Smoked my Tail Lights

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Well theyre already done being sprayed with the Niteshades... Now I think Ill just clear them maybe and leave them.... Maybe polish them a little.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Well theyre already done being sprayed with the Niteshades... Now I think Ill just clear them maybe and leave them.... Maybe polish them a little.

x2, only need to polish them if they arent shiny enough for you, definately clear them though, it will protect that coating from uv damage and keep em lookin good.

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, Ill just wait until theyre completely dry to see if Im going to polish or not.

So I polish after clear? Or before?

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, Ill just wait until theyre completely dry to see if Im going to polish or not.
So I polish after clear? Or before?

After, just clear them after they tack up from the coating

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Well I did a quick test fit to see how they looked. I like em.

Then took them off and they are waiting for the 1st coat of clear to dry for a few before I do another.

 

[spl guru 10+ year member]

Looks great!

Got a can on the way, thanks!

 

[fbi90909 5,000+ posts]

add clear coat either tomorrow or 6-8 hours after the last coat of night shades.

allow clear to dry 6-12 hours before any sanding/buffing.

add LOTS AND LOTS of clear coat. at least 1 can per light, cause when you start wet sanding it can sand quick while trying to remove orange peel and you could end up sanding off the tint. in which you would have to redo everything.

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Not going to sand... Just clear coat them. Maybe polish them down the road.

 

[fbi90909 5,000+ posts]

if you get orange peel, you will need to sand them.

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Orange peel?

 

[fbi90909 5,000+ posts]

lawl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_peel_(paint)

basically after your clear coat dries. take a very close look. if you see tons and tons of little dimples or such where the surface isn't smooth like glass. it will need wet sanding. then buffing. then polishing.

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Alright then. What grit should I use? And dry or wet sanding?

Also, whats a good plastic polish to use for this?

 

[PSturmer 10+ year member]

It has more on it... A whole other coat or two. Theyre really dark.
So should I wait for it to dry, wet sand with a really finy paper then clear? Or should I just clear them? Or even bother with any of that?

friend used the same stuff. he just left it how it was. prepping it and spraying it on carefully seemed good enough. and his look **** good.

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, I washed them and dried them before I applied any paint to them...

So whats a good polish at Autozone or AAP?

 

[fbi90909 5,000+ posts]

when i did mine i began wetsanding with 1500grit, then up to 200grit. have a spray bottle with a soap+water solution. spray as you sand to wash off particle. dry here and there and take a good look at the smoothness. after you get all dimples out you can begin with buffing with a medium cut rubbing compound do this very well for a good amount of time. not just 3 minutes. after then use a Fine cut rubbing compound. again take your time as this step should be repeated a few times. let the compound work it's way in. after then use a gloss polishing compound. buff for a long period of time then wipe down.

only use micro fiber towels when wiping the lights down at any point.

patience is key. take your time.