Tail Lights

Travis2000LS

Travis2000LS

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Hmm So I tinted my tail lights the otherday and needless to say, Im not happy with em. They didnt turn out glossy Like I wanted and the clear I used is utter sh1t so if you look close enough you can see the little dots of clear "dust" is what I like to call it like I didnt apply it heavy enough..

Ive done them 2ce. First time to dark and no clear and second to light with clear..

Needless to say im TIRED of sanding them down and spraying them..

Question is.. Can I just spray over the existing clear coat I applied to get a darker look and reclear them?

Or do I have to sand em all down again one day and just redo them..

ALSO are there just a smoked pair for gen 1 tails online I can get somewhere or what..

Much thanks everyone. Did my research on tinting tails but each time I do em they look like shizzz.
 
yeah :/

Thats what I want is shiny. If anything Id have the body shop I worked at to do em but idk how much theyd want id have to get a quote.

Have them sand em all down and repaint em.
 
What kind of clear did you use? How far away did you spray it?
 
Ugh I couldnt tell you what kinda clear It was rattle can though.

And I "Dusted" it on like you would spray paint and i think THAT was my problem..

I should of I think applied it heavily and then wet sanded runs and what not to get that gloss shine instead of the little specs of layers of dusted on clear..

Looks like ill be using some Gas , Nail Polish remover, and Goo Gone to try and Chemically remove the Clear and Nite Shade and redo em all over again! ://
 
Only problem with gas was it got off the darkness but there was still a haze of tint and I couldnt get in the crevasses where the Dimples of the lenses meet with like a wall..
 
kinda wish they made just plain Flat LS Lights without the Dimples in em..

It would be easiler if I could buff off the paint by Burning through it with a power buffer.. But wouldnt beable to get into the Dimples...
 
Gen2 lights dont have dimples, but that doesn't help you.


Paint from a spray can I usually apply a light faster coat to cover, work my way up, and the last coat before the clear does on wet and slower. This last step is how I apply clear with no issues, so maybe that's where you messed up. I do remember doing my first lights and having the clear turn out like you described yours, dusted, but just apply it closer and slower. Practice on something else and then attemp your tails again.
 
Okay so tomorrow im redoing them.. for the 3rd time..

going to First use Goo Gone, Then Nail Polish Remove and THEN Gas.. And then maybe a combination of them if it still doesnt take it off all the way.. wet sand them with 2000 then Respray them..

Light at first, Then Medium Light then Heavyish for 3rd coat of nite shade or clear. Have to see how dark they turn

and hopefully the clear will turn out better this time since ill apply it heavier.. any questions thoughts ideas?
 
I got my done professionaly. And in my opinion that's the way to go. They took a little black gloss, mixed with clear coat and added flex additive. So that when the lights heat up from the sun and or use the paint would crack. It looks great to. Has that shiny just waxed look, and the coolest part is they stay that way.
 
I had mine done professionally. They took a little black gloss paint, mixed it with clear coat and a little flex additive. So that when they heat up from the sun and/or from use the paint can expand, This way the paint don't crack out. Which happened to me when I smoked the tails on my 95 caprice. ;)

Sorry for the double post. I submitted the first one and it said it was to short. Oh well....
:rolleyes:
 
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i used a urethane to clear over mine and it turned out great! but too bad one power washer swipe later it was all gone...
 
If they don't come out glossy give it some time to cure then wet sand. I can't believe I waited over a year to do mine but I finally found my cojones and did them.

I first washed them obviously. Then sanded with 1000, 1500, then finished with 2000, in that order. After that I took Meguiars medium cut compound and polished by hand. Afterwards hit it with the Meguairs swirl remover. Then I went to polishing and waxing my car and hit it with the polishing wheel and waxed it afterwards. Needless to say I wish I did this a year ago when I first did them. Should have pics this weekend.

Good luck.
 
I re did them the otherday.

They are alot darker and look like a shop did them.

Glossy and everything :P

Look really good IMO. in Pictures they look really really really dark.

But irl they look good :P
 
after any clear (and between each layer), i always give a light wetsand, to remove any defects/orangepeel, then a good polish and buff.
 
1LoudLS said:
after any clear (and between each layer), i always give a light wetsand, to remove any defects/orangepeel, then a good polish and buff.
Click to expand...

I used I think 2 or 3 coats of VHT then 3 or 4 Good coats of clear, then 2000 grit wetsand then Ultimate Compounded them like 3 times. Mirror finish
 
glad to hear it, good job staying with it and not giving up. Hate to see half a$$ jobs out there.... specialy on an LS :p
 
G-RELL said:
glad to hear it, good job staying with it and not giving up. Hate to see half a$$ jobs out there.... specialy on an LS :p
Click to expand...

For sure. 3rd time is the charm! Ill post some pics.

Just keep in mind they are a little less dark in real then in pics. And light shines through them alright. Not Super bright Like I wanted but stil enough where i dont think ill get stopped.. I hope.. Lol
 
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