elcompaLalo
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I thought I would share the alternative method of smoking your taillights, VHT Nite shades (a widely used product for this mod) can give you great results and will achieve a similar look. DarrenWS6 did a great write-up on this method (link). Although the results may be similar I personally prefer to use automotive grade paint and clearcoat for a more resilient and sheen surface.
I guess you could call this a "professional method", as most of the tools wouldn't commonly be owned by your average person. If you consider this method I would advise you to seek the help of a pro, for the best results. I will not be held responsible if you attempt this mod and something were to go wrong. Consult with a pro so you avoid any problems or run into any issues. Just wanted to put the info out there more for a reference than a "How-To".
Forgive me on the bad quality of the pics, the whole thing was a spur of the moment thing and I was not prepared but want to share the steps involved with everyone.
Here are the products you will need, from left to right. Brands may vary so there is no need to use the exact same stuff, as different painters have their own preferences (so I've been told).
Grease, wax, and silicone remover (used to clean surface properly before applying anything to it)
Bulldog adhesion promoter (helps the adhesion of paint on plastic surface)
Black basecoat paint and reducer
Clearcoat with reducer
Remove the taillights from the truck and wetsand them. I used 3M 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper along with a bucket of water close on hand. Be sure to keep the paper as wet as you can by repeatedly soaking it in the bucket of water, making sure to sand any area that will be painted. Here are my lights after wetsanding, I chose to mask off the clear portions of the light (to keep from painting the area and retaining the reverse lighting). Notice how blurry they are, this will not be permanent.
After properly wetsanding the lights they must be cleaned (using the grease, wax, and silicone remover) to avoid any defects in the paint or adhesion.
Once cleaned, the adhesion promoter is sprayed down. Two coats of the stuff will do, applying it very lightly and not too heavy. Here is my buddy spraying it.
While the adhesion promoter sets, the paint and clearcoat gets mixed. Depending on the brand/quality there will be a certain ratio of paint to reducer. I wanted the paint to be thinned out a bit more, transparent to allow more light thru the taillight. The black basecoat paint ratio was 1/1, the same amount of reducer to paint. The clearcoat called for a 4/1, so four parts clear to one part reducer.
Once mixed, the paint goes into the gun and on the lights. My buddy preferred to mist the paint on, one light coat at a time until you reach the desired coverage.
Here is the first coat.
And the second final coat.
After a few minutes we carefully removed the masking tape, using tons of caution not to touch the fresh paint. Now ready for the clearcoat, notice how the clear area is blurry. All will be crystal clear and will have a great sheen after the clear.
Here is some clearcoat on the end s of the lights.
One light with clear (right) and without (left).
And finally all the lights getting sprayed the final coat of clear. The third coat to be exact.
Thats it, done! We left them to dry for about 2 hours and then carefully re-installed back on the truck. You might have noticed that all the work was done in a garage, surprisingly great results without the use of a spraybooth. Not enough painting to go out and rent one, with proper pre-cautions its not a big deal.
Here is before.
After, with the brake lights on (3pm).
And another from farther back and no lights on.
In about a week I plan on wetsanding the lights with a 3M 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Followed by buffing it with some rubbing compound (brings back the sheen) and then a light coat of wax for added protection.
I guess you could call this a "professional method", as most of the tools wouldn't commonly be owned by your average person. If you consider this method I would advise you to seek the help of a pro, for the best results. I will not be held responsible if you attempt this mod and something were to go wrong. Consult with a pro so you avoid any problems or run into any issues. Just wanted to put the info out there more for a reference than a "How-To".
Forgive me on the bad quality of the pics, the whole thing was a spur of the moment thing and I was not prepared but want to share the steps involved with everyone.
Here are the products you will need, from left to right. Brands may vary so there is no need to use the exact same stuff, as different painters have their own preferences (so I've been told).
Grease, wax, and silicone remover (used to clean surface properly before applying anything to it)
Bulldog adhesion promoter (helps the adhesion of paint on plastic surface)
Black basecoat paint and reducer
Clearcoat with reducer
Remove the taillights from the truck and wetsand them. I used 3M 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper along with a bucket of water close on hand. Be sure to keep the paper as wet as you can by repeatedly soaking it in the bucket of water, making sure to sand any area that will be painted. Here are my lights after wetsanding, I chose to mask off the clear portions of the light (to keep from painting the area and retaining the reverse lighting). Notice how blurry they are, this will not be permanent.
After properly wetsanding the lights they must be cleaned (using the grease, wax, and silicone remover) to avoid any defects in the paint or adhesion.
Once cleaned, the adhesion promoter is sprayed down. Two coats of the stuff will do, applying it very lightly and not too heavy. Here is my buddy spraying it.
While the adhesion promoter sets, the paint and clearcoat gets mixed. Depending on the brand/quality there will be a certain ratio of paint to reducer. I wanted the paint to be thinned out a bit more, transparent to allow more light thru the taillight. The black basecoat paint ratio was 1/1, the same amount of reducer to paint. The clearcoat called for a 4/1, so four parts clear to one part reducer.
Once mixed, the paint goes into the gun and on the lights. My buddy preferred to mist the paint on, one light coat at a time until you reach the desired coverage.
Here is the first coat.
And the second final coat.
After a few minutes we carefully removed the masking tape, using tons of caution not to touch the fresh paint. Now ready for the clearcoat, notice how the clear area is blurry. All will be crystal clear and will have a great sheen after the clear.
Here is some clearcoat on the end s of the lights.
One light with clear (right) and without (left).
And finally all the lights getting sprayed the final coat of clear. The third coat to be exact.
Thats it, done! We left them to dry for about 2 hours and then carefully re-installed back on the truck. You might have noticed that all the work was done in a garage, surprisingly great results without the use of a spraybooth. Not enough painting to go out and rent one, with proper pre-cautions its not a big deal.
Here is before.
After, with the brake lights on (3pm).
And another from farther back and no lights on.
In about a week I plan on wetsanding the lights with a 3M 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Followed by buffing it with some rubbing compound (brings back the sheen) and then a light coat of wax for added protection.
