Headlight blackhousing -- Write Up

[erik]

In this tutorial you will learn how to black house and yellow house as well as amber the corner of JDM Headlights for a 92-93 honda accord.

Tools:
Heat Gun (Purchased specifically for this)
Black Paint
Yellow Krylon Staind Glass Paint
Flat head screw driver (or two)
Your favorite soda.

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/5801/step1hi1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Step 1
Remove the bumper. (You should know how to do this)
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1163/removebumperjh0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
After removing the bumper, remove the headlights (this includes unplugging them)

Step 2
Once the headlights are off, start with the heat gun on low and warm up the headlights (takes 15 minutes or so) once they are heated the glue that holds the clear plastic to the gray plastic will become very thin and gooey. Keep using the heat gun and a flat head screw driver to pry (BE CAREFUL!, if it doesn't move, heat it more and make sure the clips are off!).

This is what they will look like:
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/6550/step2tu9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3927/step2p1yw8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Step 3:
Now that the struggle is over (yet, you still have the other side to pull apart, lol!), simply take the chrome insert off, this is the piece that you will paint black:

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3364/step3gl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This clear corner insert is what you will be taking out for the next step (take out before you paint the chrome black, you may also want to tape off a part of the corner so you have some reflection after wards.)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6929/step3p2nx4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2691/step3p1wc3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Step 4:
Once you have the clear corner insert out, find something to paint on and get to shakin' that krylon yellow paint! You'll need to apply many many coats to achieve the amber color. If you think its dark enough hold it up off what you painting on to make sure its dark and not yellow still.

Should look about like this when done:
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/4066/step4wd6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Step 5:
By now your chrome should be black and dry, make sure everything is dry, if it isn't encourage it with the heat gun. Be very delicate with all the pieces (if your in a hurry, they will dry in the lights :D). Piece your lights back together. Heat the glue back up till its sticky and then press the clear plastic back in place until it goes back into the original position.

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2087/step5ya1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3886/step5p1om0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9276/step5p2vd9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Step 6:
Put your bumper back on to your car. And go out for a photoshoot!

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/993/step6bn2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1880/step6p1eh9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Pictures are watermarked because it was a write up on my other site. These techniques can be used on many vehicle headlamps.

[Tmo_BB6]

nice write up! i love the black housing look, I just replaced my head lights and bought got black housing while I was at it, but this is a much cheaper and great solution to improving the look on your headlights.

[Brian]

great write-up

you can also put the headlights in the oven at 200° for about 15 minutes and they should pull apart

[erik]

great write-up

you can also put the headlights in the oven at 200° for about 15 minutes and they should pull apart

Mine are the Stanley ones from Japan. I was scared to melt them since they are all plastic. I know the two piece ones pull apart after a trip to the oven real easy.

[907DC4]

Where can you find that glass paint?? i've looked all over trying to find this stuff to do my high beam lens...

[Fl4t]

looks great! i put my projectors in for 10-15 at 275* it was pretty easy to pull apart

[Alto]

Excellent writeup.

The Krylon Stained Glass paint I usually get from Michael's craft stores. However, you need to find the right employee help you find it. It is not sold in the normal paint section.

The paint also goes quite a ways. I've done two sets of high beams, a set of Hella 500 fog lights, a motorcycle headlight and still have maybe 20% of the can left.

I also like how you can greatly alter the intensity. 1-2 layers in my opinion gives you the look without altering the light color you or drivers coming at you see. 3 or more coats and you start to get the yellow light your use to seeing from color correct bulbs.