Headlight Covers - Pictures and views
Discussion
Okay, here’s may thoughts about them/fittings etc:
a) Firstly you need to cut them either down ( edges ) or out of the sheet as supplied ( indicators ). We tried a hooked Stanley knife; worked but it’s not possible to cut in one continuous motion so you end up with a wavy line. So then we tried a dremel; much better as you get a straight edge. Then you need to removed the burrs and sand it down.
b) Fitting; They sit quite well in position without the tape applied ( but, as is pointed out, the bottoms are very steep and so do not fit too good ). But the problem comes when the tape is applied; it just makes them too tight a fit. We tried several times with one indicator almost to the point of giving up but eventually got them in okish. The next problem is that because they are so tight, you can’t but the type off easily. On the headlights, because they are bigger and flex more it was possible to gently prise the cover away from the body to relive the pressure and remove the tape, but it was almost impossible on the indicators. That’s because being much smaller they don’t flex so once they are in you can’t get the tape out. It took several goes to get them to fit acceptably and the bottoms still stick out a bit.
c) Now on to the glue; This is the stuff that actually finishes the job off and makes it look neat. The trouble is, it’s not like silicon stuff you use in your bathroom. We tried the wet finger trick and it smoothed it but did tend to spread the glue about and make a mess. It took a lot of fiddly wiping to get it off the clam and if you get it on your hands it’s a b
d to get off.
However, now it’s dry this morning I’ve found you can rub it where it’s very thin and it does come off the body and does not leave a mark. My plan is to fill the gaps we left with more glue and then remove any excess when dry. Looking at Paul’s site, his are very neat indeed, mine are good, but not that neat.
So now they are fitted I think it’s worth doing. But it is very, very fiddly. But the results are that it does look good. I’ve included a before and after photo. I know you all know what a 3 looks like but it’s for easy comparison. Also a couple of close up ones as well.
So, to conclude; they look good but a very fiddly.
a) Firstly you need to cut them either down ( edges ) or out of the sheet as supplied ( indicators ). We tried a hooked Stanley knife; worked but it’s not possible to cut in one continuous motion so you end up with a wavy line. So then we tried a dremel; much better as you get a straight edge. Then you need to removed the burrs and sand it down.
b) Fitting; They sit quite well in position without the tape applied ( but, as is pointed out, the bottoms are very steep and so do not fit too good ). But the problem comes when the tape is applied; it just makes them too tight a fit. We tried several times with one indicator almost to the point of giving up but eventually got them in okish. The next problem is that because they are so tight, you can’t but the type off easily. On the headlights, because they are bigger and flex more it was possible to gently prise the cover away from the body to relive the pressure and remove the tape, but it was almost impossible on the indicators. That’s because being much smaller they don’t flex so once they are in you can’t get the tape out. It took several goes to get them to fit acceptably and the bottoms still stick out a bit.
c) Now on to the glue; This is the stuff that actually finishes the job off and makes it look neat. The trouble is, it’s not like silicon stuff you use in your bathroom. We tried the wet finger trick and it smoothed it but did tend to spread the glue about and make a mess. It took a lot of fiddly wiping to get it off the clam and if you get it on your hands it’s a b
d to get off.However, now it’s dry this morning I’ve found you can rub it where it’s very thin and it does come off the body and does not leave a mark. My plan is to fill the gaps we left with more glue and then remove any excess when dry. Looking at Paul’s site, his are very neat indeed, mine are good, but not that neat.
So now they are fitted I think it’s worth doing. But it is very, very fiddly. But the results are that it does look good. I’ve included a before and after photo. I know you all know what a 3 looks like but it’s for easy comparison. Also a couple of close up ones as well.
So, to conclude; they look good but a very fiddly.
Edited by snuffy on Thursday 23 April 11:19
do these fit flush with the clam or can you recess them ever so slightly - a mm or so, into the light bowl? that way you could use a spreader tool for silicon [like a flat rubber pencil with rounded tip] with enough pressure as to create a perfect line around them by spreading the glue out of its path. then wait for it to dry and peel off the excess?
shirt said:
do these fit flush with the clam or can you recess them ever so slightly - a mm or so, into the light bowl? that way you could use a spreader tool for silicon [like a flat rubber pencil with rounded tip] with enough pressure as to create a perfect line around them by spreading the glue out of its path. then wait for it to dry and peel off the excess?
They fit slightly proud of the body ( not much at the top but quite a bit at the bottom ) but they curve in so you get like a u shape trough ( for want of a better word, which I'm sure there is but I can think of one ! ). The pencil type of think sounds a good idea.
Use a guitar plectrum to gentle remove the excess. Then if necessary have another go.
I did mine and used a rough dish cloth to wipe away all excess away quickly before it set, then again ASAP put some white spirit on another thin jaycloth and run it around the edge tidying the edged to a straight line, as if mastic.
Mine do look very nice now.
I did mine and used a rough dish cloth to wipe away all excess away quickly before it set, then again ASAP put some white spirit on another thin jaycloth and run it around the edge tidying the edged to a straight line, as if mastic.
Mine do look very nice now.
just done one of mine as a test run.to cut the light from the mould i used paperhangers scissors.i did not like the way you could see thelip inside the light resess s0 sprayed the inside of the lip of the plastic cover in the body colour so now you dont seethe tape or mastic.i then resessed the cover .5mm then used fine line masking tape on the cover and the resess of the clam then applied clear tiger seal .removed the tape while the tiger seal was wet and applied a wet scalpol to flatten both edges
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