$125 dollars?![:-]

Why? You can buy a can of VHT NiteShades for $14 and a good Krylon clear coat for $4.
Surface prep and temperature are the most important factors when doing work like this. If you really want to make sure you do it right, browse cardomain and search for others (no matter the car type) who have blacked out there tail lights and get specific advice from them. Then use the remaining $107 for a new part, few oil changes, two tanks of gas. Just my opinion.

 

So I should get Krylon to put over the Nite Shades? What other prep is needed? I planned to wash the housings with soap and water and wipe them down with alcohol. What else do I need to do?

EDIT: D@mn!!!! Another "easy" project that's going to be a PITA! Oh well, I guess this way it will look that much better. Here is what I found for directions: http://www.corrado-club.ca/mods/tailtints.html

 

Yeah 125 is ridiculous. I have seen that many forums have been suggesting the Nightshade/clear coat method, but some of the outcomes i've seen are not what I would want. You can tell that it's not glossy enough, but maybe it's the person that did it or because of the camera and in person it looks better.

How would using tint work with the lights out of curiosity.

My main issue is finding a place that has plentiful ventilation so that I dont get any dust or anything on the lights as it dries.

I've also seen that people wet sand...would that be necessary since the lights will be brand new?

 

Wow, his lights look AMAZING.

There is a guy in my town with a black charger that blacked out his tail lights and look just as amazing as this guys.
When I used the NiteShades on my tail lights I didnt sand or anything, but then again I didnt put it over the actual tail lights. I could have used reg. spray paint but I had the niteshades special ordered and couldnt return it. Plus I think it lets some reflection shine through. But I did use Krylons triple thick clear coat. His info on the base of the clear coat is news to me.

Some people do clear coat the lights, and some don't. Obviously the clearcoated ones will have a much better resistance to the elements. The clear coat will have a large effect on the glossiness so be sure to get a good one. That may be why his look so shiny.

I plan in NiteShading those little running lights on the side of my car in the rear bumper cover. I will def. use this guys instructions.

 

So is this Krylon tripple thick clear coat that you mentioned a few times better than Duplicolor's or Alsacorp's? I'm going to look up the 3 and compare now.

EDIT: Well, after looking at the 3 products, I think I'm going to go with the Krylon. $40 a can for the AlsaCorp is just too steep, especially when I can get the Krylon at Michaels for $5 and change. I also thought about adhesion promotor, but I think I'm going to do the wet sanding method for a better final product.

 

Sounds good man.

Its actually called Krylon Triple-Thick Crystal Clear Glaze 0500. Have the can in front of me!
- Bright, glass like coating
- Surperior high gloss finish

But look at the other clear coats as well. When I bought this I think I compared it only to one other clear coat.
Good luck! Take it slow, and show us how it turns out!

 

When I tinted my tails I wetsanded each for a good thirty minutes for both 600 and 1200 grit. I then used Meguirs PlastX plastic polishing compound to buff them shiny again. Took me about 4 hours to do total. I'd take his advice on not using 1200 grit if you are tinting the outside, I did the inside so I obviously could buff the bejesus out of it. His did turn out very nice, and mine looked just like that but not as dark. Falkore and 97, when you do do it, take a full day off from driving the car and dedicate it to the lights, it will be well worth it.

 

Do you guys think it would look stupid if I blacked out my corner pieces next to the headlights?

 

Are there advantages of spraying rather than using tint from a tint shop?

 

- Looks better
- Easier to do (you don't have to deal with contours)
- Durability
- Cheaper
- Most likely less work
- Film would get scratched being exposed to the elements like that