Rear light refurb - paint?

[Naybr]

I'm just about to remove and re-seal my rear light covers. I also need to repaint the black border round the inside which has become very cracked.

Can anyone recommend a type of black paint which works well for this please?

[memfis]

Naybr said:

I'm just about to remove and re-seal my rear light covers. I also need to repaint the black border round the inside which has become very cracked.

Can anyone recommend a type of black paint which works well for this please?

The Black bit is just the primer that is used when fitting windsceen's if that is any help and they were bonded on with windscreen sealant. you might be able to buy a kit somewhere to do the job.

[bigdods]

I used black enamel paint from halfords and pin stripe tape (like very thin masking tape) to create the nice sharp edge to paint up to.

This was ~3 or 4 years ago, but the paint has now started to blister slightly. If I was doing it again I would do it the way I believe the factory did it, that is to thin down some tigerseal (or sikaflex) then use that like paint.

[Naybr]

That sounds a good idea. I've bought Sikaflex 221 to stick the covers back on with. Any idea what to thin it with - white spirit?

[bigdods]

Naybr said:

That sounds a good idea. I've bought Sikaflex 221 to stick the covers back on with. Any idea what to thin it with - white spirit?

I would try white spirit see what happens, that would have been my plan so let me know how it goes. Certainly worth thinning a small amount then painting onto something to test before using on the lenses.

[memfis]

At the factory, we used betaseal primer and sealant for the rear light covers and windscreen's and never used a thinned down sikaflex to paint the border.
I have since tried to find the original supplier for these product's for use in my workshop but up to now i have not found them but as i understand the company has since been taken over by wurth product's. I have since been using wurth product's and have had good results.

[Naybr]

Just for the record, white spirit doesn't seem to thin down Sikaflex. It just deteriorates into a grainy mess. In the end I used some black enamel I happened to have (Frost Chassis Black)and it seems to have taken OK.

I'm fitting the light covers are back on now, but using Sikaflex it is quite hard to get a nice even join between the light cover and bodywork. I'm still experimenting with this. maybe something like a lolly stick soaked in soapy water is needed to smooth it down ...

[estutjaweh]

I just used normal ol' silkaflex straight out of the tube. Masked the lens, spread it on thin - job done.

[Dodsy]

Naybr said:

I'm fitting the light covers are back on now, but using Sikaflex it is quite hard to get a nice even join between the light cover and bodywork. I'm still experimenting with this. maybe something like a lolly stick soaked in soapy water is needed to smooth it down ...

I just ran a bead between the lens and bodywork, then stuck a pair of latex gloves on and ran a finger around to get a decent finish. Then gave the paintwork and lens a quick rub over with white spirit (once the sikaflex had gone off a bit) to remove the excess.