OPPS NEEDED-"smoked tails"

RBs93 · Post by **RBs93** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:15 am

so as you can see from the picture I used the VHT "Nite-Shades" paint. I have seen a bunch of people use this product. I was very sceptical at first because most i have seen done with this paint look like hell! they look to dark and the light is not visible from about 10-15 ft away from the car ( a bit dangerous imo )
mine turned out awesome tho...i think.

After cleaning off the lenses and masking off the area that i was going to paint, i grabbed some 1500 grit sand paper and some water. The 1500 grit gives you enough to rough up the surface but not turn it to milky colored like a rough grit paper would.

When the surface was clean and dry I sprayed a nice even layer of the VHT paint. *** IF anyone else has plans on using this. When spraying keep at least 12 inches from surface. this product has a very heavy spray and can blotch easily.*** when i got home from work tonight i took some 2500 grit paper and wet sanded the lenses once more to remove just a bit of the paint. wiped them down, romoved the tape, windex...picture!

What do you guys think?? : i only did the clears as a test bed...i didn't want to do the entire light if i turned out not to like the end product ****INPUT WANTED PLEASE****
-should i do the whole light like this?
-should i do my Amber corners/head lights?
- does it look crappy?

speed · Post by **speed** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 4:24 pm

Hey man looks ok..You should have taken them to a paint shop and had them sprayed "candy black" it makes them shiney and smooth but tinted a little bit but since you didnt i would do the next best thing..

Once you get the lights tinted and looking how you want them,you should clear them with DUPLICOLOR and only use duplicolor for this. you might need about 2-3 light coats of clear but im telling you you WILL be happy you did! It looks really great in person and gives it that factory look. I cant find any pics but honestly just take my word for it..It will look 100 times better!

Also: dont do your headlights. And if your gonna do your corner lights go to a craft store and get "orange stained glass spraypaint" its like a candy spraypaint and looks really great and gives your lights that deep clear orange color. You can also get the yellow stained glass paint and do your foglights/headlights if you want that jdm yellow look.

Just make sure to throw a coat of duplicolr clear on it for shinyness and protection. Duplicolor clear is the only clear that i have ever used that comes out good.

RBs93 · Post by **RBs93** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:31 pm

speed;229235 wrote:
Also: dont do your headlights. And if your gonna do your corner lights go to a craft store and get "orange stained glass spraypaint" its like a candy spraypaint and looks really great and gives your lights that deep clear orange color. You can also get the yellow stained glass paint and do your foglights/headlights if you want that jdm yellow look.

my corners are amber already i was going to black them out with this paint as well.:werd:

RBs93 · Post by **RBs93** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:35 pm

why would i pay a shop to do something that i can do just as well......:huh:

ryansDc5 · Post by **ryansDc5** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:50 pm

I've been wanting to try this with the S, mainly because I hate the style of the OEM tail lights on it. Looks good, maybe get some pictures of it during the day in light?

Spork · Post by **Spork** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:54 pm

you should spray clear over it. the satin tint just screams CHEAP

speed · Post by **speed** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:18 pm

RBs93;229242 wrote:why would i pay a shop to do something that i can do just as well......:huh:

Well if your making a thred about it you obviously cant do it just as well as a professional shop, So let me break it down for ya.

Real shops useually have better paints then "vht night shades". also a real shop uses better materials,and it will come out overall better quality that is also a bit more durable..Now if you had all the equipment that a shop has i would say sure just get the supplys and do it your self but since your using vht i will just assume you dont. And since your making this thred im also assuming that you dont have much experience tinting tail lights so i was just trying to point you in the right direction so you dont get laughed at for ruining your stock tail lights or being the only one at a meet with riced out vht tails..

Just wait till you see a car that was done right using automotive candy paint and a real automotive clear coat and compare it to yours. Its not even expensive if you just bring them your lights and tell em what you want done.

Im not trying to come off as an asshole just tryin to help ya out bro.

Spork;229244 wrote:you should spray clear over it. the satin tint just screams CHEAP

WORDTOYOURMUTHA.

Fenian · Post by **Fenian** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:10 pm

It's pricier, but you might think about Lamin-X. It's like $45 for smoked taillight film, but they look good and have a 5 year warranty. Another benefit over VHT is that the color will be consistent, which can be hard to do with a spray.

I have the yellow film over my foglights and it still looks good after 2 years.

http://www.lamin-x.com/Honda-Civic-Coupe-1992-to-1995-s/915.htm

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:17 pm

RBs93;229242 wrote:why would i pay a shop to do something that i can do just as well......:huh:

Even a well done vht job thats been cleared wet sanded and buffed wont hold up as well as a full on paint shop job. But if done well it should hold up for a couple of years. But in the end the quality is lesser and it is more likely to be a bit blotchy.

But if you wet sand it between coats and polish the hell out of it then it can look good and look as smooth as glass.

JustRob · Post by **JustRob** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 11:32 pm

Too long. Did not read.