Smoking or Redding BRZ/FR-S Tail Lights

[Randyliciious]

Didn't have to buy new tail lights because of this DIY!

[SleePi]

Would you like to do my pair of tail lights retrosmith?

[B-R-Z]

Its easy, just follow our steps.

Here's mine installed, not yet clear coated.

[retrosmiths]

Originally Posted by SleePi

Would you like to do my pair of tail lights retrosmith?

No, but I can help you if you're local.

[SleePi]

I may take you up on that offer. Never done any painting. Dont wanna mess up the tails.

[retrosmiths]

Originally Posted by SleePi

I may take you up on that offer. Never done any painting. Dont wanna mess up the tails.

PM me your address.

[wallace03]

Originally Posted by xxscaxx

Just wanted to add another photo of my setup. Metalcast red /spramax 2k Urethane Clear coat.


Clean Culture OC Meet by xxscaxx, on Flickr

Sorry to bring up an old post, but im looking to paint my tails if i cant find a shop. I had a few questions i would like to ask you since yours turned out exactly how i want mine

1. did you prep your tails before you started applying the metalcast red? if so how did you prep it?

2. how many layers did you use of the metalcast, were the light layers?

3. i saw that you said you waited for them to dry and then sanded and polished them til they were shiny again before applying the next layer, correct? and the last layer of red you didn't sand or polish?

4. You used the whole can of spramax, did you do this in a bunch of light layers or just all at once?

Thanks, and sorry for bringing up an old post!

[BlueDubbinTDI]

Is anyone around north Florida south Georgia that has done this?

[xxscaxx]

Originally Posted by wallace03

Sorry to bring up an old post, but im looking to paint my tails if i cant find a shop. I had a few questions i would like to ask you since yours turned out exactly how i want mine

1. did you prep your tails before you started applying the metalcast red? if so how did you prep it?

2. how many layers did you use of the metalcast, were the light layers?

3. i saw that you said you waited for them to dry and then sanded and polished them til they were shiny again before applying the next layer, correct? and the last layer of red you didn't sand or polish?

4. You used the whole can of spramax, did you do this in a bunch of light layers or just all at once?

Thanks, and sorry for bringing up an old post!

I feel like I keep repeating myself lol, i'm pretty sure I have answered every question here but I will go through it again.

1. no - I cleaned my tails very well, then just started spraying.

2. 3-4 coats of metalcast. Yes, thin coats, take your time, and go until you have reached the desired darkness of color.

3. I only sanded in between the metalcast coats when I needed to (ex. if dirt/dust/hair got on the coat). I did NOT sand on the last coat of metalcast. The last coat was sprayed, let dry, then went into clearing.

4. I did not use the whole can of spraymax. I did 4-5 coats of clear (which was probably overkill but the can is useless after you mix it after 24hrs). Same process as the metalcast. Light layers, if you spray it on too heavy you will get run marks.

Hope this helps!

[wallace03]

Originally Posted by xxscaxx

I feel like I keep repeating myself lol, i'm pretty sure I have answered every question here but I will go through it again.

1. no - I cleaned my tails very well, then just started spraying.

2. 3-4 coats of metalcast. Yes, thin coats, take your time, and go until you have reached the desired darkness of color.

3. I only sanded in between the metalcast coats when I needed to (ex. if dirt/dust/hair got on the coat). I did NOT sand on the last coat of metalcast. The last coat was sprayed, let dry, then went into clearing.

4. I did not use the whole can of spraymax. I did 4-5 coats of clear (which was probably overkill but the can is useless after you mix it after 24hrs). Same process as the metalcast. Light layers, if you spray it on too heavy you will get run marks.

Hope this helps!

haha that's what you get for doing such a great job and sharing it with people I did go back and read through the thread, but i wanted to be doubly sure with the details before i attempted it. Thanks again!

[xxscaxx]

Originally Posted by wallace03

haha that's what you get for doing such a great job and sharing it with people I did go back and read through the thread, but i wanted to be doubly sure with the details before i attempted it. Thanks again!

lol no problem man, good luck.

[tiz22]

I have clear lens Spyder tails with black housing and really want the lens tinted red...Looks way cleaner on Raven

I have absolutely zero painting experience so am really worried to screw things up...Should I get someone to do this for me?

I also had zero experience installing anything electronic and managed to install my own Pioneer head unit so I'm not an idiot but as an engineer I always like to do things myself if possible! Any recommendations? Willing to spend some $ to make it perfect but not if it's not worth it or could easily be done myself (the DIY guides in this thread seem easy enough to follow but it's all about technique with painting which can't really be explained)

[vincent201089]

Originally Posted by xxscaxx

I feel like I keep repeating myself lol, i'm pretty sure I have answered every question here but I will go through it again.

1. no - I cleaned my tails very well, then just started spraying.

2. 3-4 coats of metalcast. Yes, thin coats, take your time, and go until you have reached the desired darkness of color.

3. I only sanded in between the metalcast coats when I needed to (ex. if dirt/dust/hair got on the coat). I did NOT sand on the last coat of metalcast. The last coat was sprayed, let dry, then went into clearing.

4. I did not use the whole can of spraymax. I did 4-5 coats of clear (which was probably overkill but the can is useless after you mix it after 24hrs). Same process as the metalcast. Light layers, if you spray it on too heavy you will get run marks.

Hope this helps!

Another thank for your helpful tips. Just a quick question. If you can, please link a spraymax 2k product on ebay. I just wanna see the correct one to buy (confused between the white/blue lable and the one with a red square lable). Thanks a ton.

[Shindig]

Originally Posted by tiz22

I have clear lens Spyder tails with black housing and really want the lens tinted red...Looks way cleaner on Raven

I have absolutely zero painting experience so am really worried to screw things up...Should I get someone to do this for me?

I also had zero experience installing anything electronic and managed to install my own Pioneer head unit so I'm not an idiot but as an engineer I always like to do things myself if possible! Any recommendations? Willing to spend some $ to make it perfect but not if it's not worth it or could easily be done myself (the DIY guides in this thread seem easy enough to follow but it's all about technique with painting which can't really be explained)

I'm going for the same look with my Spyder/Sonar tail lights. I ended up asking someone else to paint them for me, but I was also contemplating painting them myself.

I think it really depends on your expectations. I probably could have done a pretty decent job painting them myself following all the advice in this thread, but in the end, I decided to ask someone who's done it several times before because it minimized the possibility of them looking half-assed (due to my inexperience). Plus, after spending money on the new tails, it'd really suck if you didn't end up with the look you expected.

That being said, if you don't mind the possibility of minor imperfections/clouding or whatever then you can try it yourself. Also, you can always attempt painting your stock lights for practice!