Headlights > reflective coating

[Spot the welders dog]

Thanks droopsnoot; Was deliberating whether to attempt any pre-prep. Will wait and see what the companies above report back.

...so you might need to paint the outside later.

Wot 'an cover the added bling..neveaaarr!!!

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Dual Metallising were the company I used to get my lamps refurbished when they looked like yours. I stripped them and blasted the shells, they did the final surface preparation

From all the emails I sent: Duel Metallising were the only ones to reply. In fact the MD answered a second question pretty fast too.
Stalled at the moment whilst I find a way prep...

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Removed the silver coating using a bath of caustic soda ( As per rtbcomp suggestion ) which leaves a base coating to deal with. Have some 'micromesh' paper on order so will give that a shot as the next stage toward blingdom...

 

[droopsnoot]

Interesting update. What kind of strength did you use? I ask as I need to have another pair done reasonably soon and would like to try doing a bit more preparation this time around.

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Strength, err, not sure to be honest

I took a builders bucket (20L?) and half filled with one kettle full of boiling water, and one of cold. Headlight was submerged partially and a small sprinkle (maybe 20ml) was added. As soon as the caustic came in contact with the silvering it melted away. It was much slower acting on those bits that only got wet when I swilled the solution around a bit - didn't want to spill any on my slippers

I took these today of the finish that I was left with:

This ^ marking is from a prior attempt with a flame/scraper and emery cloth.

^ Where the solution missed.

The surface feels silky smooth apart from where the 'brown coating' has been removed, or where the silvering remains.

The bottom of the HL has broken through to a base layer. When I receive my micromesh I'll give it a scrub and be able to see what it looks like.

Probably going to give this light another bath in ( a measured amount of ) solution to see it if has any effect on these layers too.

 

[droopsnoot]

Thanks for that, I'll give it a go at some point. My guess is that when you put the 20ml in, if it hit the silvering before it mixed with the water it will be much more concentrated than after, hence it working that much more quickly.

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Got a little more done on the lights.
Second to removing the shiny coating with caustic I tried an 'environmentally' kind paint stripper, which after four or five applications did nothing!
Found an ad on ebay for a solvent based stripper which worked a treat.

I worked my way through six pairs of headlights to find the best. Found I had one really good pair so started with the micro mesh - decided that they would benefit from a soak in a citric bath, but after removing them they had a streaky effect which I took to be surface residue. Seems not, as you could feel the scoring with a fingernail.

Not really sure what occurred here↓ Bugger!!!!!

The other side is relativity less scored.

Hopefully I can make do with my second best pair and maybe have a little DIY attempt with some shiny chrome looking paint.

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Finally got around to having the headlights re-done.

Now I'm having a ponder on the best rivets to re-fit the gubbins.

OEM way is I think either Solid Rivets or Semi-Tubular Rivets (copper/brass/bronze?) but how much force do these rivets need to close up - Don't think I have enough space for a good thump.

 

[steveo3002]

http://scheinwerferklinik.de/?ql_services=reflektor-neu-verspiegelung

saved this link..sposed to be cheap and good

 

[Spot the welders dog]

http://scheinwerferklinik.de/?ql_services=reflektor-neu-verspiegelung

saved this link..sposed to be cheap and good

I grabbed that too Yep, much cheaper than any I found in the UK. Finish coat looks a little 'heavily laid' in places but I'm ok with it - prob wouldn't notice once the glass is in. Nice touch I thought is the option to have a brown back at no extra cost: wasn't too keen on shiney all over!
Sorry @droopsnoot

Not sure if I'm putting too much thought into this but they're starting to do me nut in!

These rivets are probably copper; but should I use like for like?
The two peices being held are both steel - read something about galvanic corrosion and wish I hadn't, now even more confused what to use. Don't want my lenes being sacrifical at the expense of the rivets