how to open taillights?

[ironman85]

i just got my set of red/clears and want to tint the INSIDE of them with VHT niteshades. Will using an oven melt them since they're aftermarket? i searched for 40 min but when peope mentioned painting the inside of the tails, they didn't say how.

i want to get this on NOW. so a prompt responce would be nice.

[uncle_el]

i was under the impression that people that painted or tinted their taillights did it on the exterior.

i would assume it's the same oven technique that people use for headlights and corners... and then using silicone to close it back up. there's a possiblity of them melting... but i would think that possibility is there with anything you stick in the oven.


edit:
one of the first guys i remember doing the nightshade tinting thing was highrevs22. here's his explanation of how he did it:

Step 1.) Remove tailights
Step 2.) Clean tailights with a degreaser, lightly sand with extremely fine grit sand paper, then clean again with the degreaser and a lint-less cloth. Let dry.
Step 3.) Tape off any part you don't want painted, such as the black trim pieces on the outter edges and the reverse lights.
Step 4.) Use Testors Transparent Candy Apple Red hobby spray paint. (can be found at hobby shops or in the Walmart hobby section- goes for about $3 per can)
Step 5.) Spray paint on tails lightly, in a back and forth motion releasing your fiinger from the nozzle after each pass- do this from about 10-12 inches away.
Step 6.) Give each coat about 10 -15 minutes to dry, thne repeat until amber color on the tailight is gone
Step 7.) (optional) apply Testors clear coat (found in the same section at the store) for added protection against car washing and UV Rays
Step 8.) Let fully dry, take off masking tape and re-install


Side note: I used this and then tinted the red with Niteshades black tailight tint (can be found at your local tuner or speed shop) and applied as much as i thought was right for my taste. It goes for about 10-12 per can, made by VHT.

i'm not sure you can really get in between/inside the lens... but i've never tried it either.

[ironman85]

i was under the impression that people that painted or tinted their taillights did it on the exterior.

i'm not sure you can really get in between/inside the lens... but i've never tried it either.

J-specCb4 said in a post that he had painted the lights from the inside, that way he kept the factory gloss on the lenses. and i remember another person saying something similar.

i've already tinted my OEM lights, so i know how to do the outsides, but i was hoping someone could shed some light on painting the inside.

[uncle_el]

J-specCb4 said in a post that he had painted the lights from the inside, that way he kept the factory gloss on the lenses. and i remember another person saying something similar.

i've already tinted my OEM lights, so i know how to do the outsides, but i was hoping someone could shed some light on painting the inside.

idk. again, i imagine the process is the same as the headlights... using the oven method.

ohhhh its just niteshades from summit racing also not hard just take them apart the same way as headlights and lightly spray the inner lens

probably the post you were referring to. i'd like to think i'm pretty good at searching, and i don't remember reading about opening taillights, nor have i found a thread that's really useful for you.

you seem pretty brave from some of the diy's you've done... so i'd turn that oven up to 300-325 and get to work, lol.

i'll pm this thread to jspeccb4, and maybe he can shed some more light on the subject.

[J-specCb4]

yeah sorry guys my dsl wasnt workin at my new house until today so im back ill be on pretty much everyday like i always was..... and the tail lights yeah i just took them apart with a butter knife and hair dryer and tinted the inner lens if you do this make sure you take out the reflectors then spray however many coats you want, its really easy and then just do whatever method for putting them back together and sealing them that you want

[dwf137]

^that's what I was going to suggust... don't use the oven, the tails arn't ment for high temps like the headlights are. Hair dryer/heat gun, and a knife should work right. then spray away..

good luck, make a diy if you've got the time..

[HF22T]

use a cut off wheel or a cutting wheel on a dremel works pretty well clean too