The rapid development of technology at the present stage has led to radical changes in various fields. In this case, the automotive industry is not excluded; in particular, modern achievements have provided car owners with the opportunity to modify or, as it is called, tune their cars with their own hands.
The easiest of all ways to change the appearance of a car is to install eyelashes on the headlights.
The concept of “eyelashes on headlights”
Among car owners, eyelashes on headlights are special plastic linings that provide some correction to the shape of the headlights of a personal car. Eyelashes on the headlights act as a unique (in some cases, even specifically individual) element of tuning automotive optical devices, which allows you to distinguish the car from similar cars and give the iron face a previously selected expression.
In the auto trade, eyelashes are offered in a huge range: from inexpensive to extremely expensive. According to many, such an interesting item as eyelashes for headlights must be ordered. Let thrifty car enthusiasts rest easy - various types of eyelashes for headlights can be made with your own hands within the confines of your personal garage.
Photo gallery “Do-it-yourself eyelashes for cars”
This method is the simplest and fastest, and when used, it takes 5-10 minutes to make products. True, they will look worse than those that require a lot of time and a large amount of materials to produce.
Making eyelashes from film is quick and easy
If you narrow the headlights using a black film, then such eyelashes will look harmonious on cars of the same color, but not very well on cars of a different color. But this problem can be easily solved, since finding a film that harmoniously matches the color of the car today is not at all difficult.
Having opted for vinyl film used for car wrapping, the driver can give free rein to his imagination. After all, its color range, sold through car dealerships, is very wide. And eyelashes cut from carbon-fiber vinyl will look very original.
Among other things, headlight light does not pass through the vinyl film, while the tint film does. And in this case, the material for making eyelashes can be picked up near workshops that specialize in wrapping cars with vinyl - they always have a lot of waste.
Read more: How to make an acoustic shelf VAZ 2106 with your own hands
Before you start making eyelashes, you need to make a cast of them. For this purpose, the upper part of the surface of the headlights should be covered with masking tape. This must be done so that it does not reach the central part a little. After this, using a pencil or marker, a drawing of future eyelashes is applied to the tape.
Next, the tape is cut along the drawn lines. After this, you need to move some distance away from the car and look at what the eyelashes look like from different angles. If necessary, necessary adjustments should be made.
If everything is satisfactory, then the tape is carefully removed and the non-adhesive side is applied to the tape glued to the second headlight. The outlines of the template are copied onto it and the second set of cilia is cut out. The tape removed from both headlights is pasted onto the film. To do this, select the side on which there is no transparent protection. Now you can cut eyelashes from the film with scissors.
The resulting products are applied with the adhesive side to the surface of the headlights, which is previously degreased with a solvent. If the shape of the headlights is too convex, then the film must be molded during the sticker process. A hair dryer is used for this purpose.
Currently, a lot of plastic has appeared on sale, sold in sheets of different thicknesses. And it is this that can be used to make eyelashes for headlights. Just don’t buy heat-resistant plastic for this purpose, since it cannot be given the required shape by heating.
You can use sheet plastic with a thickness of no more than one and a half millimeters. It is attached to the headlight using double-sided tape, without heating. But, as experience shows, it is better to use plastic with a thickness of about 2.5 mm. It will not only be more reliable, but also more beautiful.
The preliminary work for making the template is the same as in the previous case. The only difference is that to cut out the eyelashes you will have to use an electric jigsaw rather than scissors. The cut blanks must be applied to the headlights to determine the need for changes.
Next, the edges are processed to a rounded state. For this purpose, you can use either a fine file or a grinder. The flat surface is treated with waterproof sandpaper No. 600. This is done so that the adhesion coefficient of the surface increases during subsequent treatment with a primer. The latter is an acrylic two-component primer.
But before priming and painting the plastic eyelashes, they should be formatted according to the shape of the headlights. A hair dryer is used for this. The surface of the plastic is heated to a plastic state, after which it is given the desired shape. This will increase the reliability of attaching the plastic eyelashes to the surface of the headlights using double-sided tape.
If you don’t have a hair dryer at hand, you can get by with a regular kettle. At the same time, it is even more convenient to work with it than with a hairdryer, since in this case both hands are free. The water in the kettle is brought to a boil, and a plastic part is brought to its spout, the surface of which is heated by the steam.
With little effort, the heated part can be given the required shape, after which the exposure to steam stops. In this case, it is necessary to keep the part in the given position until the plastic cools completely. It is recommended to bend the cilia in stages to achieve their ideal fit to the surface of the headlights. The finished product is secured using double-sided tape.
Fiberglass eyelashes
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- prepare the necessary material to complete the work. You will need gloves, putty, a piece of fiberglass, a special roller, epoxy resin, a small grinder with a sanding wheel, fine-grit sandpaper and masking tape;
- Be sure to take the necessary measurements that will allow you to accurately prepare a template for the headlights of your car. To make it more convenient to work, it is better to remove the headlight from its place and take measurements somewhere on the workbench with good lighting;
- Before starting work, thoroughly wash the headlight - there should be no dirt or dust on it. Otherwise, your efforts will be in vain - the newly glued eyelashes will quickly fall off; cover the headlight with masking tape so as not to spoil the surface of expensive optics;
- cut fiberglass or fiberglass into small pieces (this will make it easier to work with);
- Apply epoxy resin to the surface of the headlight and lay the fiberglass prepared in pieces on top. After this, immediately coat the surface with another layer of epoxy resin. Wear a respirator, because fumes from epoxy are very toxic and can harm the body;
- make several such layers of fiberglass (two or three are enough). After applying each, allow about 40-50 minutes to dry (in warm weather). Thus, we get two blanks for the left and right headlights. The next goal is to cut out the eyelashes we need from them;
- Using masking tape, attach the blanks to the headlights and decide on the shape you are interested in. Take the necessary measurements and cut off any excess using scissors.
Work very carefully so as not to spoil the workpiece. The result should be two eyelashes. But don't rush to attach them.
The workpiece is removed
The next task is processing.
- remove the finished structure and sand it. This can be done using a regular grinder or sandpaper;
- As soon as the workpiece is cleaned on all sides, you can move on to the next stage - priming, and after that puttying. The main task here is to perfectly align the product for further paint application. After the surface becomes perfectly smooth to the touch and without a hint of roughness, the cleaning stage is completed;
- Apply paint using a sprayer at a distance of 25-30 centimeters from the product. To achieve maximum quality work, make several layers (at least 3-4). After each new layer, let it dry for several hours;
- after the last drying, open the finished eyelashes on the headlights with varnish;
- Now, using double-sided tape or sealant, attach the finished products to the headlights of your car. For greater reliability, provide a margin on the top of the eyelashes, place them under the hood and secure them with mounting bolts.
Final result
Most car enthusiasts choose this method due to the low costs of materials and the minimal complexity of the work. It is unlikely that you will be able to buy ready-made plastic blanks, so they will have to be cut from a sheet of plastic (it is much easier to find). Large-sized PVC sheets can be found in car stores or markets, advertising agencies or art stores.
Read more: Installing a sunroof on a car with your own hands
Before you make eyelashes for the headlights with your own hands, you need to pay attention to the fact that there are two most popular ways to do this work, such as:
- Plastic linings. It is believed that their production is one of the simplest. In order to get started, you must first prepare a film or thin plastic. The procedure for cutting out a shape from these materials does not require special knowledge or effort. Initially, you need to draw the profile of the future eyelash, and then carefully cut it out with scissors or a stationery knife. Following this, it is recommended to sand the edges to make them look more attractive.
It is very important to consider the shape of the headlight before cutting. In no case should the external optical devices of the car be covered, as this will be a violation of traffic rules, which, in turn, can cause problems with the traffic police.
- Fiberglass or epoxy linings. Using such eyelashes on headlights is a more unique and original way to improve the appearance of a car. To make this type of accessory, you must first purchase fiberglass and epoxy resin. You also need putty mixture, masking tape, sealant, double-sided tape, sandpaper and paint.
The procedure for cutting out eyelashes does not require special knowledge and effort.
If it was decided to carry out tuning the headlights on a VAZ 2109 using the second method, you need to pay attention to the features of this process. Initially, the headlight must be removed. As a rule, it is fixed to the vehicle body with 4 bolts. Once this stage of the work is completed, you need to cover the glass surface with masking tape.
Why are these eyelashes needed?
Headlight eyelashes significantly change the appearance of your car. Car owners claim that eyelashes radically change the “face” of the car. What functions do decorative overlays on optics perform:
- help visually transform rectangular-shaped lighting into round and vice versa;
- protect the glass of car optical devices from mechanical defects (damage from flying stones of different sizes);
- intensify optics.
So, a small but significant element can radically transform the appearance of your favorite car.
To make sure of this, you need to place your car after such tuning next to a car that does not have such a transformative additional element. The difference will be immediately obvious. A small detail can significantly affect the appearance of your iron pet.
A little about eyelashes
Eyelashes are small pads made of various materials that fit tightly to the surface of the optics and partially cover part of the headlight body. Where do you think, logically, eyelashes are installed? That's right, from above.
Even in the photo they look great. Of course, when the installation is carried out according to all the rules and in compliance with the basic recommendations. And it is important to understand that eyelashes have more than just one function. Yes, the main purpose is decorative, since they are used as elements to visually change the car. But in addition, eyelashes can protect from minor mechanical damage, various negative atmospheric influences, etc. They should not be considered a full-fledged shield, but they cope with their small protective task with dignity.
Whether to install them or not is up to each individual. I consider their versatility to be an important advantage of such decor with partial protective properties. Eyelashes are relevant for almost any car, regardless of the make, model, generation or year of manufacture.
That is, with the right approach, the decor will look equally advantageous on any car:
- for VAZ 2101;
- Nissan Almera;
- Hyundai Solaris;
- Mitsubishi Lancer;
- Ford Focus;
- Chevrolet Niva;
- Kia Optima;
- Toyota Avensis;
- Honda Pilot;
- UAZ Patriot, etc.
The task is not difficult, but not everyone is ready to take it on with their own hands.
I advise you to try the simplest method of installing eyelashes. If you like the result and want to improve it, move on to more complex methods. Video instructions will further help you with this.
Conditions for carrying out ciliary tuning
When producing eyelashes, you need to take into account the only small nuance - the final result of production should not at all interfere with the normal functioning of the car's optics. In the process of working with small parts, perseverance, attentiveness and endurance are required, as well as simple skills in working with tools. The main material for production is fiberglass. A small part of craftsmen who have achieved certain skills in a similar business also use materials of a different type. This article presents a classic version of how to make eyelashes on headlights using fiberglass. Eyelashes for the headlights of a Chevrolet or any other car can also be easily made from plastic sandwich panels; the manufacturing principle is the same as will be described below. In addition, the process will additionally require the following set of items: masking tape, a small amount of putty and epoxy resin.
Fiberglass
For several reasons, this is the most difficult execution option: there is no ready-made material (the trim will have to be sculpted from scratch), the headlight must be dismantled, and painting is required. But the result is worth the effort: if you set out to make eyelashes from fiberglass, you will end up with a high-quality, durable product.
Easy way to make, paint and install
To make fiberglass eyelashes we need the following set of tools:
- crosshead screwdriver;
- masking tape;
- pencil;
- brush;
- epoxy resin;
- several sheets of fiberglass;
- primer;
- clean cotton rag;
- degreaser;
- putty;
- three narrow spatulas (3, 5 and 8 cm);
- grinding machine (grinder with grinding wheels or long and hard manual labor);
- acrylic paint;
- sandpaper;
We dismantle the headlight and begin the process of installing the eyelashes.
- We cover the headlight with masking tape (to avoid accidental contact with resin, it is better to cover it completely, and not just the part on which the eyelash will be placed).
- We decide on the shape, make a stencil and cut out fiberglass fabric on it (from 2 to 5 layers for each eyelash; the quantity will depend on the quality of the fiberglass fabric and the volume of epoxy resin), with allowances for polishing the edges.
- We begin to create a blank: using a brush, place a thin layer of epoxy resin on the headlight, carefully apply a pre-cut sheet of fiberglass, press, smooth and leave to dry. This is a slow process, the layer can dry from 1 to 5 hours, depending on the temperature and humidity in the room.
- After complete drying, apply subsequent layers in the same way.
- Then we remove the workpiece, correct the shape with coarse sandpaper and carefully sand the edges, removing the most obvious roughness on the eyelash.
And then we work according to the standard scheme, which was described above. We degrease, apply putty, wait until it dries, and sand. Degrease, prime, sand. We degrease, paint and varnish, wait until it dries.
It is easier to work with a removed headlight, but you can do without dismantling if you cover the adjacent elements of the car with film. Choose a thick film - thin epoxy resin will corrode.
Photo gallery: proven method of making eyelashes
Getting ready - we cover the headlights with masking tape We draw a blank of eyelashes for the headlights We take the fiberglass, cut it into the necessary pieces On the headlight, protected with masking tape, we apply a layer of epoxy resin and lay the fiberglass, then dry it. On the dried layer we apply a new layer of resin and fiberglass according to the same scheme
So I planned to make eyelashes
for a long time now, firstly because there are none for Vitariks, secondly, I wanted to give the car a little aggressiveness, and thirdly, it would be expensive to make to order, so it was decided
to do it myself
... Today I finally got ready, went to a car enamels and other store pieces, I bought a repair kit which includes: fiberglass, epoxy resin and a hardener for it, I immediately bought Navol putty, primer, paint, a respirator and sandpaper 600 and 240. Then I had to go to the construction market and buy a putty knife, brushes, and molar tape there and gloves... Materials Tk. It’s boring to do all this alone, and help, in principle, would not hurt. I called a friend with me - Sanka (AlexMA), who has special respect for everything :) And we went to my garage. In general, we arrived, first of all we removed the front bumper, because otherwise the headlights cannot be removed... Removed Then we removed the headlights, they are attached with two bolts on top 2 bolts, and on the bottom with a bolt and a rivet Rivet Then we seal the headlight completely with molar tape, preferably 3 layers 4 to avoid damaging the optics. Glue We cut the fiberglass into small pieces in advance so that it is convenient to work with it Fiberglass First we apply a layer of epoxy resin (I’ll tell you straight away that you shouldn’t add a lot of hardener, otherwise you’ll end up with epoxy jelly with which you can’t do anything because it hardens quickly), put it on top chopped fiberglass and cover it with another layer of epoxy, thoroughly soaking it... Applying epoxy What happens Be sure to use a respirator, because epoxy is very toxic and the roof goes bad) This is what we ended up with We apply fiberglass in two layers, and each layer must dry at least 40 minutes in warm weather, we were not comfortable in this regard, so we will finish the work next time, because... stupidly it was already too late :) In the meantime, we have two drying matrices from which in the future we will cut out the eyelashes themselves... So, we have two such matrices... From this moment the fun begins :) First, we try on the eyelashes back, cutting off everything from them superfluous, for this we had to remove the radiator grille and unscrew a couple of bolts)) Now we decide on the future shape of our eyelashes... Molar tape comes to the rescue (in our case it turned out to be indispensable: D)...
We have decided on the shape, now we carefully cut out our eyelash with scissors and try it on again...
Again we encountered a problem - the lack of a tape measure
