Taillights Tinted
#1
Taillights Tinted
Took the taillights out today, and cleaned them with soap and hot water, then rubbed the lenses down with rubbing alcohol. I took some blue painters masking tape and masked off the black plastic from the lens so as not to get overspray on the black plastic. Took some 800 fine grit and lightly sanded the lenses down till the surface became scuffed and cloudy. then I took some 1500 grit to remove the big scratches, and make every nice and smooth. I sanded straight up and down on the right and left sides. then took some more soap and hot water, cleaned them off, and rubbed down with rubbing alcohol again. I dried them off with a microfiber towel, and let them air dry a minute or so.
Then I took a can of VHT Nightshades, and sprayed on light even coats. until I got the desired darkness. They are currently drying, and will dry until about 8:30 pm, at which point I will go back to the garage and spray several even light coats of clear on to seal them from the rain, and elements. The clear will also add the shine back in to the lens, and eliminate the sanding scratches and imperfections.
here's the pics from start to tint phase.
Then I took a can of VHT Nightshades, and sprayed on light even coats. until I got the desired darkness. They are currently drying, and will dry until about 8:30 pm, at which point I will go back to the garage and spray several even light coats of clear on to seal them from the rain, and elements. The clear will also add the shine back in to the lens, and eliminate the sanding scratches and imperfections.
here's the pics from start to tint phase.
#4
i don't think so, but at night it won't matter, cause the bulb light will be shining through them, and i left my 3rd brake light untinted. during the day, the light from the sky will penetrate and cause the internal lens to refract, but im sure it will probably be noticeable.
#6
then I will let the clear dry overnight, and probably wetsand and polish a little bit and then put them on tomorrow afternoon.
pics will be taken once I'm done.
#9
yup, im letting them cure till tomorrow after church, then i need to wetsand them just a little bit to get some dirt out, then i'll throw on another coat, let it dry for 2 hours, and clear them....then they should be good.
#12
i got the driver side lens on after church, but I had to spray some more clear on the passenger lens.
so the psgr side is still drying till about 8:30 or 9:00, then I'll go stick it on as well.
here's the pics of the driver side lens.
so the psgr side is still drying till about 8:30 or 9:00, then I'll go stick it on as well.
here's the pics of the driver side lens.
#14
Auto Parts Store
800 Grit Sand Paper
1500 Grit Sand Paper
1 Can of Duplicolor Clear Lacquer (Spray Can)
You'll need a bottle of rubbing alcohol
2 Cans of VHT Nightshades (got mine on ebay).
get some microfiber towels to dry them off with, otherwise you'll scratch the hell out of them.
#15
also I don't know what kind of crack "some" people on here are smoking, but i ran both of the lens under cold water at full stream for 15 minutes, and the stuff didn't wash off. i also ran it under hot water at full stream for 15 minutes, and the stuff didn't wash off....so not sure what those people did who claim it comes off in the rain, but im pretty sure they didn't use the spray correctly, didn't let it cure, and didn't spray the clear, or let the clear cure either.
so if it's applied correctly you won't have problems with it running off in the rain.
so if it's applied correctly you won't have problems with it running off in the rain.
#17
well the lacquer dries pretty fast, so went down about 20 mins ago and the lens was dry, so i took a damp microfiber cloth, gently washed the lens, and pried loose the dirt on the surface (from the air), then dried it off, and put it back on the car, fastened it all down. i they look great.
here's the final results.
pics have lights off, lights on with no brakes, lights on with brakes.
as you can clearly see, they are visible during the day, and will not create a traffic hazard.
i also left the 3rd brakelight alone, as a precaution.
here's the final results.
pics have lights off, lights on with no brakes, lights on with brakes.
as you can clearly see, they are visible during the day, and will not create a traffic hazard.
i also left the 3rd brakelight alone, as a precaution.
Last edited by Mixedbreed02GT; 12-02-2007 at 02:53 PM.
#26
the key is to let the VHT stuff cure, so it won't clump up and get moisture in it,and end up getting ruined by the rain/elements. after the VHT cures, then you need to get the clear lacquer on there to protect the VHT, and be very generous with the lacquer. the more coats, the more protection...just make they are sprayed on evenly, and lightly. you should use the whole can of clear.
#27
also I don't know what kind of crack "some" people on here are smoking, but i ran both of the lens under cold water at full stream for 15 minutes, and the stuff didn't wash off. i also ran it under hot water at full stream for 15 minutes, and the stuff didn't wash off....so not sure what those people did who claim it comes off in the rain, but im pretty sure they didn't use the spray correctly, didn't let it cure, and didn't spray the clear, or let the clear cure either.
so if it's applied correctly you won't have problems with it running off in the rain.
so if it's applied correctly you won't have problems with it running off in the rain.
Last edited by redfire04; 12-16-2007 at 07:00 PM.