Tail Lights
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Tail Lights
I would like to do my taillights over this winter,any suggestions on the way they get sanded and polished or coated,what grits do I use etc.
I've read a lot of threads but it seems like their are multiple ways of doing this,is there a proper way of doing them.?
Well I read a thread that says use Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish, I did,I think they came out nice but not enough.I have these surface scratches I'm having trouble with.
I guess this is where the sanding comes in.
I've read a lot of threads but it seems like their are multiple ways of doing this,is there a proper way of doing them.?
Well I read a thread that says use Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish, I did,I think they came out nice but not enough.I have these surface scratches I'm having trouble with.
I guess this is where the sanding comes in.
Last edited by mantaguy; 11-01-2014 at 04:08 PM.
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Car: 88 GTA Notch/01'WS-6 VERT
Engine: 5.0 LB-9/5.7 LS-1
Transmission: 700R-4/4L60
Axle/Gears: borg warner 3.27's
Re: Tail Lights
Hey Fran I used a fine grit 3m rubbing compound on my white GTA and it worked very well on the lights although i'm not sure how it would work on those scratches? I wonder if a headlight restoration kit would work for u??
#3
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Re: Tail Lights
I tried Meguiars PlastX repair kit on my 92 T/A tail lights but wasn't happy with the result as there was still a lot of blur and tiny scratches. I ended up wet sanding - starting with 800 grid, then 1200, then 1500 then 2000. Then I put on three coats of clear and that was basically it. No polishing, no waxing. Simple, maybe a little tedious, but mirror finish and looking factory new.
(Did I mention that I had to redo it twice? I clear coated them outdoors first time and in my dusty cellar second time and there were ugly dust particles all over. Third time with a friends dust-free room. All good things come in threes )
(Did I mention that I had to redo it twice? I clear coated them outdoors first time and in my dusty cellar second time and there were ugly dust particles all over. Third time with a friends dust-free room. All good things come in threes )
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Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
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Re: Tail Lights
I picked up a headlight cleaner kit(waist of money,only used the compound out of it) and some wet sandpaper sheets(400,1500,2000,2500)started with the 400 and ended with the 2500.
Sanded them by hand,(pretty easy)just tried to make sure they were evenly sanded with full strokes from end to end with the different grits.Got the scratches out anyway.
then I used my palm 6" buffer to apply the 3M Compound,then I changed the pad to buff them up
I think they came out pretty good?nice and shinny anyway.I may give them a coat of clear if that makes them a little less maintenance wise,I don't want to keep removing these to do this(these are spares buy the way)I'll switch these out and do the other set over the winter.
Sanded them by hand,(pretty easy)just tried to make sure they were evenly sanded with full strokes from end to end with the different grits.Got the scratches out anyway.
then I used my palm 6" buffer to apply the 3M Compound,then I changed the pad to buff them up
I think they came out pretty good?nice and shinny anyway.I may give them a coat of clear if that makes them a little less maintenance wise,I don't want to keep removing these to do this(these are spares buy the way)I'll switch these out and do the other set over the winter.
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Re: Tail Lights
Would you know the brand you used?never seen a can that you had to pull a ring.
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Re: Tail Lights
Sprayed the lights on my truck with it after tinting them. This is without any wet-sanding.
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Re: Tail Lights
This one here?
http://www.eastwood.com/2k-aero-spray-matte-clear.html
or this one?
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-s-2...oss-clear.html
http://www.eastwood.com/2k-aero-spray-matte-clear.html
or this one?
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-s-2...oss-clear.html
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Car: 87 Trans Am, 99 WS6, 16 Mustang GT
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Re: Tail Lights
Also, I'd go ahead and scuff the lights with 2000-2500 grit paper, just so the clear has a little more to bite into.
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Re: Tail Lights
PS,just ordered the paints.
#19
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Re: Tail Lights
Finish will lay down nicer, when surface isn't high gloss. I'd definitely scuff it first.
Just for amendment: Dupli-Color has a 2K clear coat - the one I used:
http://www.motipdupli.de/en/products...4/tm-1534.html
but I'm not sure it's available in the US
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Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
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Re: Tail Lights
OK,I just put a coat of 2K Eastwood Clear Coat on.http://www.eastwood.com/2k-aerospray...oss-clear.html
Their is no directions on the can for timing between coats,do I let it dry between coats?do I sand between coats?
Thanks,mantaguy
Their is no directions on the can for timing between coats,do I let it dry between coats?do I sand between coats?
Thanks,mantaguy
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Axle/Gears: borg warner 3.27's
Re: Tail Lights
I'd let it dry an hour or two with the weather were having today.I don't know if I would sand at all.
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Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
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Re: Tail Lights
Thanks guys,I did one coat so far and the results look a little hazy.I'm turning on the heat in a garage and give them a few more coats.thanks a lot.
Cehbra,yours look fantastic,how long did you wait before buffing??
Cehbra,yours look fantastic,how long did you wait before buffing??
#25
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Re: Tail Lights
For what it's worth at this point, I use this 3M stuff I have a bottle off with a buffer head on my drill. I would never use a clear coat because I would be worrying about it turning yellow or peeling/cracking.
This 3M stuff works great for polishing nearly anything! A good coat of wax every now and then has kept my tail lights looking new and shiny for the past 14yrs.
This 3M stuff works great for polishing nearly anything! A good coat of wax every now and then has kept my tail lights looking new and shiny for the past 14yrs.
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Re: Tail Lights
For what it's worth at this point, I use this 3M stuff I have a bottle off with a buffer head on my drill. I would never use a clear coat because I would be worrying about it turning yellow or peeling/cracking.
This 3M stuff works great for polishing nearly anything! A good coat of wax every now and then has kept my tail lights looking new and shiny for the past 14yrs.
This 3M stuff works great for polishing nearly anything! A good coat of wax every now and then has kept my tail lights looking new and shiny for the past 14yrs.
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Re: Tail Lights
For what it's worth at this point, I use this 3M stuff I have a bottle off with a buffer head on my drill. I would never use a clear coat because I would be worrying about it turning yellow or peeling/cracking.
This 3M stuff works great for polishing nearly anything! A good coat of wax every now and then has kept my tail lights looking new and shiny for the past 14yrs.
This 3M stuff works great for polishing nearly anything! A good coat of wax every now and then has kept my tail lights looking new and shiny for the past 14yrs.
BTW: I didn't buff at all after clear coating. Just sand n' coat, that's it. After clear coating, before you do anything at all let it cure for 24 hours.
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Re: Tail Lights
Well I did about 3-4 more coats,I'm going to leave them sit over night and see how well they dried.I think I'm going to have to sand them a little,after I started to spray them I noticed some dust or lint on them,not much,just enough to P me off(was on the cardboard)hopefully,maybe another coat will work.
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Car: 87 Trans Am, 99 WS6, 16 Mustang GT
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Re: Tail Lights
Yeah it's tough if you do it in a dusty room. I did mine outside. I used a tack cloth immediately before spraying, and then in between each subsequent coat.
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Re: Tail Lights
Nice work! Those really polished up nicely. The clearcoat should help protect your work.
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Re: Tail Lights
I'm going to teach myself how to apply clear coating on a spare set of tail lights I picked up awhile ago,apparently the spares had some kind of coating on them because their a SOB to sand down(working on them now).If they come out good I'll replace these,I really liked the way the clear coat shines.
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Re: Tail Lights
Well,change of plans,I took a ride over to the body shop and I'm having them spray the clear coat on tomorrow(hopefully),all I had to do was prep them for the painter(already done)I'm having both sets done,1 set will be a spare or sell them.
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Re: Tail Lights
Sorry to hear you had trouble with it. I've done several sets and never had an issue.
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Re: Tail Lights
_____________[/quote]
Hay ********,stop posting this bullshit!!!
This member should be
It's not the 1st time he did this
Hay ********,stop posting this bullshit!!!
This member should be
It's not the 1st time he did this
Last edited by mantaguy; 11-12-2014 at 09:20 PM.
#39
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Re: Tail Lights
Should turn out great - you have been busy Franny! They looked good when you cleared them.
BTW - when you paint you need to leave a scuffed surface for the paint to bit a bit. Did you paint them after you buffed them or did you scuff the surface again?
BTW - when you paint you need to leave a scuffed surface for the paint to bit a bit. Did you paint them after you buffed them or did you scuff the surface again?
Last edited by 82tarecaro; 11-12-2014 at 09:32 PM.
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Re: Tail Lights
Yeah! I too thought those looked great but of course it's hard to tell from a picture...
Sometimes it's just small things. Maybe it was a bit too cold so the clear was not liquid enough? Anyways the tail lights will be really nice when they come back from the body shop
Sometimes it's just small things. Maybe it was a bit too cold so the clear was not liquid enough? Anyways the tail lights will be really nice when they come back from the body shop
#43
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Re: Tail Lights
A PERVERT!!!!!
You didn't miss much. A virus spreading spammer. Mods have summarily whacked his ID.
Now, back to those beautiful, shiny tail lamps![/quote]
#44
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Re: Tail Lights
Well I just got back my tail lights yesterday,installed them today.Very happy with the results.
Last edited by mantaguy; 01-01-2015 at 07:11 PM.
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Re: Tail Lights
Wow,they turned out great!!!!! Can't wait to see them in person when are club starts meeting again.
#46
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Re: Tail Lights
Hey thanks JohnWe got about 120 more days till we meet again.
I had two sets done,picking up the other set next week.
I had two sets done,picking up the other set next week.
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Re: Tail Lights
I had the same issue I wound up using heavy grit plastic polish followed by fine grit and then some kleenmaste plastic and glass brillianizer. Worked great