A new way to split headlights?

[Calaber]

I'm really wary about placing my headlights in an oven to soften the adhesive to enable the lights to be split for painting. I'm also thinking about the other half's reaction when I try to do it - she's not very understanding of why I do certain things.

I've tried to think of another simple method of splitting the adhesive and thought "why not use a soldering iron?

I'm thinking of getting one of the replaceable soldering iron tips and brazing a Stanley knife blade to it, then using the bladed tip in the soldering iron as a "hot-knife". To ensure that the two halves don't re-attach themselves as I move along the adhesive join, I would use small wedges to push into the cut immediately behind the blade.

Has anybody ever tried this method? Is there already a "hot knife" type of fitting for a soldering iron that I haven't seen before?

I'd probably try this idea out on an old damaged tail-light assembly that was replaced first but I reckon it just might work with a lot less risk of damage to the light than cooking it would involve.

[Pete SS]

Heat it up with a hot air gun, you know the ones you use for stripping paint.

[pow3rslave]

i had a gas powered soldering iron, came with a hot blower and hot knife attachment. bought it at dick smith

[ScoHar]

I have sets of knives at home that I use over a LPG cooker, they come in handy for plenty of things......

[minux]

sorry, why exactly would you want to paint them?

[wildss]

i had a gas powered soldering iron, came with a hot blower and hot knife attachment. bought it at dick smith

do this...

[Calaber]

sorry, why exactly would you want to paint them?

I'm referring to the endless posts regarding converting standard headlights into SS style, with the internal black-outs in lieu of the chromed finish.

[Calaber]

Heat it up with a hot air gun, you know the ones you use for stripping paint.

Yeah, I have one of those but they can generate too much heat and the light assembly can be difficult to handle when hot. I'm looking at localising the heat just to the immediate area being worked on.

[wildss]

hence why a hot knife is your best option

[TheForgotten]

I'm referring to the endless posts regarding converting standard headlights into SS style, with the internal black-outs in lieu of the chromed finish.

you get caught with modified lights and you'll get a pretty yellow sticker for the effort

[DUK13Y]

Sounds like a good plan. Has a lot less risk than the oven method but having said that. It is very difficult to stuff it up using the oven method. Unless you forget about them or have it way to hot, you'll be fine.

I just did it at 100 degrees in a fan-forced oven at 2-3mins each time. Took about 5-10 times in the oven as the glue kept going hard after about 2 mins out of the oven.

[wrx884]

you get caught with modified lights and you'll get a pretty yellow sticker for the effort

Thats only if the reflector is modified but in this case they dont get touched, i mean it would b kinda irish 2 paint them dont u think haha

[Calaber]

you get caught with modified lights and you'll get a pretty yellow sticker for the effort

I AM talking only about changing the chromed surround to black, as per SS etc. Didn't think my post would be so obscure to some.

[VS Omega]

I wonder what colour-coded would look like on a brighter coloured car? Looked pretty good on the VB-VK's IMO

[wrx884]

I wonder what colour-coded would look like on a brighter coloured car? Looked pretty good on the VB-VK's IMO

Thats an idea wouldnt mind seein a red car dun that way, should stand out nicely.

[TheForgotten]

Thats only if the reflector is modified but in this case they dont get touched, i mean it would b kinda irish 2 paint them dont u think haha

you think we don't have that kind of stupidity in the world? gotta mention the screamingly obvious these days

I AM talking only about changing the chromed surround to black, as per SS etc. Didn't think my post would be so obscure to some.

fair call. i didn't check your ride, i assumed you had an earlier model which don't have the area required for painting to be effective

FYI there's some on ebay for $40 VY SS Headlights - pair - commodore - Holden - HSV - eBay Bumper Bars, Exterior, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 25-Jun-09 21:05:16 AEST)

[Lumps of cheese]

those lights won't fit his car. They have the teardrop in them.

[M01ST]

i thought all vy's had a teardrop

[Lumps of cheese]

i thought all vy's had a teardrop

Berlina, calais don't.

[petersmith]

oven is best and safest ive done it and its easy leave door open abit and it just pulls apart
if you use hot air gun be carefull ive seen ppl burn it

[chevy_big_block_bro]

I pulled my old VN (3 cars ago) headlights apart and painted the parts inbetween the reflectors red.
Looked sweet at the VN's had all that diffuser stuff on the lesne so you only really saw a fuzzy highlight

[joshyewahh]

iv opened 4 headlights n 2 tail lights before to paint the interior housing of them. first time i used an oven! this made the entire headlight too hot to hold, and also cracked the reflector paint inside the headlights. everyother time i use a heatgun and just localize the heat to the area im working on "pry'ing" open. works every time. im opening my VU headlights this saturday ill get some pics n show you exactly how i do it

[Banicks]

you get caught with modified lights and you'll get a pretty yellow sticker for the effort

But it's okay for people to be using HD globes and unadjusted headlights that blind oncoming traffic? God I love our law enforcement logic.

[CSP]

Errrr... Just buy the ones you want. A WHOLE lot less effort.

[joshyewahh]

i painted my headlights yesterday. took about 2.5 hours ( i was doing other things whilst doing the lights) wasnt very hard, just be patient while splitting the lights appart. make sure you remove the two philips head screws each side of the blinker area before you start splitting them appart too.