Headlight Baking

[owl_93]

Does anyone have any advice/instructions to baking headlights? I'm going to install a halo around my highbeam bulbs and around my DRLs. I need to bake all of my lights so I can install the 4 halos. I've never done this before and I don't want to mess up my lights.

Also, if anyone knows the correct diameters for halos that would be helpful. what I've gathered is that an 90mm fits the headlight housing perfectly and a 60-70mm should fit the fog. The halo's I'm buying are going to be 80mm and 60mm.

 

[YukonXL04]

Cant help on halos, but I just used a heat gun and a flat head screw driver when I did mine. I have heard too many horror stories about people melting their headlights. plus the wife wouldnt let me use her oven lol.

But I think 250* in 10 minute increments is about average.

 

[owl_93]

Yeah. I don't have a heat gun unfortunately. I'm gonna start at low temp for 5 minute intervals and bump the temp and time until I get results. Also, Ill just do one light at a time so I can get the right temp/time combo down and then the rest should be easier.

I was thinking that once I have them apart and the halos in, I'm going to buy some silicon based sealant and just redo the seals on all of them since the halos aren't weather proof

 

[Pachanga02]

When I did mine preheat the oven to 290 and once at temp put in for 12-15min. Use toilet paper rolls and with a sharp blade cut it in thirds and place under HL on a cookie sheet. Depending on the oven, time/temp will vary. Then like Shawn said use a flathead I also used a blade to cut through the hot sealer and pryed a little at a time sliding the flathead along. To seal get some kitchen and bath clear caulk and put a small bead on each side so that you can press them together and have a good secure seal around the entire housing. Be sure to clean out the residue from the existing sealer. I've done many headlights for myself and for others; fixing, cleaning, spray painting and always had a good seal.

 

[2003denali26]

I did my Denali headlights by getting a large cardboard box and cutting a hole for the heat gun to come threw then made a blocker out of cardboard so the heat gun wasint blowing directly on the headlight housing, turned on for 15 mintues worked amazing

 

[owl_93]

When I did mine preheat the oven to 290 and once at temp put in for 12-15min. Use toilet paper rolls and with a sharp blade cut it in thirds and place under HL on a cookie sheet. Depending on the oven, time/temp will vary. Then like Shawn said use a flathead I also used a blade to cut through the hot sealer and pryed a little at a time sliding the flathead along. To seal get some kitchen and bath clear caulk and put a small bead on each side so that you can press them together and have a good secure seal around the entire housing. Be sure to clean out the residue from the existing sealer. I've done many headlights for myself and for others; fixing, cleaning, spray painting and always had a good seal.

Thanks for the help

---------- Post added at 06:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:02 PM ----------

I did my Denali headlights by getting a large cardboard box and cutting a hole for the heat gun to come threw then made a blocker out of cardboard so the heat gun wasint blowing directly on the headlight housing, turned on for 15 mintues worked amazing

really starting to wish I had a heat gun

 

[sbubbaklein]

I did 2 sets of lights for my Camaro. The second set went much quicker than the first. Set oven to 250 degrees. Place light on wet cardboard and heat for 15 min. Remove from oven and pry back any retained clips and begin prying halves apart from a corner. Use large screw drivers and wiggle in gap while prying up. Pull out left over adhesive while still warm. Use silicone sealant to glue back together. This is where the heat gun is used a lot to insure every thing lines up good

Go ahead and buy a cheap heat gun at Home Depot

 

[owl_93]

I did 2 sets of lights for my Camaro. The second set went much quicker than the first. Set oven to 250 degrees. Place light on wet cardboard and heat for 15 min. Remove from oven and pry back any retained clips and begin prying halves apart from a corner. Use large screw drivers and wiggle in gap while prying up. Pull out left over adhesive while still warm. Use silicone sealant to glue back together. This is where the heat gun is used a lot to insure every thing lines up good

Go ahead and buy a cheap heat gun at Home Depot

I'm thinking about just picking up a cheapy heat gun from harbor freight or home depot. I have a harbor freight gift card I've been meaning to use on some steel gas cans for long offroad trips but I can probably get a heat gun there too. Thanks for the advice. I'm getting that the general temp is around 250-290 and time is between 10-15 mins

Sent from my Galaxy Note 4 via Tapatalk for Android

 

[01Konvict]

I opened up my headlights with not preheating the oven to 225 for 15 min. So basically but it at Warm on the oven and then slowly heated it up to 225 baking for 10 minutes. Took so prying right when hot then maybe slight reheat to open the rest.

 

[sbubbaklein]

don't forget to get some good leather gloves for when you first pull it out and start prying. I used some leather garden gloves. I laid out several beach towels on the kitchen counter to keep from scratching head lights and momma's kitchen.