Tail smoking project, clear coat dilemmas

[DarrenWS6]

I've done some more work to the light, I wet sanded the practice clear coatings down and sanded the entire lens even more with 2000 grit and got it very light and even colored, pretty much to my preference.

Light transfers through very well.

And today I began clear coating. I used the Dupli Color acrylic enamel. I did only 2 layers. Started with,

Ended up with..

I sprayed too far away, 10" - 12"s away to be exact. This is how people get the flat/matte results with clear coat. So to correct this, I had to wet sand it again, after about 6 times using 1000 grit I got it back to how it was before clearing. After compounding and polishing it, I re-sprayed the lens, but kept it 6"s away from the lens, this resulted in a glossy even finish. I was quite pleased to say the least. I sanded it with 2000 grit to smooth out orange peel, and compounded/polished and ended up with,

After re-sanding some more, with slightly more aggression, I got it perfect.

The camera photos make the light look a little lighter than it actually is, but its free of orange peel, and barely any texture.

I painted the reverse section only, still debating painting the entire lens shell on this lens, but I am about to on my stock tails for the Harley look, so I used a black T shirt to get the idea.

 

[agjake11]

nice work man. so do you have a final design your going to use?

 

[Carolinaboy]

I like the look of that a lot. How many coats of VHT and Coats of clears ? what were your final steps to get it the way you liked it?

 

[DarrenWS6]

nice work man. so do you have a final design your going to use?

Thanks man. I'm going to go with that I have done now, just one extra light VHT layer. I would like it only 10% darker than it currently is. Otherwise, its dark shaded very well,still allows for clear visibility to the brake and reverse housings, and light transfers through very well. Figuring out the clear coating with aerosol was the A+ on the project. Soon i'll get to it on my taillamps. Before that, i'm going to paint my stock tails shells to give them the harley look, and do a photo/video write up.

I like the look of that a lot. How many coats of VHT and Coats of clears ? what were your final steps to get it the way you liked it?

I'm not quite sure, I have wet sanded through quite a lot of the layers, but I will say it is 3 light layers. Go to page 1 and read everything to see my progress if you haven't already. I had this light blacked out completely to where light barely transfered through, and I had the flat dry clear issue. I worked on it alot to rescue it since.

I cleared the lens twice. Once six inches away, 10 minute dry time, then one more layer, 2hr dry time, smelled the lens and it didn't give any thinner scent so it was dried in my book. I wetsanded with 2k and shined it up. The reverse lens was only one layer of smoke over it, and I removed the lens and painted the chrome background of the lens so darken it out more.

 

[Carolinaboy]

I like the look of that a lot. How many coats of VHT and Coats of clears ? what were your final steps to get it the way you liked it?

I'm not quite sure, I have wet sanded through quite a lot of the layers, but I will say it is 3 light layers. Go to page 1 and read everything to see my progress if you haven't already. I had this light blacked out completely to where light barely transfered through, and I had the flat dry clear issue. I worked on it alot to rescue it since.

I cleared the lens twice. Once six inches away, 10 minute dry time, then one more layer, 2hr dry time, smelled the lens and it didn't give any thinner scent so it was dried in my book. I wetsanded with 2k and shined it up. The reverse lens was only one layer of smoke over it, and I removed the lens and painted the chrome background of the lens so darken it out more.

OK Cool looking forward to see that write up I wanna do this to mine too. I want the Harley look not start blacked out. I wanna do this to my stock ones then get the LED OEM looking ones like IDNC76 has too. Then "Harley" Those too, I love me some LEDs

Great Work Like Always Darren!

 

[Truckguy24]

Looking awesome Darren!

 

[DarrenWS6]

Well even better results came today. I was debating on putting another layer of clear coat on, but instead I kept noticing the very small bits of orange peel, so I continuously wet sanded those flat with 2000 grit, after about a half hours work of drying, sanding, drying and more sanding, I got the high gloss glass shine I was after. I give Dupli Color Acrylic Enamel a good thumbs up.

Here is what I started with, Notice the slight dot texture to the finish in the reflections.

I put the light on the truck before I began sanding more just to see how things looked.

I do want a shade darker, so i'll write that down for when I do my current tails.

Standard lights on

Brake Lights on

Now for the good part, the finish product after several more wet sandings and polishes.

On the truck real quick

And the black t-shirt to give the blacker effect for when I paint the entire shell inside, Harley style.

In the sun.

In the shade.

I'm very happy with the results. So I have now verified to myself that it is possible to get a shop like clear coat finish with rattle can aerosol. Just takes the right clear, and a lot of wet sanding dedication. Very happy.


And also, tomorrow ( Apr 8th ) I am expecting to open my current stock tails and make my DIY Harley taillamp write up. Stay tuned.

 

[mblouir]

I'm very happy with the results. So I have now verified to myself that it is possible to get a shop like clear coat finish with rattle can aerosol. Just takes the right clear, and a lot of wet sanding dedication. Very happy.

YES!

Great job Darren!

 

[DarrenWS6]

I'm very happy with the results. So I have now verified to myself that it is possible to get a shop like clear coat finish with rattle can aerosol. Just takes the right clear, and a lot of wet sanding dedication. Very happy.

YES!

Great job Darren!

Thanks Matt . Glad I took your advice and kept working on it. Funny thing is a year ago when I started this and it was completely black and the clear ruined it and I gave up early, I almost threw this light in the fire pit. Glad I didn't, it was definitely nice to have this as a practice dummy to figure things out. Fun stuff too.

 

[mblouir]

I'm very happy with the results. So I have now verified to myself that it is possible to get a shop like clear coat finish with rattle can aerosol. Just takes the right clear, and a lot of wet sanding dedication. Very happy.

YES!

Great job Darren!

Thanks Matt . Glad I took your advice and kept working on it. Funny thing is a year ago when I started this and it was completely black and the clear ruined it and I gave up early, I almost threw this light in the fire pit. Glad I didn't, it was definitely nice to have this as a practice dummy to figure things out. Fun stuff too.

Good to know, man. It looks really good, and I'm sure it was great to have one to practice on. If I recall I had done my stockers two times in the past, and it took me two or three tries on my current ones. It takes practice, but gets easier every time you do it.

Now you can start charging people to do it.