What do you guys suggest is the best method to smoking out tail lights?
Method
A) Buying whole new tail lights smoked out?
B) Tinting them
C) Spraying them

Anyone have experience in any of these areas?

For tint kits I found this one thats a cling on kit?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-08...Q5fAccessories

And this vinyl overlay kit

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Taill...Q5fAccessories

Any help would be awesome. Thanks guys!

 

VHT Niteshades.

 

If you want tints than I suggest going to a tint shop and having it done that way.

As with spraying them, use some VHT nightshade. Be sure to use some clear when your finished. Then wait for a couple of days before wet sanding and buffing it.

 

Couldnt have said it better. I rushed mine and did them in one day and didnt wait long enough between coats.. I now have some runs and a weird matte-finish look. When I redo them this summer I will definitely have to be more patient with it.

 

Well, when you redo them this summer. Remember to always wait at least 15-20 minutes before each coat. Also, be sure to spray from 8 inches away with light coats. That way it spreads evenly and you don't have runs.

When you wet sand it.....start with 800 then 1000, 1500, 2000, and finally 3000 grit. Then use compounds and finish it off by buffing it with some buffing polish.

I made a good amount of mistakes from painting in the past. So, it's a learning experience for anybody that starts out.

 

What's the general consensus tho, tint or spray? I'm actually thinking of getting it done professionally so it looks good and lasts long. Where would I go to get them done professionally? Thanks

 

800 is too coarse. start with 1500 at the least. or you will be sanding a long time trying to get rid of the deep grooves left by the 800. 3000 will be too fine for painting. it will not leave enough material for the paint to grab onto lowering your tints durability.

only use 800 if you are trying to sand off the old paint, and if you are, good luck ill see you in 10 years. it will be best to use paint thinner to start over. and then start at the 1500. I would recommend using 2000 grit only.

 

if you have a heat gun or a very hot hair dryer, patience, a squeegee, and all the solvents and lubricants and a ONE PIECE tint film, and disposable money in case you mess up. then go with the film. the PROs for the film are in case you get stopped by a bored cop and get a fix it ticket. all you have to do is peel it off and do it again after inspection. 10 bucks for the ticket and 10 bucks for a new film.

the paint should last longer if you do it right, and should look a bit better, BUT the fix-it ticket worth 10 bucks will be the least of your worries. You would have to buy new lights 200-500 dollars, or botch the tinted lights by rubbing it off with solvent (you will never get the original smoothness and luster once you sand it for paint and put a solvent on it to take it off) and your tail lights will look like crap. then you will have to re-do the long a$$ process of re-tinting it again after inspection.

remember if you want to do it right you are going to be taking the tail light assembly off and on your car like 6 times in the event.

if you don't care about cops and don't think you will be stopped then forget everything i said and paint them bit**es

 

Personally, my suggestion would be to go to a tint shop and have them put on some high quality film. It will last longer than those cheap kits and look just as good as a paint job.

What I mentioned was the steps after you clear them and have them dry for a few days. When a person wet sands the clear, they generally have to let the wet/dry sand paper sit in some water for a few minutes and then use very light pressure which won't leave deep grooves on the clear.

The goal is to get the imperfections out with 800 grit and gradually moving to 3000 grit. The idea behind that is to make the scratches finer and finer to the point that it'll easily be taken out with compound and buffing that would finish the job by giving it a mirror like shine.

 

Tint shops will tint your lights as well? We are talking about like a window tint shop? And how much does it run to get lights tinted? Thanks

 

i called a tint shop once. they wont tint your lamps for less then 150 a pop.

rip off. complete rip off. it costs them maybe 5 bucks in materials to do the work.

 

150 WTF is wrong wiht tht shop, dont go there, LMAO. while in Texas I had mine done for 60 bucks. Which is fair to me.

Some shops just are crazy

 

damn, 60 is a good price. i'd do it for that.

 

Call around and get some estimates. Compare and contrast quality and price and you should come up with something that works for you

 

I just tinted my headlights myself... Got some kit off a website called rvinyl.com. Before I installed I viewed a how to video on the website. Looked pretty easy to do in the video but it was not as easy in real life for me. First, you have to make sure it's a nice warm day over 75 degrees at least. Second, make sure you get some help because it's definitely a two person job( one guy holds blower)...third, you should probably cut the tint specific to your headlight before you wet it and apply... The jits are suppose to be custom made but it's not a perfect fit by any means, there's a lot playing arkund you have to in order to align the edges. Fourth, take your time and be delicate with the squeegee so you don't end up with any creases. Fifth, make sure you spray both sides of tint with the tac spray but before that make sure u use the prep spray on the headlight. Finally, use the blower moderately without getting too close to tint so you don't burn it, spread the heat evenly. Then, enjoy... Perhaps going to a shop might guarantee it will look better but if you flow these steps I guarantee you it will look as good

 

How much will it decrease my head light visibility if I tint my head lights? And when I go to the shop what do I ask for like 30 percent tint on the fronts, and 15 percent tint on the backs? What are good percentages for the front and back the 30 and 15 was a guess.

 

I have some buddies who have sprayed their tail lights. They look really good.

 

Yea but that doesn't help on what percentage I should go on the tint for the headlights and tail lights? Anyone know?

 

If you did film you can buy specific tint for light transmission, rvinyl offers smoke tint and slight tint where smoke is like 60 percent light transmission and slight is 87 percent transmission.

 

Also, has anyone painted their headlights like on the DIY list, if so please post pics and PM me. I have questions about it