Niteshades help

rydin4life · #1 10-08-2009, 06:44 PM

Hey everyone. So i decided to smoke tail lights with Niteshades. I read the article in the How-to section which was very well done and searched through numerous threads about it so I could make sure I knew exactly what to do. I decided I would first smoke my 3rd brake light to see how it came out before I went ahead with the rest.
I wet sanded and cleaned it, let it dry, and applied a light coat. After about fifteen minutes, I went to check on it and it had already developed small cracks. So for now I am holding off on the tail lights. Did I miss a step? Can anybody give me some advice or a clue as to why this is happening? Thank you all in advance for your input...

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DarrenWS6 · #2 10-08-2009, 06:58 PM

What exactly has small cracks, your light lens? or the niteshade paint? If its the niteshade you probably went too thick.

rydin4life · #3 10-08-2009, 08:33 PM

Then I must have put it on too thick because it's the nitehsades thats cracked. Back to the drawing board i guess. Thanks alot for the help!!!

mblouir · #4 10-08-2009, 09:40 PM

I've tried a few times to get my tails to the level I want them. The NS cans aren't the best (semi-decent spray pattern). After doing it a few times you'll know exactly what to do to get them as close to perfect as possible.

Throw some lacquer thinner on there and rub them clean. The NS will come off easily and you can start over. Be sure to clean them up and wipe off the lacquer thinner with rubbing alcohol before you start again, though.

Powers150 · #5 10-08-2009, 10:42 PM

yea the same thing happened to me the first time i did mine. same thing the other guys said it was to thick i restarted and did light coats over n over until it was as dark as i wanted it however two weeks later Mass. state police pulled me over and gave me a warning so i got rid of them before i got a ticket

thejake1989 · #6 10-08-2009, 11:42 PM

i think that is an issue with stock 3rd brake lights on the 97-03 trucks. that happened to mine and another guy ive talked to. it might just be that the plastic the way its shaped and ages doesnt like it. if something works for it let me know as i need to fix mine

migdaddy · #7 10-08-2009, 11:56 PM

ya, my 3rd brake light is cracked up pretty bad when you get up close to it. Its the light damaging it, and showing the orange peel

BJohnson11 · #8 10-08-2009, 11:59 PM

Completely agree with comments about the 3rd brake light...when i nightshaded my tails i went with fairly heavy coats and had no cracking whatsoever, but when even when i did really light coats on the third brake light, tiny cracks formed after the first or second coat

Powers150 · #9 10-09-2009, 12:19 AM

yea i tested it out on my third brake light and thats what happened but when i did my aftermarket third brake light and tails it came out good so it sounds like there is something different about the factory third brake light

mhockey9090 · #10 10-09-2009, 04:26 AM

Can you post pics ?

rydin4life · #11 10-09-2009, 11:14 AM

I would post pics but I'm a newb AND I don't have a camera. I appreciate everyones help. I decided to go ahead with the tail lights and they are looking good so far. No cracking and it looks pretty even. I guess it is just the 3rd brake light. I plan on getting the fire and ice led bar for some added visibility. I'm just going to get the 12 inch one because it's cheap, and because everybody and their mom have the long ones that span the whole length of the tailgate.

thejake1989 · #12 10-09-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhockey9090

Can you post pics ?

ill see if i can get a pic of mine today if the rain lets up

Quote:

Originally Posted by rydin4life

I would post pics but I'm a newb AND I don't have a camera. I appreciate everyones help. I decided to go ahead with the tail lights and they are looking good so far. No cracking and it looks pretty even. I guess it is just the 3rd brake light. I plan on getting the fire and ice led bar for some added visibility. I'm just going to get the 12 inch one because it's cheap, and because everybody and their mom have the long ones that span the whole length of the tailgate.

youd be surprised how cheap the 60" recon ones are. got a line of fire for 55 shipped and a white lightning(lof with reverse. Both recon brand and brand new) for 75 shipped

rbiggs09 · #13 10-14-2009, 01:14 PM

i smoked my lights with nite shades also, my tail lights came out perfect but my 3rd brake light had little cracks also, my buddy did his on his silverado and his 3rd cracked, but i put 2 coats on my tails and they are awesome

beef64 · #14 10-18-2009, 01:43 PM

the best way to do this is to take them to a body & paint shop, have them mix a little black in some clear coat and shoot them. you can make it darker with each shade. my tailights are complete black and the light shines through them perfect because it is not paint but a tinted clear. you can even tint them other colors besides black to match your ride.