I am thinking about picking up a spare set of tail lights for my car and tinting them. However I can't stand the way VHT looks all fuzzy. Is there any other product that looks any better out there? I have heard of guys putting black paint into some clear and doing it that way. I don't have a compressor setup any more, so I can't attempt that.
Tinting Tail Lights
- Thread starter Kornnut
- Start date
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SteedaGT9150
Advanced Member
sneaky98gt
10 Year Member
I went through this with my headlights a few months back. http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/tinted-my-headlights.855830/
IMO, the Rustoleum lens tint looks better than the VHT, and it sprays a finer and more even mist as well.
Here's the process I used:
1. Clean and lightly wet-sand the lights with 1500 grit sandpaper.
2. Sprayed two VERY light coats of brake light lens tint, Rustoleum brand. And I mean LIGHT, like spraying-a-pan-with-cooking-spray kind of light.
As a side note, I first did this with VHT Niteshades, and did not like it at all. First, the paint came out in large droplets, which doesn't look as good. There is no way to get a 'light' coat of Niteshades on. Plus, it has a bluish-greenish shade to it that is VERY noticeable on a clear lens. The Rustoleum is very close to black/grey, and comes out in a much finer mist.
3. Lightly wet-sanded with 1500 grit after it dried.
4. Two light coats, one medium coat, and one very heavy coat of clear, Dupli-Color brand.
5. After it dried, wet-sanded with 1000 grit to get all the orange peel out.
6. Wet-sanded with 1500 and then 2000 grit to get super-smooth and slick surface.
7. Buffed with Porter Cable + Orange pad with Meguiar's 105.
8. Polished with White pad and Meguiar's 205.
9. Topped it all off with a coat of Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax.
10. Had several beer. With my left hand of course. Because my right arm/hand was about to fall off at this point.
The key to keeping them shiny is the sanding and clear coating. It is a LOT of work; I probably spent 10 hours total on my headlights and corners, but it was well worth it.
Here's a couple of threads I used to guide my way when I did it:
http://legacygt.com/forums/showthre....html?s=20e7f103f214a10c4dc98828d4fc55b3&
http://www.355nation.net/forum/how-exterior/30062-how-apply-vht-night-shades-spray-tint.html
IMO, the Rustoleum lens tint looks better than the VHT, and it sprays a finer and more even mist as well.
Here's the process I used:
1. Clean and lightly wet-sand the lights with 1500 grit sandpaper.
2. Sprayed two VERY light coats of brake light lens tint, Rustoleum brand. And I mean LIGHT, like spraying-a-pan-with-cooking-spray kind of light.
As a side note, I first did this with VHT Niteshades, and did not like it at all. First, the paint came out in large droplets, which doesn't look as good. There is no way to get a 'light' coat of Niteshades on. Plus, it has a bluish-greenish shade to it that is VERY noticeable on a clear lens. The Rustoleum is very close to black/grey, and comes out in a much finer mist.
3. Lightly wet-sanded with 1500 grit after it dried.
4. Two light coats, one medium coat, and one very heavy coat of clear, Dupli-Color brand.
5. After it dried, wet-sanded with 1000 grit to get all the orange peel out.
6. Wet-sanded with 1500 and then 2000 grit to get super-smooth and slick surface.
7. Buffed with Porter Cable + Orange pad with Meguiar's 105.
8. Polished with White pad and Meguiar's 205.
9. Topped it all off with a coat of Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax.
10. Had several beer. With my left hand of course. Because my right arm/hand was about to fall off at this point.
The key to keeping them shiny is the sanding and clear coating. It is a LOT of work; I probably spent 10 hours total on my headlights and corners, but it was well worth it.
Here's a couple of threads I used to guide my way when I did it:
http://legacygt.com/forums/showthre....html?s=20e7f103f214a10c4dc98828d4fc55b3&
http://www.355nation.net/forum/how-exterior/30062-how-apply-vht-night-shades-spray-tint.html
slayerripkdc
15 Year Member
Damn that sounds like a process. Came out looking great though. I don't have a PC
.I am think I will give the guy on the corral a try on his dark lights. By the time I get lights(not using my stockers), tint, PC and work it equals out.
http://forums.corral.net/forums/exterior/1335018-tail-light-tinting-service-superglossy.html
http://forums.corral.net/forums/exterior/1335018-tail-light-tinting-service-superglossy.html
I just did my lights with the VHT and they came out great. I cleaned the lenses first, wet sanded with 2000 grit, then used adhesion promoter. I ran hot water over the can of VHT before using it to thin out the paint and increase the can pressure, and sprayed 3 coats. After the VHT, I sprayed 3 layers of an acrylic clear, then let the lights dry for 24 hours before polishing them by hand with some compound, then a layer or two of wax. It's all about doing the job right to get the results you want. I'll grab a picture after work of how they turned out, and the stuff I used.
sneaky98gt
10 Year Member
1. I have NEVER done any kind of paint/prep work like this before. So it was quite a learning experience, and I started over a couple of times to get the shade like I wanted it. I could easily do this in a few hours now (not counting waiting for the paint to dry, etc.).
2. I said head lights and corners. That's a LOT more surface area to sand than just tail lights.
3. I didn't say it here, but I did in the other thread that the best way to do it was with a tinted clear coat. However, only an extremely limited number of people have the paint gun or know-how to do it that way.
Rejekt
Member
SteedaGT9150
Advanced Member
Nothing wrong with taking pride in your car, and taking your time doing a job. Don't worry about defending how long it took.
Like i give a sh*t. oooooo you called me a fag, better go hide the razor blades.
cool story bro, tell it again?
SteedaGT9150
Advanced Member
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