Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Painting the headlight

Hi all... Getting ready to spray some custom paint on my 2009 America. ...thinking about having the headlight painted also. Anyone know where I can get an unpainted (or at least "not chromed") headlight bowl, rim, and bracket?

Thanks.

Ernie

put a request in the classified section and someone may have an extra for you, or you can just have yours powdercoated.

yeah, i think they're all gonna be chromed. best way to deal with that is have it blasted.

Thanks. The painter I am working with cautioned that approach (assuming that a non-chrome option might be available) because of potential issues with chrome flaking off during the preparation process or after...but if there is no other choice, that will be the way we have to go.

...if anyone has done it (powdercoated or otherwise painted over the chrome headlight after prepping it), how is it holding up?

Tks!

Ernie

He is mistaken, powder coating will hold very well to the chrome so long as the place knows what they are doing. The chrome only needs to be scuffed up as though you were going to paint it, nothing more. I would suggest having it cleared though by them as well this will help with any scuffs and the like down the road also better UV protection. The only time you might have an issue is if they try to powder over already flaking chrome, if its not your good to go.

OH ya, i have powdercoated TONS of stuff right over chrome and i have never had a problem.

Here ya go, everything that was chrome etc has been powdercoated.

http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...e=0&fpart=6

Don't know about powder coating, but Chrome can be prepped for paint just fine with a low pressure sand blasting. I used a cheap, hand held blaster years ago on some chrome rims and painted them, paint still holding up 15 years later.

Outstanding! Thanks edm.../arstaren... sounds like the painter has had experience with bad (or poor/already flaking)chrome. The chrome on my headlight is in perfect shape and I'll assume that Triumph quality is up there.

Thanks again.

I painted my headlight myself using rattle cans. Lots of nice even prep with I think 400 grit, CLEANED real well, rattle can automotive primer, I think maybe 2 coats, 400 grit in between, CLEANED well in between, then several coats of semi-flat high temp paint. Looks the business. I can't remember all the details cause it was a good 5 or 6 years ago. No problems whatsoever.

Kudos to everyone --- the headlight came out perfect...black with flames on it, so it was no problem to go over the chrome as all of you said. ...putting it all back together and then will get some pics up.

Anyone ever try using high temp ceramic paint like you would use on a header pipe or a type of paint that once coated you toss in the oven to cure? Would something like this work on the headlight housing?

I just painted mine after sanding it down, hit it with 4 coats of spray paint and 3 coats of clear coat. Looks pretty good in just not sure how long its going to last.

One easy thing is to paint the chrome with Platidip (an follow the instructions closely for a good result!). When ready paint any other color OVER the plastidip. Works prtty fine and if you don't like it, you can still remove it.

It's harder then only with the Plastdip but still works.

Did this already and its now on some party for more than 2 years - an I', talking about fenderstruts and touring...

Dan

The way I painted mine was do the sanding bit, then hit it with a couple coats of rattle can primer (rustoleum automotive I think), then a few coats of "semi flat" high temp paint, also rattle can, and of course sanding between coats as appropriate. Since then, I've heard that baking just about any rattle can paint can actually help it adhere better because it makes the solvents go away faster. That being said, I painted the lower tripple tree, fork legs, headlight bucket, tank console, and a few other things that same way, not a scratch on it 10,000 mi later...