Smoking rear lights and repeaters...

1. charischambers Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Cheshire Posts: 290 1.4 Mango Furio

   #1 5th June 2011, 16:37

   Im going to smoke my lights, whats the process? Can you just spray straight onto lens after cleaned or does it need rubbing down etc?
2. RobDixon L-plater Joined: May 2011 Essex - Chadwell Posts: 35 MK2 Vtr

   #2 5th June 2011, 18:09

   im gonna do the same thing lol, i dont think your meant to rub down lights because it scores them and then it comes out rubbish. hopefully someone can tell us
3. charischambers Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Cheshire Posts: 290 1.4 Mango Furio

   #3 5th June 2011, 18:13

   no i didnt think so either, and cos they're protected they shouldnt need lacquer? hmmm haha
4. RobDixon L-plater Joined: May 2011 Essex - Chadwell Posts: 35 MK2 Vtr

   #4 5th June 2011, 18:18

   i had a mk1 clio before my saxo and i tinted the indicators at the front because they were seperate. they didnt need rubbing down or lacker and came out alright. i just wanna be certain because they were glass but obviously these rear lights are plastic lol. Not takin any chances
5. charischambers Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Cheshire Posts: 290 1.4 Mango Furio

   #5 5th June 2011, 18:19

   i had a corsa before this and my stepdad sprayed rear lights which were smart, could just text him aha? No-one seems to care on here
6. RobDixon L-plater Joined: May 2011 Essex - Chadwell Posts: 35 MK2 Vtr

   #6 5th June 2011, 18:26

   might aswell mate, i think aslong as its tinting spray and they are clean it'll be alright but im not gonna do it till i get some definite info lol
7. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

   #7 5th June 2011, 18:28

   I usually rub them down if taillights, sand the embossed writing off them as it can be a pain to get a uniform level of tint around them, just key the lens with say 800-1200 grit, the smoother will take longer but will leave less visible scratches in, then I mask up the bit I want to tint, say the indicator, tint that, then remove all the masking, let the tint dry, smooth the mask line ever so slightly with say 1500 -3000 grit. I then mask the black plastic bits off(that aren't part of the lense) and then give the whole light a few coats of lacquer. This usually gives the light a ice glossy finish and looks more oem and professional than just throwing a few coats of tint on.
   
   You can just tint them without doing any of that but the finish isn't usually anywhere near as good and i'm a bit of a perfectionist lol.
   
   Hope this helps.
8. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

   #8 5th June 2011, 18:28

   Oh and also, after keying them down right before spraying you should clean them with some panel wipe/degreaser etc.
9. charischambers Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Cheshire Posts: 290 1.4 Mango Furio

   #9 5th June 2011, 18:30

   oh flipping heck! and theres me and rob thinking its so simple
10. RobDixon L-plater Joined: May 2011 Essex - Chadwell Posts: 35 MK2 Vtr

    #10 5th June 2011, 18:39

    lol yeah you know chambers lol, cheers for that alex.
11. charischambers Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Cheshire Posts: 290 1.4 Mango Furio

    #11 5th June 2011, 18:45

    hmmmm whats your plan of action then dixon??
12. RobDixon L-plater Joined: May 2011 Essex - Chadwell Posts: 35 MK2 Vtr

    #12 5th June 2011, 18:59

    Not sure i like the idea of gettin rid of the embossed writing for a smoother look and the laquer is a good idea but im weary about trying to smooth the lights down tbh. they are perfectly smooth alrdy other than the writing lol :/
13. JDub Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Isle of Wight Posts: 1250 Saxo '99 1.1

    #13 5th June 2011, 19:02

    I did my standard rears, I just used the e-tech tinting spray off eBay, sprayed straight on and they were fine, then just lacquered it and job done.
    Didn't bother with any sanding etc.
    
    Here's what mine looked like (one wasn't finished, just wanted to see how dark to go) gives you a rough idea..
    
    
    

    1 user thanked this post: charischambers
14. charischambers Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Cheshire Posts: 290 1.4 Mango Furio

    #14 5th June 2011, 19:04

    That should be fine surely? Lights at the endof the day...nothing major!
15. RobDixon L-plater Joined: May 2011 Essex - Chadwell Posts: 35 MK2 Vtr

    #15 5th June 2011, 19:05

    i might haveto do it that way too no one is gonna see the embossed writing unless theyve got their nose on the lights anyway lol, it'd just give it a nice touch if it was done. lol
16. charischambers Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Cheshire Posts: 290 1.4 Mango Furio

    #16 5th June 2011, 19:24

    yup, and much cheaper & easier sorted, cheers JDub!
17. charischambers Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Cheshire Posts: 290 1.4 Mango Furio

    #17 6th June 2011, 22:22

    How do you remove repeaters?