i looked on you tube and they reckon oven cleaner soaked in for 20 mins it will come straight off!! so will try this.. the plastic spray top came off as i dropped the can by accident, then it was loose it came off when i sprayed a layer over the top, making a couple off dinks in it. i dabbed the spots off and it took some paint off. now it looks crap on 1 side...
Clear light set on eBay
- Thread starter Leon_in_uk
- Start date
Hi, I have just completed the 4 spot mod to a set of clear rear lights from Ebay Germany.
Instead of using masking tape and then cutting through, I used electricians tape which you can shape to the contour of the larger spot very easily.
It took me less than 5 mins per light to tape up the larger clear spot and the smaller red area with the small clear spot.
Just make sure you clean any residue off before you laquer.
Cant believe how easy it was.
Instead of using masking tape and then cutting through, I used electricians tape which you can shape to the contour of the larger spot very easily.
It took me less than 5 mins per light to tape up the larger clear spot and the smaller red area with the small clear spot.
Just make sure you clean any residue off before you laquer.
Cant believe how easy it was.
BettyBmw03
Member
I was wondering what the best tint is for doing this? I live in the US and can't order any of the tints from the UK due to shipping laws. I have heard of others using Testor or Model Master red transparent spray, like used on model cars? Any suggestions?
Gremlin500
Member
Hi, I can let you all in on a few secrets after having sold several sets on Ebay in recent times, now I just don't have the time anymore, and it was a bit of a labour of love TBH.
This is quite time-consuming to do it properly.
First, get your clear lights, mask out the clear inners (I made an elliptical mask the exact size of the inners first with some professional masking film - it is a perfect ellipse, by the way very fiddly as the flim needs to be heated with a hairdryer then rollered to get rid of any creases) then attack them with a Scotchbrite pad to get them all nice and cloudy! -Yup, I'm serious, don't worry, -if you don't do this, the laquer will peel in several months or years' time...
Wipe them clean, then mask carefully around the edges with that blue flexy masking tape stuff, cover the rear of the light with brown paper. Then use a beeswax impregnated cloth to remove all traces of fine dust.
I made a cardboard holder to slot the narrow end of the light into to grip it firmly. Then spray the red tint (I used the E-Tech stuff off Ebay), about 4 good coats, spraying from about 10-12" away in a warm garage.
Tip: Wear surgical gloves and hold the light at 45 degrees, spray quite generously to avoid "orange peel" caused by being to far away/too little paint, drop the light to horizontal immediately after each coat for a few minutes to help avoid runs, it's a fine balance to avoid runs though. If you get a run, don't worry! You can let the light dry overnight, then gently rub down the run with minimum 600 grade W&D then Scotchbrite again, then respray. Don't rush.
After the light is dry, remove the masking, and rub down again with Scotchbrite to get rid of the "step" between clear and red roundels, check again for runs before you continue. Leave the masking on!
Then spray as before with 4 coats of clear (acrylic) laquer -I used Simoniz from Halfrauds, it gives a very smooth glassy finish. Again, don't be worried about runs, you will get it wrong the first time -I did!
The secret is, if you mess up, LET IT DRY, then rub down and start again! Don't mess about with wet laquer! If you let it dry, you MUST Scotchbrite to key the surface before you re-commence.
As you guessed, patience is the key, I'm a bit of a perfectionist, but the results are worth it even a close examination of the lights should not reveal they are anything other than OEM lenses. 8)
Have fun!
This is quite time-consuming to do it properly.
First, get your clear lights, mask out the clear inners (I made an elliptical mask the exact size of the inners first with some professional masking film - it is a perfect ellipse, by the way very fiddly as the flim needs to be heated with a hairdryer then rollered to get rid of any creases) then attack them with a Scotchbrite pad to get them all nice and cloudy! -Yup, I'm serious, don't worry, -if you don't do this, the laquer will peel in several months or years' time...
Wipe them clean, then mask carefully around the edges with that blue flexy masking tape stuff, cover the rear of the light with brown paper. Then use a beeswax impregnated cloth to remove all traces of fine dust.
I made a cardboard holder to slot the narrow end of the light into to grip it firmly. Then spray the red tint (I used the E-Tech stuff off Ebay), about 4 good coats, spraying from about 10-12" away in a warm garage.
Tip: Wear surgical gloves and hold the light at 45 degrees, spray quite generously to avoid "orange peel" caused by being to far away/too little paint, drop the light to horizontal immediately after each coat for a few minutes to help avoid runs, it's a fine balance to avoid runs though. If you get a run, don't worry! You can let the light dry overnight, then gently rub down the run with minimum 600 grade W&D then Scotchbrite again, then respray. Don't rush.
After the light is dry, remove the masking, and rub down again with Scotchbrite to get rid of the "step" between clear and red roundels, check again for runs before you continue. Leave the masking on!
Then spray as before with 4 coats of clear (acrylic) laquer -I used Simoniz from Halfrauds, it gives a very smooth glassy finish. Again, don't be worried about runs, you will get it wrong the first time -I did!
The secret is, if you mess up, LET IT DRY, then rub down and start again! Don't mess about with wet laquer! If you let it dry, you MUST Scotchbrite to key the surface before you re-commence.
As you guessed, patience is the key, I'm a bit of a perfectionist, but the results are worth it even a close examination of the lights should not reveal they are anything other than OEM lenses. 8)
Have fun!