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how do I smoke my tail lights?

1759 Views 36 Replies 24 Participants Last post by  reddog3390, 
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Can I use spray on tint to smoke my tails? Has anyone done this before...what did you use?
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (hoosier1661)

yes
Testors Polycarbonate 'window tint' for lexan RC bodies.
light even coats and clear afterward.
mine-


did my turns/blanks/fogs the same way

it's very thin, so it transfers light awesome http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (VolkSchnell-GTI)

that's what im going to do, once i get my tails that i bought off vortex http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (TeamDynasty95JettaGL)

it's difficult to say on matching. they won't look the same. but mine were pretty dark.
i did 4-5 coats i think.
and that was on stock gti tails.
the only thing i didn't like was the black stripes on the bottom half made them look funny up close.
i would say 3-4 light coats to match (roughly)
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (VolkSchnell-GTI)

can you? yes. Is it advised? nope.
I bought GTI tails, then I tinted the blinker a few shades darker, just so that when it reflected in the light, it wasn't as orange as my GL tails. Just that step helped TONS in making the smoked tails look truely smoked.
Lots of light, even coats, lots of wet sanding, and dont forget the clear coat!!
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (Slapshotnerd)

I wanna try this. I'm all about the cheap mods. Is it really a bad idea? from the pics its looks a lot like the in pros, but i'm sure not in person. What do you say Volk? you like the out come?
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (volkswagon81)

this mod can look awesome but also terrible. you to do it RIGHT.
if you do it wrong it looks all bad and is really easy to smudge when it is drying.
the best way to do it is sand your lights completely flat (no hella writing or that poop) with a fine sand paper. clean it off with a good cleaner. spray on the tint about 3-7 coats or however dark you want it (make sure it drys in between coats or else it will run). then apply the clear with 2 or 3 coats (without the clear the lights are matte and don't look good)
thats how i did it and i love my tint but i am getting rid of my lights
for newer in pro ones
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (KiNEMATiX)

Clear coat is the key!
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (Golf_CL)

i liked it. but i also do quite a bit of body work and painting, so the hard part was easy for me.(spraying)
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
just take your time and do light EVEN coats
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (hoosier1661)

This artricle was written about tinting the side markers but the process is the same.
DIY Smoked Side Markers
Good Luck. As stated before this can look really good but man if you do not take your time it looks like poop. Keep the coats very thin and use multiple coats.
Later,
Kevin
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (VolkSchnell-GTI)

man VolkSchell-GTI, THAT'S EXACTLY what I wanna get in terms of smoked!!! Does it DRASTICALLY affect the visibility of your lights? I don't wanna reduce safety or anything (safety first y'know? http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif )
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (VolkSchnell-GTI)

Is this legal? I'm sure that if you make the lights extremely dark it's probably illegal and unsafe...but what about just a mild tint like the Hella tails?
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (Groundskeeper)

I was driving home last week and came across a 16v GTi. Needless to say we had some fun slotting through traffic. But When he was in front of me I noticed he had blacked-out tails. Except this dumba$$ had actually used an opaque black spray on the upper half of his lights. I am surprised he hasn't been pulled over cause you could barely see his directionals. Very unsafe if you ask me. If you do spray your tails do it the right way (transparent paint with thin coats).
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (hoosier1661)

Can you tell me how much this paint is and hwo much you should use....was one can enough for both tails....
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (Need2Turbo)

the pics are decieving.
it transferred light very well. you could not tell they were smoked AT ALL when it was dark outside.
daylight they were fine too, a tiny bit dark.
the ONLY time i had trouble with visibility was in very bright direct sunlight.(like if it was beaming right at the lens)
other than that, no problems. and i NEVER got pulled over for them. not even once.
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (Need2Turbo)

I would say use window tint, like 35% smoked window tint, I did it to my fronts, and it looks great, and has held up extremely well, the only problem is you have to put it on dry, you can't use the soapy water. So you'll have some bubbles to pop. But I say the tint is a better idea, because if you mess it up, you can just pull it off and start over. check my old posts for pics of my fronts
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (Need2Turbo)

i used the spray tint on my turn signals, dummy panels, and bumper lights. i used about 4 coats, and it looks dark, but they work fine...other ppl can see them blink.


[Modified by ebxgsxr, 7:47 AM 4-7-2002]
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (csniper)

also, about the spray tint from Testors:
you can sand it off(wet) very easily if you don't like it.

i would recommend wet sanding them first to remove any markings from the factory. they look much smoother afterward.
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (hoosier1661)

hey... just wanted to let you know that i bought my hella's taillights already tinted... but my front side markers needed a lil color so we used "stained glass" window tint. it works, we used like 3 or 4 coats and they look sweet. good luck!
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Re: how do I smoke my tail lights? (JettiGurl)

quick question.. newbie question also.
how do i remove the side markers on an mk3 jetta?
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