VHT Nightshades on taillights

XxMustang281xX · Mar 25, 2010

I recently used VHT Nightshades on my taillights, its the third car ive used it on, but it always has the rough texture to it because I never clearcoated them. What type of clearcoat should I use to make them look better, pics appreciated. I have clear in a rattle can but I dont know if that would work right or not. What should I buy to finish them? Thanks guys

1fun281 · Mar 25, 2010

From what i understand clearcoat isnt needed, but what you need to make them not come out rough is a perfect temperature day 70-80's with no wind, and you need to prep the lights with rubbing alcohol, and just clean them real good with that before you VHT them.

SaleenGT2001 · Mar 25, 2010

send me your lights and $100 and you will get a set of professionally tinted tails. VHT looks like crap no matter how you do it.

just for reference, here's the lights that are on my car
HorsepowerJunkies.com Forums - View Single Post - 99 - 04 Mustang Tinted Taillights

deftsound · Mar 26, 2010

No its not the VHT its probably because your not wet sanding them. I had the same problem until someone on this forum pointed out that you have to properly prep them and wet sand them in between coats and after.

I can't remember the exact type of sand-paper you need but first you need to sand them down really nice with an extremely fine grit sand paper. Then put a coat of VHT on, sand again, another coat of VHT, sand again, another coat of VHT, a coat of clear, wet sand, another coat of clear and a final wet sand with really really fine grit wet sanding paper followed by a buff with that clear meguiers plastic polish you can buy at any auto part store. This probably isnt the exact procedure, I can't really remember because i did mine a while ago.

If nothing else go out and buy some of that meguiers clear plastic polish and buff them really well with that and see if it helps...

stprorolla49 · Mar 26, 2010

You do need to clearcoat them. I've done about 4 or 5 sets of taillights for all different cars with Nightshades and they all come out great. Lay down the amount of coats of Nightshades until you achieve the desired darkness, then lay down about 4-5 coats of clear. Not only will it give the light a glossier look, but then once the clearcoat has dried, you can wetsand and buff it. I recommend maybe 600-800 grit sandpaper, then come back and buff it out by hand with rubbing compound, then some polishing compound. Then throw a coat of wax on it. Badda bing, baddda boom! Here's my buddy's car I did this summer:

slick35thgt · Mar 26, 2010

Ive been tinting tails for a while now myself, but I dont even bother with VHT. I actually tint my tails with just plain jane Krylon Gloss Black rattle can paint and clear. I can tint them as light or as dark as is desired.

I take prep cleaner to the tails to clean them off, mist the black on lightly and evenly til the desired darkness is reached, then I lay a few coats of clear on it and let it cure for a day. Next is 2000grit wetsand and buff with a good rubbing compound.

This is a terrible picture, especially with my flash on, but its the only pic I have of the rear with the tails tinted.

68stang351 · Mar 26, 2010

Static cling window tint. I stole this idea from Shiroelex, I only used 20% where he used 5%, so his are darker. The good thing about this is that I can peel it off and reapply if I need to, like when I have to get it inspected.

XxMustang281xX · Mar 26, 2010

^That sounds best^, i would just do maybe 35% because there is already spray tint on them. Where do I get that

stprorolla49 · Mar 26, 2010

68stang351 said:
Static cling window tint. I stole this idea from Shiroelex, I only used 20% where he used 5%, so his are darker. The good thing about this is that I can peel it off and reapply if I need to, like when I have to get it inspected.

Yea this is actually what I have on my car. I wasn't sure how I was going to like the tinted tails so I went with this less permanent route and it actually looks awesome!

XxMustang281xX · Mar 27, 2010

where do i get it?

68stang351 · Mar 27, 2010

XxMustang281xX said:
where do i get it?

You can get it at Autozone.

It's this stuff (this pic is from Shiroelex):

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab215/Shiro_Elex/IMG_0070.jpg

If you are going to do this I recommend buying the installation package from this company also, mainly for the squeegee that comes with it.
You will also nee a heat gun or hair dryer.

68stang351 · Mar 27, 2010

XxMustang281xX said:
^That sounds best^, i would just do maybe 35% because there is already spray tint on them. Where do I get that

I almost used 35% but when I held it against the my taillights to see what it would look like it seemed like it would be too light. 5% was darker than I wanted so I used 20%. the 20 looks pretty dark unless the sun is shining on it, then it looks pretty light. Seems that 35 would hardly be noticeable.

Here's another pic with the sun behind it with my 20%.

XxMustang281xX · Mar 27, 2010

yea ill probably do 20% on top of the spray tint.

johnnyt03gt · Mar 27, 2010

How To: Tint Your 3rd Brake Light and Side Markers! at www.moddedmustangs.com nice write up

VHT Nightshades on taillights

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