so im looking to have my tail lights blacked out.... has anyone used nite shades? (or whatever its called).... can u explain how to use it properly?

thanks

 

You use it like regualr spray paint. LIGHT even coats, let dry, repeat till its as dark as you want it. Then clear coat it.

 

Clear coating it is key, my middle set of lights were done without clear coating and the paints chipping already, but its probably also due the fact that i didn't sand the lights beforehand (didn't want to F--- then up if i decided to sell and buy LED tails). But yes, like he said, its pretty much the same as any other spray painting, i used about 3-4 LIGHT coats.

 

hey ill trade you tails.... if you want... only one tail has to be fixed... i was washing it the other day and it chipped off when i was using an air tool....

 

i used vht nightshade, never sanded or clear coat and they look great have for over a year, key is, dont let a bug land on them while your doin em then you have to buy
new light lol

 

^^not true... all you have to do is redo them /.. take off the nightshades with paint thinnner

 

lol i had a bug land on mine when i walked away, never bothered fixing it . they look great tho

 

from what i heard u need to use paint remover and not paint thinner due to the fact that paint thinner will melt the plastic (idk how true just something i heard) and it is not hard to use the niteshades at all. did mine. im redoing mine to get em darker but theres a how-to on niteshades, ill try n find it quick.

here ya go:

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/how-guide-43/how-tint-your-lights-10-steps-21654/

 

Make sure you know what your doing with a spray can first. That stuff is kinda pricey.

 

Do VERY VERY VERY light coats. Nightshades tends to run. Wait 15 mins between coats, and let them dry for like 6 hours.

 

out here they are 10 bucks a can.... not that bad

 

yea it cost me 12 for a can. and me a friend did ours and i still have like more than half a can left. its really not that hard if u know how to use a can of spray paint or something...


just wash it with a wet paper towel, light sand (i used 800 grit) then use a wet paper towel to eliminate the dust and dry with a paper towel and go to work

 

okay. u shake the can vigorously. make sure u clean the surface ur tinting and also scuff it up a little with some sandpaper. then put on like 4 coats. thats how much i put on, and they came out nice. i've never been pulled over for them *knock on wood* n cops have tailgated me numerous time. its an easy procedure.

 

i dont think its illegal as long as light shines thru, and check out my link to the how-to, it tells u everything u need to know

 

Thanks for the link dude

Sorry for the late post, just got outta school....

Ok, first off, so i DO NEED to scuff up my tails before putting the nite shades on? what happens when i wana go back to regular? wont my lights be all scratched up?

also, where i can i buy a can or 2 of this stuff at? autozone?

Thanks for everyones input on this matter, i really appreciate it

I think blacked out tail lights will look good on my silver balt.

 

Once you do this you can't go back to untinted lights. Not unless you buy a new set.

 

But sick06cobalt said it comes off with paint thinner in post #6....

 

it comes off, but from what ive heard paint thinner will burn the plastic, u have to use paint remover.

and its best to scuff up the tails a little, use like 800-1000 grit sand paper so its not crazy scratches. once ur start spraying this stuff on it fills in the cracks and looks good. but i'd suggest getting like a gloss clear coat (i got a satin one on it and i dont like the way it looks) but yea man its easy, just time consuming. so pick a day where u know u wont need to drive

 

Ah, aite man, thanks also, where can i buy this stuff locally? like an autozone or where?

 

It comes off, but your tails will look ugly.

I just went one coat to make it look 'dirty.' I just taped and sprayed it like spray paint. It was easy. Oh and let it CURE before you reinstall them or you'll get runs. I let mine sit for 6 hours in a warm shop.

 

maybe i should buy another pair of stockers and night shade those... hmmm

 

dude... dont listen to them... you dont have to scuff them up first of all... i didnt and then i didnt add a clear... it went about a year before it broke when i was using an air tool... i cant tell you how much stuff ive done to them yeah if you scuff them then youll have to buy a new set but if you dont you can take an air tool and some paint remover.. (thinner) and then just apply it to a rag and go to town... it wont burn the plastic... i would know because i screwd up the first time..

 

im just saying. for best results, if u take 800 grit (basically its very smooth) and u wet sand it for like 10 seconds on each one, it will scuff it up enough to where it will adhere the best, and no it won't leave any scuffs. believe me, i've been using spray paint for quite some time, and i've always scuffed up before applying. its a technique that alot of people use. i didn't clear coat mine either because 1. i didnt know if i would like it. 2. if i got pulled over for them and ticketed i wanted to be able to get it off easily. 3. i might wanna go darker. but if u clear coat them they do look great. but trust me, if u use 600-1000 grit it will not leave HUGE noticeable scuffs in the lights. look at my pics in my gallery. i sanded all my interior down to smooth as can be and then i scuffed it up a little bit. also, if u read the paint can, it will tell u to wet sand in between coats. this is to achieve 2 things, keep every layer even, as well as scuff it up. when I say scuff it up, i'm not talking about huge gouges here. i'm talking about very very very very tiny itty bitty scratched not noticeable unless u have a microscope. i mean u won't even feel it with ur fingers. the can says every coat should be wet sanded, i did it every 2 coats. trust me, it works, never had a problem, and never will. i been doing this for a long time and i get nothing but compliments and people always want me to help them with their interior or any type of painting. actually i'll post up pics of some stuff ive done... u already saw my tail lights...





(hard to see but...)






i think it looks great, and wet sanding between coats is key and essential for the outcome. also after u wet sand, u should always clean the surface with soap n water and dry it after. this is also key.

 

dam thats a long time and yeah, i dont wana sand mine down even if its with 1000 grit sandpaper... knowing me, id probably f it up and get stuck with ugly ass lights in the end... so to play it safe, im guna just night shade them and clear cloat them... no sanding of any kind... that way in the end, if something does arise in which i need to remove the paint, my lights will be ok....

and cobalt_driver, uv done an AWESOME job on ur interior... looks pretty sweet man but in MY case, i think im just guna leave the lights the way they are and see how long the night shades last me.... i could always redo them, no biggie... thanks though.

AND NO ONE HAS TOLD ME WHERE I CAN BUY NIGHT SHADES LOCALLY? AUTOZONE?

 

i painted mine and wetsanded with 600-800-1000 grit. I taped off the middle circle too for the reverse and kept that clear. Here are pics of mine and there dark but that is just the sun shining on it. I clearcoated mine with about 5 small coats too and mine have been on my car now for over 6 months and they still like perfect and i wash my car once a week.