Reveries of an Undergraduate: Smoked Headlamp

Wednesday 13 July 2016

Smoked Headlamp - Aikka Nano Coating

It has been quite some time since I last wrote anything on the blog due to different commitments which includes times where I am too lazy to anything. Today, I would like to share a process of smoking your headlights using Aikka Nano Coating, but this one was done by someone that I found online.

Last time, my Viva's headlamp was broken due to a failed experiment on respraying the insides, causing the lens to crack and become unusable. It was really ugly, and the lights came brand new with the car. So, I had to source for a second hand headlamp, but it was horribly yellow. I tried sanding and polishing, but it became yellow after a month of full sun exposure.

Most of the shops do not spray on a layer of protection, as when we sand down and polish using rubbing compound, the UV protection layer is gone, and that is why the headlights become yellowish and fades faster.

Yellowed headlamp.

To save cost and to give the headlamp a new lease of life, I decided to call a "coating specialist" that claimed they could save the headlamp, so I gave it a try. The cost was RM75, and if you happened to be in Kuching, Sarawak, search for his name on FB - Eddie Ambrose. I think the cost depends on what car you are using.

Sanding down with 800-grit sandpaper

The first step was to sand down the headlamp to clear the yellowing as much as possible. As far as I know, they used a 800-grit sandpaper and wetsand the headlamp.

The right headlamp which is yellower.

Prepping works

A good prep is essential to keep overspray from being in contact with other parts of the car.

Sprayed with the first layer

The headlamp was sprayed with 3 coats of the "nano-coating" and the end result is a darkened headlamp.

End result

This was done within 45 minutes and the headlamp is still dark until now. When I resprayed the bumper, it really blends in well with the whole colour of the car.