Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - Smoking or Redding BRZ/FR-S Tail Lights

retrosmiths · 09-28-2013, 11:40 PM

UPDATE:

Here are my steps again, in case you guys missed it:

* Clean lights with dishwashing soap+water, then with prep spray (optional).
* Sand with 1000-2000 grit all around, make sure it's even. Wash off dust.
* 3x light coats with MetalCast, 30 min in between.
* 2x heavy coats with MetalCast, 30 min in between.
* (Optional) Wait for a week. I only did this step because my clearcoat has not arrived yet.
* Clean lights again with soap+water.
* Same coat method as the red, but using 2k SprayMax this time. Note that it only lasts 24 hours once activated. Also, note that I did not sand the final red coat before applying the clear.
* I let it dry for a week, just to be safe. A few hours after the final coat, the surface is still soft. Three days later, it hardened into a transparent, glossy coat, but there is the issue of the ugly orange peel texture.

* Polish time! I bought an assorted pack of sandpaper from Autozone (1000,1500,2000,2500 grits). I also have this set of plastic polishes from Tap Plastic. I guess you can substitute with rubbing compound and polish compound.

* I then used the sandpaper from the lowest grit to the highest, making sure that the sanding is even all around. Don't panic if after the 2500 grit the lens are still fuzzy.
* I polished the lens using the Tap Plastic stuff and microfiber towelettes (those are not tissue paper!!!). It worked really well, from a hazy, matte look to a clear, candy gloss.

Good luck, guys!
@B-R-Z

09-28-2013, 11:40 PM	#368
retrosmiths Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: Scion FR-S Whiteout Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 962 Thanks: 297 Thanked 241 Times in 137 Posts Mentioned: 22 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	UPDATE: Here are my steps again, in case you guys missed it: * Clean lights with dishwashing soap+water, then with prep spray (optional). * Sand with 1000-2000 grit all around, make sure it's even. Wash off dust. * 3x light coats with MetalCast, 30 min in between. * 2x heavy coats with MetalCast, 30 min in between. * (Optional) Wait for a week. I only did this step because my clearcoat has not arrived yet. * Clean lights again with soap+water. * Same coat method as the red, but using 2k SprayMax this time. Note that it only lasts 24 hours once activated. Also, note that I did not sand the final red coat before applying the clear. * I let it dry for a week, just to be safe. A few hours after the final coat, the surface is still soft. Three days later, it hardened into a transparent, glossy coat, but there is the issue of the ugly orange peel texture. * Polish time! I bought an assorted pack of sandpaper from Autozone (1000,1500,2000,2500 grits). I also have this set of plastic polishes from Tap Plastic. I guess you can substitute with rubbing compound and polish compound. * I then used the sandpaper from the lowest grit to the highest, making sure that the sanding is even all around. Don't panic if after the 2500 grit the lens are still fuzzy. * I polished the lens using the Tap Plastic stuff and microfiber towelettes (those are not tissue paper!!!). It worked really well, from a hazy, matte look to a clear, candy gloss. Good luck, guys! @B-R-Z __________________ 2013 Scion FR-S Last edited by retrosmiths; 09-28-2013 at 11:53 PM.