"Smoking The Tail Lights

[judes_scion_tc]

I have been wanting to "Smoke out" my tail lightssince my first tC almost 2 years ago but i don't want them to look bad. I have heard of people getting precut tint but it seems the tail lights are too round to make the tint look good. Also i have heard of people spraying them. So my question is whats the best, most cost effective way of tinting the tail lights, side markers and 3rd brake light (also thinking about the headlights but i think its illegal in fl)?

[2dot4]

definitely spray them. It's not permanent (rubbing alcohol can undo it if you decide you don't like it), and it's the cleanest look.

If you spray them, take the lamps apart and paint the inside (with the exception of the third brake light because it's impossible to open and reseal properly). You will be much happier with the result - TRUST ME. I've done it thousands of times. If you get lazy and paint the outside, you'll constantly find new chips, and get irritated like mad.

I'm actually gonna do my tail lights in the next few days, so I'll post some pics when I get done. I'm just going to smoke mine, not black them out though.

[Krdshrk]

I went through a guy named Scott (TheOverlayGuy on YourSciontC.com forums). His email is trepid2xist@hotmail.com.

What he does is he sends you a set of pre-smoked taillights. You swap them out with yours, then you send him your original set. He uses tint film and does an awesome job on them. The edges of the film are wrapped around the edges of the taillights - no bubbling or anything.

The precut overlays that you buy will be extremely hard to put on unless you have a heat gun and a LOT of patience. Even still, some of the precut overlays are in 2 pieces and/or just plain don't wrap around the edges.

As for the 3rd taillight, buy Oznium's full 3rd brake light. It comes in smoked too :)

[Krdshrk]

Oh yeah - with the spraying (that IS something you can do yourself), prep it well, and wet sand it down then clearcoat it.. Otherwise it'll look and feel cheap. I hate it when people just spray down the taillights with tint stuff and leave it - it feels rough and matted.

[judes_scion_tc]

definitely spray them. It's not permanent (rubbing alcohol can undo it if you decide you don't like it), and it's the cleanest look.

If you spray them, take the lamps apart and paint the inside (with the exception of the third brake light because it's impossible to open and reseal properly). You will be much happier with the result - TRUST ME. I've done it thousands of times. If you get lazy and paint the outside, you'll constantly find new chips, and get irritated like mad.

I'm actually gonna do my tail lights in the next few days, so I'll post some pics when I get done. I'm just going to smoke mine, not black them out though.

thanks, looking forward to seeing the pictures

[Stu_Gotti]

Yeah, I've got to aquire some VHT, I'm def smoking my headlights instead of the overlay, it was so dark that the heat from my highbeams bubbled the overlay... So VHT for the headlights and then VHT for a portion of my tails.. I have the new style LED tails though... I've got something special for them :)

[softeee]

whats the spray callled

[The_Dalai_Lloyd]

It's called VHT Niteshades. It sounds like a pain in the ass, but I think it looks better than vinal overlays. Anyway, here a link to the topic on SL:

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=115733&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=tint+tails

[The_Dalai_Lloyd]

Oh, and the clearcoat is Dupli-Color Acrylic Lacquer Glossy.

Anybody wanna do mine?

[softeee]

where can i cop the spray from
do they have it at kragen?

[The_Dalai_Lloyd]

where can i cop the spray from
do they have it at kragen?

Just google it. There's a bunch of places. I don't know where you could just pick it up.

[softeee]

ahh icic
right on for the heads up

[The_Dalai_Lloyd]

Here's a link for it. It's like 12 bucks a can. http://www.cacustomcoatings.com/vhtnishpa.html

[softeee]

right on man

[softeee]

:thanks::thanks: appreciate it

[The_Dalai_Lloyd]

No problem. What is kragen? I guess it's a NORCAL thing?

[softeee]

kragen is like pepboys
just a target/walmart of automotive parts

haha another norcal thing is "hella" as in alot or many
i have "hella" posts
i have many post

just a little food for thought haha

[The_Dalai_Lloyd]

I'm used to the Hella thing. My cousin's from Sac-town.

[2dot4]

if you're partial to nightshades, then go ahead, but if you'd rather spend $3 and get it right away, go to any hobby shop and ask for "window tint" spray paint (hobby lobby sells it, any hobby shop that specializes in remote control cars will have it). They come in small cans for about $3-$5 a can. One can does a set of tail lights pretty dark...

this is a whole 3oz. can (the smallest you can buy)
http://serious-photography.com/neon%20smoked2.jpg

They look so much darker from far away - the sun was right behind me in the picture, so it lit them up a little bit. They're almost black in person. Anyone with stock tail lights knows they're much brighter than that when they're stock.

Those tail lights were opened and painted from the inside - no clear coat needed and as you can see, they shine like a mofo. It took 30 minutes to open up the tail lights and paint em..about an hour for drying, and you're ready to roll. That's the process I recommend.

[softeee]

kooo

[judes_scion_tc]

thanks for the info everyone but has anyone done the overlays? i only ask because if for some reason i would have to remove the paint it would be easier to just peal off the tint. but i dont want them to look bad. just want to get all of the info i can before i decide which i want to do. so any info anyone has on overlays and which are easier to instal. thanks!

[softeee]

someone mentioned you can take it off with rubbing alchohol or something?
i forget its only a couple post before

[krazyscion]

uhhh does th VHT nightshades come off with alcohol?

[2dot4]

I don't know about the niteshades, but I know for a fact that the hobby paint comes off with alcohol.

I'll tell you now that the tint is a bitch to install - I bought some for my mirror signals, and even that small curve was annoying - I ended up throwing the tint away because it didn't ever look good. It's easier to remove, but when you spend 3 hours getting it right, you won't ever want to take it off. lol

[judes_scion_tc]

lol yea my friend jus put some on his mazda 3 n it looks bad, bubbles and everything so im gona paint them hopefuly soon

[Krdshrk]

You need a heat gun when installing tint... no matter what.

That's why I sent my tails out for the guy to do.

[sciondm]

Smoke the outside with the spray tint and do a good clear coat on them I would also suggest doing the turn signal indicators on the side mirrors and back part over the license plate. You do not have to open them up to do a good job. If you have ever tried to get film tint off you would know that anything would be easier.

I would call around and see if a body shop would be willing just to throw the clear on. They are set up to do it fast and you can probably get them to do a couple of layers for cheap. It's something that they can throw onto a current job.

[06BCPtC]

i used a spray tint from a hobby store, it was only like 5 bucks and i still have some left over and its a pretty small can

[RockBlocker]

I have been wanting to "Smoke out" my tail lightssince my first tC almost 2 years ago but i don't want them to look bad. I have heard of people getting precut tint but it seems the tail lights are too round to make the tint look good. Also i have heard of people spraying them. So my question is whats the best, most cost effective way of tinting the tail lights, side markers and 3rd brake light (also thinking about the headlights but i think its illegal in fl)?


I can take care of your needs with smoking that wont damage your light or cause it to leak