posts: 1,272 Drives: 09MontereyBlu370z6MT Rep Power: 15	Gonna get started again tomorrow hopefully. Thanks for all the help guys __________________ AeroJacket Lip Kit \| GTR switch \| NISMO S-Knob \| Blacked-Out-EVERYTHING\| 5% Tint \| Carbon Fangs/Upper Trim \| VOSSEN CV3's \| Painted Headlights \| CF Diffuser

01-29-2013, 08:15 AM	#230 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	Yeah what blades said. Don't up the temp. Just work slowly and carefully. Don't up the temp and definitely don't put them directly on the rack. __________________

01-29-2013, 09:23 AM	#233 (permalink)
Gauge Track Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Madison WI Posts: 867 Drives: 2012 370Z Nismo PW Rep Power: 14	Why not just buy a heat gun... I'm a complete noob at this stuff and it was incredibly easy with a heat gun. __________________ I am a demon bolt slayer.

01-29-2013, 09:52 AM	#234 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	They're like $15 too. Requires a bit more patience but if I had to do it over again, this is probably what I'd do. __________________

01-29-2013, 03:05 PM	#235 (permalink)
Dallaz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Dallas Posts: 1,272 Drives: 09MontereyBlu370z6MT Rep Power: 15	Success!! ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359493164.107808.jpg We got it the second go around, up'd the temperature to 250 degrees for an Initial 10 minutes, no dice. So we went in for another 3 minutes (at 250 still) no issues melting, whatsoever, and we finally got it apart after 3 minutes of pulling and wiggling a flathead around to help pry. But I still used a baking tray and instead of just getting a little water on it, we soaked it in cold water, and just wrang it out really good..... Bullet proof idea. It was also folded in half so double the heat blocking power. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359493326.474099.jpg After it was all said and done, the cloth on the tray still felt cool to the touch, nothing to worry about melting at 250 degrees if you go lens up. KaienZ34 and b1adesofcha0s like this. __________________ AeroJacket Lip Kit \| GTR switch \| NISMO S-Knob \| Blacked-Out-EVERYTHING\| 5% Tint \| Carbon Fangs/Upper Trim \| VOSSEN CV3's \| Painted Headlights \| CF Diffuser

01-29-2013, 03:11 PM	#237 (permalink)
Dallaz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Dallas Posts: 1,272 Drives: 09MontereyBlu370z6MT Rep Power: 15	I'm going to video the next one, start to finish, stripping the light, to getting it apart etc. and post it up here. I'm going to do one at a time and probably won't get them done for a few days. Don't have much time off simota1, JARblue and ocnumman like this. __________________ AeroJacket Lip Kit \| GTR switch \| NISMO S-Knob \| Blacked-Out-EVERYTHING\| 5% Tint \| Carbon Fangs/Upper Trim \| VOSSEN CV3's \| Painted Headlights \| CF Diffuser

04-26-2013, 01:50 AM	#238 (permalink)
obito Base Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 94 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 12	it aint fun to do at all xD I took almost 2 days to finish it up xD

06-15-2013, 02:15 AM	#239 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7250	it's not silicone because silicone melts north of 400 depending on what stuff it is. it's butylene rubber sealant i posted the nissan p/n in this thread a ways back if you reseal with silicone you will never get them back apart. __________________ ANSWER PRICE LIST Answers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $0.75 Answers (requiring thought) - - - - $1.25 Answers (correct) - - - - - - - - - - $12.50

06-15-2013, 11:33 AM	#240 (permalink)
Dallaz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Dallas Posts: 1,272 Drives: 09MontereyBlu370z6MT Rep Power: 15	Thanks for clarifying, I haven't really know what to call it except goop lol __________________ AeroJacket Lip Kit \| GTR switch \| NISMO S-Knob \| Blacked-Out-EVERYTHING\| 5% Tint \| Carbon Fangs/Upper Trim \| VOSSEN CV3's \| Painted Headlights \| CF Diffuser

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