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Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades

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Old May 26, 2004 | 02:09 PM
  #1  
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From: Jax, Florida
Car: 1986 Trans Am
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Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades

What do you think guys?

Heres the before, pics,








After one coat,





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Old May 26, 2004 | 02:46 PM
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wow looks good, post a pic with them on the car. Is that a spray on tint, im not familier with it.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 02:52 PM
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yes siry it is a spray on tint type kind of thing. works very well IMO.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 03:38 PM
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would that stuff come off using thinner?
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Old May 26, 2004 | 03:42 PM
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no i've been reading that once its on its on, it will only flake off after years or from an unprepped surface.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 04:21 PM
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what did you do to prep the surface?
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Old May 26, 2004 | 04:26 PM
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i bathed it in dawn first, then denatured alcahol, and then WD40 to get rid of what ever polish was still left, then again with dawn. I then got out my trust dusty acetone thats for making paints stick better, and then i put gloves on and carried it to my painting area, wiped it down one more time. And masked eveything off, then wipped it, and then started painting. Not it is a smooth finish but at certain angles it isn't so i'm gonna get some 2000 grit paper tomorow to make this shizzle really shine. I got 1500 now but i want it to be done correctly especially since i dont have no Nite Shades left, that **** is in one tiny little can.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 07:26 PM
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ive seen alot of people use this stuff to tint their tail lights and other things but one thing i want to know is can it be used on glass? because i want to tint my windows but around here they use that roll of limo tint and my uncle has that for his 67 maro and it rips easily and just dosnt look as good. so does anyone know it this niteshade works on glass?
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Old May 26, 2004 | 07:29 PM
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technically yes it does work on glass but there is another product for evactly that purpose, lemme find it for you....

Trimbrite Spray Window Film

this guy wrote a reviewabout it here, its in the middle of the paige.

http://www.gti-vr6.net/library/body_...n_signals.html
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Old May 26, 2004 | 08:36 PM
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im glad to hear that it sounds like you actually took the time to do the job properly and it looks like it turned out half descent. I always worried about using that stuff because ive seen pictures before of it during the day time where it just ends up making the tail lights look really dirty. I bet if you wet sanded it down a bit it would look a lot better....im also wondering what would happen if you got a bit of spray on clear coat to go on top? that might have a cleaner look but i would try that on just some random piece of plastic first.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 08:40 PM
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From: Jax, Florida
Car: 1986 Trans Am
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since i'm wet sanding it i already took the idea to heart to get a clear coat tomorow, or friday. So yes these things will be looking like forged pieces of plastic guys.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 09:08 PM
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If you wanna get it off, acrylic paint thinner will do the trick.
When I had that on mine, I cleared them. Looked fairly decent.

Looks pretty good man, lets see it after the wet sanding.
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Old May 27, 2004 | 09:19 PM
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you may be better off putting a coat of clear on it and then wetsanding. I'm not sure how thick the tint is, but I imagine it isn't much. You don't want to sand it off if you don't have any left.
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Old May 27, 2004 | 10:52 PM
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well guys wait a sec i got pics i just need to resize and everything
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:00 PM
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alrigth guys this is before i sanded and prepper everything, that comes tomorow.
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-008-2.jpg  
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:02 PM
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From: Jax, Florida
Car: 1986 Trans Am
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night lights, see i told you my camera sucks at taking pics of black stuf, proves my carpet is really black
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-012-2.jpg  

Last edited by therckid; May 28, 2004 at 12:54 AM.
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:03 PM
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brake lights
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-014-2.jpg  
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:05 PM
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From: Dirty Jersey
Some older digital cameras had an issue with red-shift in the pictures. I'd call the manufacturer about it. Personally, I think the lights would look pretty interesting in that color.

Do a test area on the plastic when wet-sanding. I get the bad feeling that sanding by hand will cause uneven tint spots.
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:06 PM
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i would love it if brake lights were that color, thats awesome d00d.
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:08 PM
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that looks pretty good.... it would be interesting in blue.. but might look like udder crap, have to see it in person
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:08 PM
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i've alreayd sanded it down pretty well with 1500, but wet though, the 2000 will add a lot more, i had 5 coats of that stuff, i could take some off and be safe.
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:09 PM
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then i get some really nice polishing compund and it'll look like the center piece, that shiny.
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:15 PM
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i hope it does look like that center piece, because the way it looks right now is the reason i havent sprayed my tails with that night shade stuff
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:17 PM
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gonna polish it man,

Last edited by therckid; May 27, 2004 at 11:32 PM.
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:27 PM
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From: Dirty Jersey
Originally posted by therckid
had to post it somewhere...
No you didn't. Stop posting irrelevant pictures in your posts, please. This server doesn't transfer your pictures to 20,000 members for free, you know.
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:29 PM
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Originally posted by CaysE
No you didn't. Stop posting irrelevant pictures in your posts, please. This server doesn't transfer your pictures to 20,000 members for free, you know.
word
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Old May 27, 2004 | 11:31 PM
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i was showing them to someone chill guys its gone it was only there for a minute.
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Old May 28, 2004 | 04:15 PM
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The moron who owned my car before me niteshaded the taillights. Unfortunately, he was in too much of a hurry to prep or do even a halfway decent job. My lens have runs and drips and thick spots all over them. They do look pretty good from 20ft or more away, but I wish he had just left them alone!
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Old May 28, 2004 | 04:33 PM
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Black outs are ugly as sin, don't know why the hell people even run them.
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Old May 28, 2004 | 08:19 PM
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From: Jax, Florida
Car: 1986 Trans Am
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i bought 2000 grit sand papaer, chrystal Clear Paint, and some Plastic polishing compound. I washed the lights again, then sanded, then washed again, then i set to dry, then wiped em down. Set em out side, for 10 minutes wiped em down, then painted, i put about 3 coats of clear on there and those things are so fn shiny its hard to believe. Even though the paint isn't dry yet its an awesome shine.

Then once i'm done its time for some wax to relaly bring out the shine.
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Old May 29, 2004 | 10:48 AM
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alright guys one tiny problem, my clear coat orange peeled on me. Ever though my stock lenses didn't shine this well i still want more. One the orange peel is gone i will have my ultimate shine.

What should i do?
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Old May 29, 2004 | 11:07 AM
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alrighty guys here is how the lenses are now,
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-021-2.jpg  
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Old May 29, 2004 | 11:07 AM
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..
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-020-2.jpg  
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Old May 29, 2004 | 11:08 AM
  #34  
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...
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-022-2.jpg  
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Old May 29, 2004 | 11:09 AM
  #35  
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....
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-019-2.jpg  
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Old May 29, 2004 | 12:55 PM
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no need to upload 4 pics. Id say they look pretty damn good compared to every other pic ive seen of the night shade stuff. Not sure what you can do to finish them up to look perfect tho
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Old May 29, 2004 | 01:31 PM
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lets see some pics of them back on your car now...how long did it take you to do everything? (clean, nightshade, clear, sand, etc.)
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Old May 29, 2004 | 02:00 PM
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I say just wetsand and buff again if they have orange peel.
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Old May 29, 2004 | 06:52 PM
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where did you get the night shades? can i just get it at like autozone or pepboys, and how much was it?
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Old May 29, 2004 | 09:52 PM
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sure guys, i just got off work like 20 minutes ago and its pitch black outsuide so they'll be going on tomorow mornintg i guess. I dont knwo aboutnsanding them down again, that 200 grit seems to have advers effects on the clear coat, even my finger prints make it look dull, it really is that shiny.

I think i'll try it out as they are and if its not good enough i'll take em off and wet sand and polish again.

Umm it took me hmmmm 1 hour to clean and sand the first time, then overnight for niteshades to dry, they i sanded with 2000(15 minutes) and then clear coated and let it sit opver night. And right now is where it ended up. So it could be done in 2 days.

Also, the nite shades, that i know ow is pretty much only located for sale online. I never did find a store that stocked it. So i oredered it off jegs, and they sent me a free catalog and hat, so it was worth the 3 day wait.

And thanks man, i worked very very hard to make these the best nite shades lenses you'll ever see. Once i sprayed that crap on therei knew it wouldn't be the end, that **** went on very sloppy, so i had to sand it down and everything. Well worth it now. And i had to make my decision on the paint carefull caus ei didn't want to mix the types of paint, oposites will dissolve each other.


Shane
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Old May 29, 2004 | 10:02 PM
  #41  
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From: Dirty Jersey
Originally posted by pasky
Black outs are ugly as sin, don't know why the hell people even run them.
I'm with you, but I saw some smoked lens sidemarkers on a black Rustang that looked pretty nice. I might try that with mine.

therckid, it's good to see some tasteful mods coming from you. About time! I'm just busting on you.

Let the clear dry for a few days, and then try the usual paint polishing techniques to get it really smooth. I would definitely not start at 200 grit for sanding. start with wet-sanding at least 600, then 1000, then 2000 if you think it necessary. Polishing compound and a buffer wheel will finish it off after the sanding.
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Old May 30, 2004 | 01:14 PM
  #42  
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alright i got sick and tired of the orange peel so i sanded it down with 2000 grit paper and its drying now, once done i'll polish and wax it up and all will be better. These tail lights will look awesome guys.
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Old Jun 1, 2004 | 02:24 PM
  #43  
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well, after many complications with the polishing they will be back on the car tomorow shinning like you'll never believe.

I'll explain MY mistakes later. But in a nut shell i re clear coated over and it gator backed on me so i had to sand down the clear coat, and try again to have it gator back on me, then finally i did it right today. YAY!!!!!!!!! You cant clear over clear for some reason.
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Old Jun 1, 2004 | 11:59 PM
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here we go look at the tv's reflection on each lense,
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-029-2.jpg  
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Old Jun 2, 2004 | 12:00 AM
  #45  
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2
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-028-2.jpg  
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Old Jun 2, 2004 | 12:02 AM
  #46  
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3

check out the comparison with one being sanded without polish, and one being sanded with polish. Awesome huh? Thats Meguires Gold Class fro ya.
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-024-2.jpg  
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Old Jun 2, 2004 | 12:03 AM
  #47  
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4

both polished both looking awesome
Attached Thumbnails Blacked Out Tail lights with NiteShades-tail-lights-027-2.jpg  
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Old Jun 2, 2004 | 12:08 AM
  #48  
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looks good,now get some shots with soem light and on the car to see for sure
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Old Jun 2, 2004 | 12:12 AM
  #49  
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oh, you'd be completely surprised how nicely these things came out. These things would blow your mind. I swear before and after polishing this look is amazing. I'll never forget the difference.


Oyu dont know how hard it is to make a perfect mirror finish on a tail light. The first one was easy todo it on i put little amounts of water then led to more amounts of water minimizing the scratch it made. I did this without knowing. Then on the second i was completely surprised on how hard it was to get that same finish you have no idea, that water mixture makes the shine.
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Old Jun 2, 2004 | 01:23 AM
  #50  
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they do look shiny, im not really a fan of blackouts but it looks alright on your car


out of curiosity, isnt their a 3 or 4 picture attachment limit?
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