Fixing the FUGLY tails..

[dflood75]

So I've seen quite a few threads on here regarding the redding of the tails... Some do it themselves and some done by bodyshops... I have a question!

Those of you who have had em professionally done, did any of your paint guys use a red paint thinned with clear? I've noted most use a candy apple red as it's translucent as is. My buddy who owns a shop is gunna do mine and he's done a bunch for others, he swears by the thinning with clear method. I dunno but what the frack do I know? I'm just a forum whore...

He's also trying to talk me into having him thin out some Asphalt paint and smoke em after they've been redded. Hmmmmm

Thoughts? Opinions? Statements?

[Mr.Jay]

I am getting these done by a friend's uncle who also says best way is red thinned with clear

I'm just waiting for when he gets some free time now

[Kaster]

Red tails will be my first mod!

[dflood75]

Yeah these tails kill me! I specifically try to park it so I only approach from the front. HA!

Kinda thinking of blacking out the chrome in the headlights when I retrofit some proper HIDs in there. On the fence though. Don't want it cancel out my dericing of the tails with possibly ricing up the heads!

[SunkenFRS]

I did them myself as well as my brothers frs. I just took the 1 can of red VHT nightshade and spayed it to the color I wanted then I used 4 coats of clear coat; 2 cans, to make it have a factory gloss then after it cures use a plastic rubbing compound. It works perfectly. Just don't apply heavier coats until you get a few lighter coats. I can post pictures if you'd like. It's way cheaper than paying someone to do it unless you have the hook up.

[dflood75]

Originally Posted by SunkenFRS

I did them myself as well as my brothers frs. I just took the 1 can of red VHT nightshade and spayed it to the color I wanted then I used 4 coats of clear coat; 2 cans, to make it have a factory gloss then after it cures use a plastic rubbing compound. It works perfectly. Just don't apply heavier coats until you get a few lighter coats. I can post pictures if you'd like. It's way cheaper than paying someone to do it unless you have the hook up.

Yeah for sure but I worry about the night shades fading. I'd have to do it again. Figure all that repainting of the tails is probably not good for the plastic. I've seen pink tails and it's not pretty.

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[turbocat]

I did mine myself. I know the old school trick is to mix a bit of red into some clear. The more current idea is using a Candy Red mix to do the tint. It's basically the same thing/idea. A light tint coat that gets darker the more coats you spray. I wouldn't sweat it. Clear with a little red can get the job done.

I did mine with Metalcast in a can(it is like a red candy) and then cleared with a can of spray max clear (2part urethane in a can, amazing idea). Good luck!

[spitfire481]

Candy will make for a clearer look since its liquid dye. Thinning a red basecoat still leaves solid pigments.but without putting the two side by side, you probably wouldn't notice. I use house of kolor apple candy when I do them red, and I use thinned out black basecoat with clear for tinting/darkening

[Cade01]

Originally Posted by turbocat

I did mine myself. I know the old school trick is to mix a bit of red into some clear. The more current idea is using a Candy Red mix to do the tint. It's basically the same thing/idea. A light tint coat that gets darker the more coats you spray. I wouldn't sweat it. Clear with a little red can get the job done.

I did mine with Metalcast in a can(it is like a red candy) and then cleared with a can of spray max clear (2part urethane in a can, amazing idea). Good luck!:thumbsup

This is what I was going to do till I saw what it looks like after 6-8 months, it fades pretty bad. I don't know how hard it would be to remove it with a quality clear coat like that. Keep us updated on how it wears, maybe take a picture now and one in a few months to see a side by side comparison.

[suaveflooder]

A little trick i learned a couple years ago was to mix a 50/50 mixture of a UV gloss wood clear and mineral spirits. You use a blue shop paper you can get at any autoparts store or walmart to apply. Just fold the whole sheet until you can't anymore. You use just a little bit and start at the top going all the way from one side to the other. It, "self levels" and a week later when it is good and hard you buff it out. It made my old oxidized headlights look brand new and glossy. The car was parked in the sun nearly every day with no oxidation when i sold it. Just an idea. It would be a cheap solution to the clear and will last a LONG time. If it ever starts to oxidize, just scuff up a bit and repeat.

[turbocat]

Originally Posted by Cade01

This is what I was going to do till I saw what it looks like after 6-8 months, it fades pretty bad. I don't know how hard it would be to remove it with a quality clear coat like that. Keep us updated on how it wears, maybe take a picture now and one in a few months to see a side by side comparison.

Was it Metalcast with SprayMax 2K Clear? The SprayMax 2k has UV protection in it and is a urethane. It is very resilient paint once it is cured. It also protects the basecoat from the UV.

I have heard stories of VHT messing up tailights. But not Spray Max Clear, I've seen it as the best final protective coating for DIY in a can.
I'll let you know if it has problems down the road.

[Cade01]

Originally Posted by turbocat

Was it Metalcast with SprayMax 2K Clear? The SprayMax 2k has UV protection in it and is a urethane. It is very resilient paint once it is cured. It also protects the basecoat from the UV.

I have heard stories of VHT messing up tailights. But not Spray Max Clear, I've seen it as the best final protective coating for DIY in a can.
I'll let you know if it has problems down the road.

I honestly don't know if SprayMax was used, it was just a heads up. I didn't know it had UV protection in it, I may clean off the VHT and give it a shot as I actually have a can of Metalcast Red and SprayMax clear in the back room for this very purpose. I have had the VHT on for a while and I don't have the cracking people talk about, I also didn't sand my tail lights before I sprayed them, I just cleaned them really well.