All Red Tails.....sorta

[F20A CB7]

looks dark friend, does the brake like shine thru

[tommi]

u need the lens paint not actual paint.

[RagingAsian]

Because this is your first DIY, I wont burn you. Looks like you just photoshopped your tailights.

practice on something else first next time, so you dont mess up your original.

[greggydrift]

How well the paint would hold up in severe weather would be my only concern...

I live in So-Cal so we're pretty spoiled by the weather. I don't think I'll be seeing anything extreme down here, not even snow. Where I live is between 45-105 degrees all year round.

[greggydrift]

looks dark friend, does the brake like shine thru

Indeed the light does shine through. Unless you have sunlight shining directly on the tails and reflecting back at you, you will be able to see the light. I've had a few cops behind me, and I haven't gotten pulled over for it.....yet.

[greggydrift]

Alright so everybody has deemed it ugly so it's definitely gotta go. I think what I'm going to do is to sand the top layers of paint off with some 1000-2000 grit paper, then finish it off with some paint thinner or laquer remover.

Then I'm probably going to use some smoked-red vinyl this time because I'd still like to keep it a DIY, even if I mess it up again. Probably going to get this stuff:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/24-x-...item483c21c248

If I sand down the lights, will the cloudiness caused by the paper remain even if I put the vinyl on? I'm assuming so because the lights are scratched...

Thanks for everybodys input

[JaberCB7]

Because this is your first DIY, I wont burn you. Looks like you just photoshopped your tailights.

practice on something else first next time, so you dont mess up your original.

lol my thoughts exactly they look photoshoped, the taillight tint paint cost about $20 at local autozone or advance auto

[Accrdwgnguy]

Lacquer thinner and paint thinner will damage the plastic. Wet sand all the paint off with 800-2000 grit, it will not take long, and try to do it as evenly as possible. Then get Meguiers plastic polish and use it on a soft cotton towel and buff the plastic back to shiny following the directions. You can find the plastic polish in any Walmart or Autozone, it comes in a white plastic bottle.

[ikayto]

nice try

[F20A CB7]

Alright so everybody has deemed it ugly so it's definitely gotta go. I think what I'm going to do is to sand the top layers of paint off with some 1000-2000 grit paper, then finish it off with some paint thinner or laquer remover.

Then I'm probably going to use some smoked-red vinyl this time because I'd still like to keep it a DIY, even if I mess it up again. Probably going to get this stuff:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/24-x-...item483c21c248

If I sand down the lights, will the cloudiness caused by the paper remain even if I put the vinyl on? I'm assuming so because the lights are scratched...

Thanks for everybodys input

its not ugly, its just not rite, you tried and it didnt go good, theres always next time, for now, rock them as is, i remember 1 time i sprayed that smoke blk clear on my tails, and i had to remove paint for inspection, and i had to rock them as is all messed u for a min, til i found clear/red tails.

[greggydrift]

Lacquer thinner and paint thinner will damage the plastic. Wet sand all the paint off with 800-2000 grit, it will not take long, and try to do it as evenly as possible. Then get Meguiers plastic polish and use it on a soft cotton towel and buff the plastic back to shiny following the directions. You can find the plastic polish in any Walmart or Autozone, it comes in a white plastic bottle.

Sounds great, thanks for the tip about the thinner. Now I have to find out where I can get me some high high grit sandpaper as Home Depot only carries up to 400 -.-

[ihaspotato]

Sounds great, thanks for the tip about the thinner. Now I have to find out where I can get me some high high grit sandpaper as Home Depot only carries up to 400 -.-

autozone, o reillys, adanvce etc. has up to 2000. i got mine there.

i had to sand off my black VHT nightshade cause it was horrible and too dark, and i hated almost being rear ended on a daily basis. i used i think 400 grit sand paper to take the tint off, then wet sanded and polished my tails. then did the red tint. its not very hard, just took about 1 1/2 hours.

[crazymikey]

Okay, here is what you do.


1) Get lacquer thinner from the hardware store, and remove all of the paint
2) Clean the lenses with soap and water immediately after using the lacquer thinner
3) Use a grease & wax remover on the lenses to clean them
4) Buy 1 can of Duplicolor Metalcast Anodized Red spray paint.


It should be in the paint section in most automotive stores.
5) Lightly spray the entire lens until you have the desired amount of red. It is completely transparent, does not inhibit the light output and looks awesome.

Here are my tail lights for reference.

I did these on my Mazda B4000



Quick night video showing light output is still 100%.


On my Accord



Quick and easy to do. Good luck!

[PrOjEcT2DRCB7]

You can buy krylon at Michaels for like 10buxs. Or try Tamiya transparent paint.

[greggydrift]

Dang that looks hella slick. You're tempting me to use spray again for my tails, but I think I'll go with vinyl after all. If I get tired or I want to change the colors, its pretty simple. Although Im REALLY digging your tails.

autozone, o reillys, adanvce etc. has up to 2000. i got mine there.

i had to sand off my black VHT nightshade cause it was horrible and too dark, and i hated almost being rear ended on a daily basis. i used i think 400 grit sand paper to take the tint off, then wet sanded and polished my tails. then did the red tint. its not very hard, just took about 1 1/2 hours.

Sounds good, I have some 400 lying around from my original sanding of my taillights. I'll run to autozone soon to see if I can find me some 2000 for the finish. Then I'll use some plastic polish to bring it back to normal-ish before I lay on the vinyl.