blackout headlights/tail lights?
blackout headlights/tail lights?
im trying to "smoke" or "blackout" my tail lights and possibly my headlights. Im only looking for a medium light dark finish. what product or method is the best? how much does it cost?
If anybody has pics of your smoked lights please post and let me know how you did it?
Thnks
If anybody has pics of your smoked lights please post and let me know how you did it?
Thnks
alot of people use nightshades and a clear coat. i wouldnt recommend doing it to your head lights tho. you wont have any light output. use the search feature and you will find thousands of threads on nightshades
Night shades is good stuff. I did my tails this weekend. Unfortunately they came out looking like crap. I was going to do a full write-up.
Here's my take:
Sprayed about 7 very thin coats. Wet sanding between each coat. Turned out wonderfully.
Took it to my buddy's shop to have them clear coated. Told him VERY thin coats. He said no problemo. Came back the next day and almost shat myself. He sprayed it way too thick. Looked like the worst orange peel you've ever seen, mixed with runs and bubbles.
Got home, tried wetsanding and buffing out. Still orange peely, bubbly, runny.
Grabbed some 60 grit and a sander. Started all over.
Sprayed about 7 very thin coats. It was a bit cold so it was a little runny. Wet sanding between coats helped this until a nice base was set. Grabbed some rattle can clear. Also still too cold to paint but I needed my lights back. Turned out very textured and dull looking (even though it was supposed to be smooth, glossy clear.) Wetsanding between layers helps a lot.
Ultimately, get a shop to do the clear, and make sure they know what the hell they are doing. I'll be investing in some new tails with smoked covers.
As far as headlights, pull the case apart and paint everything except the reflector black. Re-seal. There's several write-ups including one I wrote.
Here's my take:
Sprayed about 7 very thin coats. Wet sanding between each coat. Turned out wonderfully.
Took it to my buddy's shop to have them clear coated. Told him VERY thin coats. He said no problemo. Came back the next day and almost shat myself. He sprayed it way too thick. Looked like the worst orange peel you've ever seen, mixed with runs and bubbles.
Got home, tried wetsanding and buffing out. Still orange peely, bubbly, runny.
Grabbed some 60 grit and a sander. Started all over.
Sprayed about 7 very thin coats. It was a bit cold so it was a little runny. Wet sanding between coats helped this until a nice base was set. Grabbed some rattle can clear. Also still too cold to paint but I needed my lights back. Turned out very textured and dull looking (even though it was supposed to be smooth, glossy clear.) Wetsanding between layers helps a lot.
Ultimately, get a shop to do the clear, and make sure they know what the hell they are doing. I'll be investing in some new tails with smoked covers.
As far as headlights, pull the case apart and paint everything except the reflector black. Re-seal. There's several write-ups including one I wrote.
Hate to throw this here but i was hoping you could give me some insight on how the knight chrome holds up, i was looking to pick up some and was hoping you could shed some light on how scratch resist they are and how the upkeep has been. If you could email me at moose84rex@yahoo.com i would appreciate it.




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