Looking for: someone to fix my tails

[Justin.b]

Clear coating isn't going to fix the scratches unless you use a ton of it, and then you'll get runs and start this process all over again.

If you want the lights to be stock color and scratch free, you'll have to sand them down and polish them. I wouldn't recommend a machine for this. It'll take a while, but do it by hand. It's real easy to mess things up with a machine.

If you're going to do the spray tint over them again, you may still want to sand them down a bit. Are you taking about individual deep scratches or are you talking about a general dull appearance?

-Justin

[Dispect]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

Clear coating isn't going to fix the scratches unless you use a ton of it, and then you'll get runs and start this process all over again.

If you want the lights to be stock color and scratch free, you'll have to sand them down and polish them. I wouldn't recommend a machine for this. It'll take a while, but do it by hand. It's real easy to mess things up with a machine.

If you're going to do the spray tint over them again, you may still want to sand them down a bit. Are you taking about individual deep scratches or are you talking about a general dull appearance?

-Justin

a general dull appearance. its only on one of the tail lights tho so i clear coated the one that's fine and it looks brand new now! just gotta fix up the dull one.. any suggestions?

[Justin.b]

Try Meguiar's Plast-X polish on it. If there are any places that the polish doesn't clean up, you may need to wetsand them and then polish. I'd try to stick to the polish if possible.

Why did you spray clear on your other tail light? Stop spraying things on your tail lights.

-Justin

[Dispect]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

Try Meguiar's Plast-X polish on it. If there are any places that the polish doesn't clean up, you may need to wetsand them and then polish. I'd try to stick to the polish if possible.

Why did you spray clear on your other tail light? Stop spraying things on your tail lights.

-Justin

so its glossy?? LOL okayyy

[JPxM0Dz]

Have you thought of just replacing them with some nice aftermarkets ?

[chutrain]

Make sure you clean off the gasoline fully with water. I would avoid using anything harmful like gas, paint thinner, stripper, etc. Plastics generally do not work well with these products, and may cause melting or warping of the plastics.

Start with something like 600 and work slowly. Some of the heavier stuff might require 400, and then slowly work your way up to the high grit papers. I think 1000 should clean things up and give it a nice finish to work on again. No need to polish or buff the taillight before painting. Hit it with a mild water/iso mix to clean off any residue.

Before you try this again, go get some scrap plastic that you can test with. Start with a very light coat. It may not cover everything, but that will be fine. Check the can and see if it requires it to be fully dry, or something like a 15 minute wait between coats. The second coat should be a light coat as well and should cover the majority of the uncovered spots from the first pass. The last coat, which should be the third or it may become too dark, should be a slightly heavier coat. This will cover everything evenly and give it a glossy look.

Remember that the paint should be sprayed in nice even strokes. Do not stop in the middle. Keep your distance, approximately 8-12 inches as instructed by the can. Following this should keep the problems you got to a minimum.

[Dispect]

Originally Posted by chutrain

Make sure you clean off the gasoline fully with water. I would avoid using anything harmful like gas, paint thinner, stripper, etc. Plastics generally do not work well with these products, and may cause melting or warping of the plastics.

Start with something like 600 and work slowly. Some of the heavier stuff might require 400, and then slowly work your way up to the high grit papers. I think 1000 should clean things up and give it a nice finish to work on again. No need to polish or buff the taillight before painting. Hit it with a mild water/iso mix to clean off any residue.

Before you try this again, go get some scrap plastic that you can test with. Start with a very light coat. It may not cover everything, but that will be fine. Check the can and see if it requires it to be fully dry, or something like a 15 minute wait between coats. The second coat should be a light coat as well and should cover the majority of the uncovered spots from the first pass. The last coat, which should be the third or it may become too dark, should be a slightly heavier coat. This will cover everything evenly and give it a glossy look.

Remember that the paint should be sprayed in nice even strokes. Do not stop in the middle. Keep your distance, approximately 8-12 inches as instructed by the can. Following this should keep the problems you got to a minimum.

Got it. Ill try it later tonight and ill post pictures of it when I'm done. Thanks

[Mr.Jay]

gas or goo gone will remove the VHT nightshade but you will have to use a headlight restore kit on your tails to get their shine back.

you can also do what chutrain with the wet sanding and that works really good

either way if you want the shine back to your tails you will deff have to polish them

doesnt look too bad tho. looks like you caked the VHT tho decent and pretty heavy coats from the look of it. I would never recommend more than 2 coats of VHT black

[DaJo]

...Or hope for the best that your tails are leaking with condensation and get new ones via warranty!

[Dispect]

Originally Posted by DaJo

...Or hope for the best that your tails are leaking with condensation and get new ones via warranty!

Thought of that. But since its been intentionally tempered with, they wouldn't replace it

[DaJo]

Originally Posted by Dispect

Thought of that. But since its been intentionally tempered with, they wouldn't replace it

Not necessarily! Mr.Jay tinted his and he got them replaced under warranty because his were leaking. Lol

I think it depends on the dealerships...

[Dispect]

Originally Posted by DaJo

Not necessarily! Mr.Jay tinted his and he got them replaced under warranty because his were leaking. Lol

I think it depends on the dealerships...

OH nice! then i HOPE to god it leaks LOL. coz we used the same shitty dealership

[wparsons]

Holy heavy coats of paint batman! VERY thin coats are your friend, especially with translucent paint.

To restore them just follow the advice about wet sanding in stages then polishing with a good plastic polish. They'll be as good as new with some time, just don't rush it at all.

[jshadeck]

I can fix these... Once i get my aftermarket ones, assuming i like them, ill have a set of stocks w optiguard for sale lol