airbrush1

It's just 800 grit sandpaper to smooth the tails down, then the Nightshades, and then real automotive clearcoat (not out of a can)

I still need to wetsand and buff them out, there's a few specs of dirt in there that bother me.

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

I think I'm gonna finally do mine tonight. I have a can of the nightshades and the clear. You just did one hit of 800 grit?

Vash-

airbrush1

well I sanded down the letters first, actually I scraped them off with a razor blade and then sanded it smooth, then degreaser. Make sure everything is dry and clean and spray the nightshades in light even coats. LET IT DRY OVERNIGHT, or it will probably fisheye when you clear coat them ( not sure why, but this **** takes forever to cure)

If you get a bunch of dirt or dust in the nightshades you can lightly and evenly sand it back out with 600 or 800 grit paper and re-coat.

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

Post pictures of the process guys.

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

I'll take pics and do a step by step as I do them tonight, see what I come out with.

I sanded the raised numbers and lettering off years ago to clean them up, but never got around to tinting them. I think it'll play off my black and blue theme nicely.

Vash-

miatamania

iTrader: (9)

I like the black ones.

TonyV

iTrader: (17)

ahhhh, this might be it then...I used spraycan clear coat (couple coats actually) and I did several coats of nightshades...also sanding in between coats

They came smooth as hell, but I couldnt get a decent gloss for the life of me...

SO I'm assuming to do this properly you'd need a paint gun...?

cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

It's tough to keep a wet edge with a spray can. You probably laid the clear down too dry.

airbrush1

you may be able to buff the canned clearcoat up and make it shiny, some of the higher quality trim clears will buff up nicely. It's worth a try!

To really do it right you need a paint gun, but I've done it with the expensive canned stuff and it worked ok too after some buffing

miataspeed1point6

iTrader: (1)

Painted edges

Savington

iTrader: (31)

I have not seen anything I've liked more than the stockers.

StankCheeze

iTrader: (1)

Someone recommended Testor's hobby paint to me for this. Don't get it. It all flaked off as my car sat outside during the winter. Where's the cheapest place to order Niteshades?

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

Just got done sanding my tails down, no more letters for me!

Did 800, then 1000, then 1500. Still dull though, so it's time for some plastic polish.

EDIT - rubbing compound, then plastic polish, then cleaner wax, and the tails are glossier than new!

TonyV

iTrader: (17)

i got some off ebay...was only a couple bucks less than others, but got here quick..

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

Here's the pics of my tail shave:

before:


after:

Jesse H

iTrader: (1)

Ya think the polishing compound then plastic polish would work for dull headlights?

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

most likely. I've polished plastic-lensed headlights to like new before, but I started with 800 and worked my way up just like with my tails.

johndoe

iTrader: (5)

If you're going to do it, go this route. It looks a lot more subtle too me.