Ruby Tail Lights

[anwisdom]

Anybody have any ideas on making a 98's tail lights a darker red but not black. I thought about maybe doing a coat or two of nightshades but I'm worried that will just make them dull. I still want that clear crystalline look, just more of a ruby color. Trailblazers have the look I am going for.

[Plurr]

if you add a coat of vht nightshades it will make it darker but not black, you can do a light coat and make sure you do it in a nice dry area without much humidity, that is what usually makes nightshades have a dull finish. If this does happen you can wetsand to make it smooth.

[willwren]

Always apply clearcoat to nightshades or it will dull over time.

[Gumball]

he's looking for the clear plastic look still. How about taken the apart and using vht on the inside.

[anwisdom]

he's looking for the clear plastic look still. How about taken the apart and using vht on the inside.

Yeah, I like the clear view to the reflectors. I would think nightshades would dull that. I may be wrong but that it what I was trying to find out.
I hadn't thought about doing it on the inside but I still am worried about losing the clarity.

[willwren]

Darker than you'd like, but shiny enough for you?

[Plurr]

you don't have to add clear coat if you apply vht nightshades correctly, I have had mine done for a couple years and still have a nice shine w/o clear

[anwisdom]

Yeah they're shiny, but that's not really what I'm asking about. Maybe dull is not the right word. I want to know if I do one coat of VHT then a clear coat, will the lens still be clear? Or will it be less clear. will, when you did yours, could you still see the reflectors through the lens after the 1st coat?

[WhiteArrow3800]

I would be Interested to see what this would look like if it was tinted on the inside of the lens though. But most of us are trying to hide imperfections on our lights so we have to tint on the outside. I have an Extra light, I'll test it on that to get an idea. Your's is a '96-'99 though, I don't think you can open yours up like the '92-'95 can.

I have a piece of clear plastic that I used for a test coat and I applied layers to it so you can see what 1 coat vs 2, 3, or 4 looks like, I thought I had a picture but I guess not, I'll post it tomorrow. The coat really depends on how each person does it. Each coat needs to be a light coat cause this stuff likes to run. I think the closest you can get with VHT to what you want is maybe 1 or 2 coats and clear it. It should make it a darker red or 'ruby' color like you mentioned, and have a shine to it.

[Peterg22000]

it will be less clear no matter how little you put on, thats simple logic. the way the lights are designed on the bonnies 87-99(black ribbing on the inside) there is really no way to get the look you decribe..

[alexcoqui]

Yes there is! check mine out.

Mine got painted with a spray gun. I used clear & added some black to it. & it shines like glass. Ive done the rattlecan & it dosnt compare. plus its better if you want just a tad of shade.
By the way mine has 3 layers of clear, so Ive could had gone lighter or kept on adding layers & gone darker.

[anwisdom]

Thanks, I think I got the info I needed. My right light has two mounting posts broken and needs to be replaced any way, so I have something I can play around with these ideas before committing. I will post the results.

[Custom88]

You can get the look you want by doing several light coats of the VHT nightshades and wetsanding afterwards. you'll also want to wet sand after the clearcoat is put on and then buff/polish it. I think this is what you're looking for..


That car was done with 3 coats of the night shades and then clear coating/polish/buffing.

[anwisdom]

Yeah Custom that's it. I might try 2 coats since the lenses are already pretty dark. As soon as I am finished moving I'm getting to work on the car and experiment on my broken lens.

[willwren]

Don't wetsand the VHT, especially after only 2 light coats. You'll creat 'bald spots'. VHT goes on very thin to begin with.

Wetsand after the first or second coat of clear, then finish with the last coat of clear, polish if necessary.