Well I'm tinting my taillights over the next few days and want to put a clear coat over them once they're done

just wondering what grit sandpaper to use and also how to use the wet and dry because I've never used it before, and also how many coats I will need.

so yeh if someone could post instructions on how they would/have done it, it would be much appreciated

thanks!

Easiest is to use arcrylic paint from the can (which I guess your using)
Once the tint is dry, just a light sand with 1200G sandpaper, till nice and smooth, then put on a few layers of clear...do it on a nice day too..

wait till that drys and if your keen, wetrub down with 1200G again and polish.

']
Once the tint is dry, just a light sand with 1200G sandpaper, till nice and smooth, then put on a few layers of clear...do it on a nice day too..

so give the tint a light sand before the clearcoat?

thanks bud

ayne']how to use the wet and dry because I've never used it beforeRemember the "wet" bit; get a container of water and let the paper SOAK for a while, don't just dip it in water. And regularly pop it back in the water, clearing the gunk out to give you back the cutting power.

Hey man!
Heres a guide for ya being that im a painter!
If you have the lights with no coating on them yet,even better!
1. Prepare the lights by using P1500 wet paper which is a fine paper and then use grey scotch brite for automotive use,obviously its grey but is very fine.Use clean water the whole way for both of these materials for preperation.
2. Use the P1500 wet first and give the surface a good sand,you will find it will loose its gloss but this fine,its what you want.Once this is done,go over it with the grey scotch brite wet to get the spots you missed like edges and any small indentations from factory moulding and such.
3. Wipe down dry and even use a air blower if you have a compressor to remove any water left.
4. Clean down with wax and grease remover so any areas that you need to mask off will be nice and clean for the tape to stick.
5. Mask any areas you dont want overspray on like the plastic side guards of the lights which are black anyway.
6. When the lights are ready to be sprayed,you can use the aerosole version which you get from supercheap which is called night shade.Put coats on to the depth you require but make sure you let each coat flash in between(3-5mins).
7. Once the night shade is done,you can then use a 2pak clear coat and do 2 coats of clear because 3 coats is too many and dont listen to what people say about the more clear the better because you can risk defects like runs and solvent boil if you dont do the flash off process properly.It usual takes between 5-10mins depending on the temperature between each coat of clear.
If you think this is too much,PM me and i will work out a price for it all and you can send it to me and i will have them looking like magic!

Hey man!
Heres a guide for ya being that im a painter!
If you have the lights with no coating on them yet,even better!
1. Prepare the lights by using P1500 wet paper which is a fine paper and then use grey scotch brite for automotive use,obviously its grey but is very fine.Use clean water the whole way for both of these materials for preperation.
2. Use the P1500 wet first and give the surface a good sand,you will find it will loose its gloss but this fine,its what you want.Once this is done,go over it with the grey scotch brite wet to get the spots you missed like edges and any small indentations from factory moulding and such.
3. Wipe down dry and even use a air blower if you have a compressor to remove any water left.
4. Clean down with wax and grease remover so any areas that you need to mask off will be nice and clean for the tape to stick.
5. Mask any areas you dont want overspray on like the plastic side guards of the lights which are black anyway.
6. When the lights are ready to be sprayed,you can use the aerosole version which you get from supercheap which is called night shade.Put coats on to the depth you require but make sure you let each coat flash in between(3-5mins).
7. Once the night shade is done,you can then use a 2pak clear coat and do 2 coats of clear because 3 coats is too many and dont listen to what people say about the more clear the better because you can risk defects like runs and solvent boil if you dont do the flash off process properly.It usual takes between 5-10mins depending on the temperature between each coat of clear.
If you think this is too much,PM me and i will work out a price for it all and you can send it to me and i will have them looking like magic!

two questions
instead of p1500 sandpaper will 1200 be ok?
and whats 2pak clear coat? i just bought some K&H clear coat stuff

I wouldnt touch anything here with sandpaper, it will just leave scratches. use the liquid products, rubbing compound and a glaze. Just a glaze on the clear will make it look mint, unless you stuffed it up and have runs or dry spots or something.

I wouldnt touch anything here with sandpaper, it will just leave scratches. use the liquid products, rubbing compound and a glaze. Just a glaze on the clear will make it look mint, unless you stuffed it up and have runs or dry spots or something.
mate the 1200 and 1500G sandpaper isnt like a grinding wheel, its smooth as, ive even used it to rub down the paint on my car to bring it a mirror finish.
it will leave smalllllllll scratch's in the paint (if you used it on paint) but in this application its fine..

you need to sand down each coat to get the flattest smoothest shine.
Works mkay

There is hundreds of ways to go about doing this. Im not here to argue, im telling the OP how I would go about doing this. I would use a rubbing compound on the tint, which is about a 1200grit, clear coat should come out glossy and mirror like if sprayed right, if anything a cut back with a glaze will really bring out the shine on the clear, but I would def not touch the final clear with sandpaper.

p.s 1500grit does not give a mirror finish mate, your on drugs.

There is hundreds of ways to go about doing this. Im not here to argue, im telling the OP how I would go about doing this. I would use a rubbing compound on the tint, which is about a 1200grit, clear coat should come out glossy and mirror like if sprayed right, if anything a cut back with a glaze will really bring out the shine on the clear, but I would def not touch the final clear with sandpaper.

p.s 1500grit does not give a mirror finish mate, your on drugs.
Sorry forgot to add, anded it down with 1500 to make it smooth, then buffed it to a mirror shine....sorry about that :D

just wondering because im confused by all the different posts
is it best if i give each layer of clear coat a rubdown with 1500 wet and dry before applying another layer?

well the tints on and has been drying for the last 6 hours

it looks a little patchy but i guess after a sand with the wet and dry it will be fine

I also bought some K&H buff n shine as this is what the lacquer suggests that i use after the lacquers on and dry.

so anyone? do i sand in between coats of the lacquer or will the buff n shine cutting compound bring it up fine?

If you do it that way,apply 2-3 coats of clear,let it dry completely then give a buff.
Should take a day or 2 to be able to be buffed without it being baked.Even put them in the sun to help them dry.

If you do it that way,apply 2-3 coats of clear,let it dry completely then give a buff.
Should take a day or 2 to be able to be buffed without it being baked.Even put them in the sun to help them dry.

thanks bud!
:)

well lights are basically done!
just using the buff n' shine to make them smooth and shiny
i will need to do this a few times till there perfect, might have to dig out the buffer if i can find it, i probably should have given the final coat a quick sand like TUFFTR said

anyway they are looking schmick! thanks for everyones input and help:)

all done!
must admit they are looking pretty sweet!
perfect shade, wouldnt have wanted them any darker or lighter

i ended up buffing them like 7 times just to get the smoothest shiniest shine!

thanks everyone again
pics will come soon
:)

Sweet! I wanna see these tomorrow:cool:

']Sweet! I wanna see these tomorrow:cool:
you miss out!
sorry lad
im bringing dads bush basher
lol
ians coming, and his going to finish sanding my garnish on the way there so we are taking my dads hilux

hopefully ill be down to the next meet!

ayne']you miss out!
sorry lad
im bringing dads bush basher
lol
ians coming, and his going to finish sanding my garnish on the way there so we are taking my dads hilux

hopefully ill be down to the next meet!
What so you have a broken bumper and you cant drive it now?:P

']What so you have a broken bumper and you cant drive it now?:P

hahaha
something like that
nahhh
1: i dont want ian to sand in my car
2: if i drive the ute i dont need to pay for petrol
&3: my car is as dirty as a st kilda hooker

Good to hear the lights turned out good,send some pics when done.
I did my KL ones but i'm not 100% happy with them cause i want them darker(COP Bait style),hahahaha!

Good to hear the lights turned out good,send some pics when done.
I did my KL ones but i'm not 100% happy with them cause i want them darker(COP Bait style),hahahaha!

would love to see them. think i might do mine over christmas. dont have any money what so ever, so all these cheaps mods will be perfect.

would love to see them. think i might do mine over christmas. dont have any money what so ever, so all these cheaps mods will be perfect.
give me five minutes!
pics coming
:)

here we go guys
could do with a bit of a clean as they are dusty
but yeh
they came up very good
like everything it looks so much better in real

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/8867/dscf1916vk0.jpg

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/668/dscf1923ex4.jpg