All Red Tails.....sorta

[crazymikey]

I personally dont like vinyl because it will fade and can peel. Paint is just as easy to remove with lacquer thinner.

[greggydrift]

Doesn't paint fade as well? I dunno, I've heard different opinions from everybody. JoshM has told me NOT to use paint/lacquer thinner as it will ruin the taillights themselves and to use vinyl instead of paint. Now I'm kinda at a crossroads as to what to do. Vinyl seems a LOT easier, but depending on how often it fade/peels, I might change my mind and go with paint again.

[ExplodingCake]

[crazymikey]

Paint will fade no worse than the rest of the paint on your car will. It's going to take years for the paint to fade whereas it can take just months for the vinyl to lose it's clarity and colour.

The problem with vinyl is that it will go cloudy, or will yellow over time, and if it begins to peel or bubble like poorly done window tint, it'll look crappy.

Ever see those 3M vinyl strips they put on hoods instead of those ugly ass plastic deflectors? That vinyl fades and goes yellow, plus you can see the line where it stops.

I'm a paint kind of guy. Do it right and it'll look like the lenses were supposed to come like that. Use vinyl and well...depending on the application, sometimes you can tell, other times it's pretty decent.

Using lacquer thinner on your lenses will not harm them if you properly wash them right away. If you just leave the thinner on them, they can begin to develop small spiderweb type crackling effects on them which you cannot feel, but you can see.

[greggydrift]

Paint will fade no worse than the rest of the paint on your car will. It's going to take years for the paint to fade whereas it can take just months for the vinyl to lose it's clarity and colour.

The problem with vinyl is that it will go cloudy, or will yellow over time, and if it begins to peel or bubble like poorly done window tint, it'll look crappy.

Ever see those 3M vinyl strips they put on hoods instead of those ugly ass plastic deflectors? That vinyl fades and goes yellow, plus you can see the line where it stops.

I'm a paint kind of guy. Do it right and it'll look like the lenses were supposed to come like that. Use vinyl and well...depending on the application, sometimes you can tell, other times it's pretty decent.

Using lacquer thinner on your lenses will not harm them if you properly wash them right away. If you just leave the thinner on them, they can begin to develop small spiderweb type crackling effects on them which you cannot feel, but you can see.

Hmmm.. allright. I'll try your way then with the lacquer remover then some spray instead of vinyl. Maybe in the future I'll add some clearcoat with a tad of dye added from a body shop with a real spray gun. I have been looking into some other lights besides all-red lately though and some look kinda nice.

This picture of blackcb7's car from another thread caught my eye....


Haha funny you should mention 3M tape, I have my window deflectors held on with 3M tape and that crap does not stick AT ALL.

[Joshy]

You can find 800-2500 grit sandpaper at most auto parts stores. 3M makes a 800-1000-2000 grit package that costs less than $5, iirc.

...I have been looking into some other lights besides all-red lately though and some look kinda nice.

This picture of blackcb7's car from another thread caught my eye....

[PIC]

Haha funny you should mention 3M tape, I have my window deflectors held on with 3M tape and that crap does not stick AT ALL.

Keep in mind his car is darker than yours. It's easier for darker colored cars to pull off tinted tail lights, because they blend and complement darker body colors so well.

3M double-sided automotive tape works best when applied at warm temperatures, or if the application is heated slightly with a heat gun. In addition, both mating surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned. A light application of rubbing alcohol will do the trick.

[F20A CB7]

crazymike, where did you find out about the metal cast paint on tails??

[crazymikey]

It was a few years ago when I had my B2200. I had the stock amber/red/white tails and I saw some guys who had redded theirs out and they all said "stained glass paint, model paint, vinyl" or whatever.

I knew the Niteshades paint was transparent, so I went to the store and I saw this Metalcast stuff there and it was in different colours, one of them being red. I picked up the can and read that it's supposed to be used as a 3 stage candy paint. Spray the ground coat, then the colour coat, which is transparent, and then clear coat.

I bought just the colour coat, sprayed it on my lenses and was surprised to see how awesome they came out using this paint. In my opinion, this paint is the absolute best product to use when painting lenses red.

The black chrome is crappy, even though it will give you a Niteshades-like appearance, but it comes out dull. The blue can be used to paint reflectors, and chrome can be used to paint the insides of lens housings.

Black chrome. Sucks.



I had these all clear tail lights. I sprayed the housings black.


Then I got pulled over for the clear lights, so I sprayed the brake light area red with the Metalcast paint. Once I posted pics, everyone was like "OMFG, where did you buy those red/clears?"

[greggydrift]

Then I got pulled over for the clear lights, so I sprayed the brake light area red with the Metalcast paint. Once I posted pics, everyone was like "OMFG, where did you buy those red/clears?"

Dude that is so sexy on that truck. I'm DEFINITELY taking your word for the metalcast red paint now. I've seen it in stores before so it's no big deal because I don't have a card yet to buy stuff online -.- Sad but true haha. I'll try that :] Thanks for the tip.

[stretch JDM]

thank crazymikey . i did my all red's today and damn, it looks good. thanks bro.

[crazymikey]

Told ya

[greggydrift]

thank crazymikey . i did my all red's today and damn, it looks good. thanks bro.

Pics buddy! Let's see em! :]

[stretch JDM]

Pics buddy! Let's see em! :]

i will soon , maybe today if i can my daughter had taken the camera to her grandma's and left the usb cable there. got to love the kids tho. my cb is a 91, it had orange above the red. i taped up the center black strip, lol , and worked on the back up lite and was not happy about the out come . so i redone the back up lite all red to . looks great tho. i try to get that pic out soon.

[crazymikey]

Just buy red clear tails , Im not feeling these sorry

That would completely defeat the purpose of making ALL RED tails my friend. If we wanted red clear, we could buy red clear.

[greggydrift]

i will soon , maybe today if i can my daughter had taken the camera to her grandma's and left the usb cable there. got to love the kids tho. my cb is a 91, it had orange above the red. i taped up the center black strip, lol , and worked on the back up lite and was not happy about the out come . so i redone the back up lite all red to . looks great tho. i try to get that pic out soon.

Haha allright sounds good. I'm excited to see them