headlamp covers

[gtr-gaz]

I thought this was going to be an easy job, time consuming but straight forward.
Wrong!
I picked up on an idea from someone to use a polycarbonate paint from a model shop for the border. It went on great, covered well and looked good. After sealing and taping them in position (a bit of weight was required on the top edge, slight gap otherwise)while they set, they looked the business.

24 hrs later I removed the tape and noticed that the paint, in places was no longer attached to the headlamp covers!
I was able to pull them both of with little effort.

Can someone tell me what the correct procedure is for this and what sealant/paint do you use.

Thanks,
Gary

[steve_D]

I used the black primer used to fit windscreens. It has I believe a slight etching ability.
Find a windscreen fitter and blag some. Don't go to a fitting centre as the manager will say no claiming health and safety, customer liability, not being used by a professional etc. etc.

Steve

[davefiddes]

I used the polycarbonate paint too. Once it stuck it seemed to stay stuck just fine and looked great...until a week or so ago when I noticed the paint was coming away on the headlights and the doors now they've been opened and closed a lot more. Oh well it seemed like a good idea. I'm going to wait till they start to look a bit worse before I push them out gently and respray.

What I suspect has happened is that the paint has adhered perfectly to the surface of the plastic. Only our windows have a special UV protective lacquer on them...and I think that this has come away from the substrate. This happened to me with my first attempt at side windows where I had to leave the masking tape on for a week while I went to work and when I took it off it took the lacquer with it... (next time Ultima first, job second )

Primer that etches through the lacquer layer is probably a very good idea. The acrylic is so thick it wont cause too many problems.

[BobM]

I originally used the polycarbonate paint but when I redid my headlight covers (water/crap ingress) I found it detached a bit too easily from the polycarbonate. Pity cos it was much easier to use than the glass primer.

I got a bottle of the glass primer from Brown Brothers - they sell a kit with the screen sealant plus bottle of primer but also sell the little bottles of primer on their own.

[BigAl1]

When we install polycarbonate windows at my work, we use Sika Primer - 209N. This is specifically for plastic and the UV/Mar-guard coating on it.
The main reason for the blacking on the glass is to hide the glue from UV, secondary is the appearance, at least for the Sika products we use here.

Allan

[gtr-gaz]

Thanks for the help.
I have some glass primer in my windscreen kit. I'll use that.

Gary.

[YIIHAA]

I refitted my headlamp covers for a similar reason.

Used the Beta-Prime etching paint that I blagged off an Auto-windscreens guy. My original source was from Rover, who sell a windscreen fixing kit with all the primer and adhesive.

The other tip is to use PVC fine line masking tape, as it means you can mask up the curves without cutting. The fine-line tape also seems to mask better, with less bleeding. You can get it from the bodyshop warehouse

[jschwartz]

I had the same problem, pealed em off re-glued em without the paint on the inside. then painted the edge on the out side after scuffing with superfine scotchbrite.
jeff s

[BobM]

gtr-gaz said:

Thanks for the help. I have some glass primer in my windscreen kit. I'll use that.

Careful Gary, you might be needing that! Also be aware that once it's opened it does go off/evaporate. It's solvent based, and it seems a highly volatile one at that.

[gtr-gaz]

Just an update on these headlamp covers,

I have now used the black etching primer for the border, it's not that easy to apply but it certainly does the trick!
Both covers have stuck solid.

Any new builders out there, don't use anything else.
If you have the latest build CD it tells you exactly which bottle to use for these covers.

Only problem I have now is, like BobM said, it goes of like lighting even in the bottle, so I need some more, plus another spongy cotton applicator thingy!

Gary