a question about spray painting tail light..

[benie]

how do you do that? which part of the taillight do you spray? and what kind of spray paint? sounds like a good idea..i might do mine...but i want more info..let me know what you know.thanks.

[filmfiend81]

I did mine all red (look at my avatar). I give step by step instructions in this post;

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...?threadid=8486

If you do it, post some pics when you're done

[CivicSiRacer]

If you have cleared taillights you can "candy" them with Testors Candy Apple Red spray paint or buy that expensive taillight paint from Japan. Of course to stay legal you want to paint the section that is suposed to be red.

You can also lightly smoke the lens like I did with some Nightshades - found at most automotive stores OR use static cling tint, which is removeable.

[tynebeach]

Most people color their tail lights in one of two ways. One, they buy a whole new tail light assembley. Two they color the outside of their tail lights with Candy Apple Red from testors or to smoke your tail lights you can go to a hobby store that sells R/C paint and pick up some tint (after it dries the paint can bend and it doesn't chip).

A cool way to tint your headlights is to actually spray the inside of their tail lights. I don't know the exact name, but it's the metal housing part of the light, and then the reseal the glass or plastic part back on.

[benie]

so if i was to do mine. i would want to cover up the yellow part of the tail light??
also, i would want to paint the inside of the lights not the outside right?
and, is it street legal?

[tynebeach]

I've really only heard of people coloring the insides of their corners and headlights. And also I believe as long as your lights glow the right color when activated they're legal. I belive when people get completely clear tail lights they get colored bulbs to put into it so it still glows the right colors.

[CivicSiRacer]

It's easier to paint the outside cause I know people trying to crack open the taillights only to actually "CRACK" the taillights. It's only plastic. The headlights can be heated and pryed open.

But painting the outside is easier. But yes you would mask off the section YOU DON"T WANT TO PAINT with painter's tape or masking tape. Spray 1 very light coat and let it dry for 15-30 minutes. Spray another light coat and wait 15-30 minutes and if you want you can do one more spray and then let it dry overnight. You don't want to SPRAY IT thick cause it will just run and look awful..

Then after it dries overnight you can add one light coat of Krylon clear coat to get is shiney.

[filmfiend81]

tynebeach, the law is that your taillights glow the right color (red for brakes and red or amber for turn signals) and that they are visible from at least 200 feet away (at least that's California law). On a sunny day most clear tails with red bulbs are only visible about 50 feet away. I learned that the hard way when I almost slammed into some guy on the freeway; they were so faint that i couldn't see them until about 20 feet away!

Also, I can back CivicSiRacer on the whole masking off thing. When I did mine I taped off about a foot in all directions, but when I got done i realized there were particles as far as two feet from the lights stuck on my car in a tape-outline. It was actually noticable when i first did it, but has washed away over the year. I used the japanese stuff which cuts out the second step with Candy apple red since it's already got a glossy finish.

[CivicSiRacer]

Oh yeah take them off the car before you paint them Safer than getting paint ON YOUR CAR.