Help with tinting

[dg12]

Finally registered after months of lurking!

I currently have a set of rear lights with the quad spot and am looking to tint the out clear circle to red so i get the proper 4 clear and 4 red circles

Is there a how to on the best way to take the light apart? So i can get to the clear plastic lenses

Really stumbling at the first hurdle here, ive tried the search but always good chance im not searching for the right keywords

Thanks in advance

 

[ben g]

Hi there, you don't take the light apart. You simple mask up the circles and spray the outer part.

I done a set a few years ago. Quite simple, but make sure you lacquer them afterwards, else they'll fade in a few months and will need doing again.

 

[dg12]

:withstupid: now that makes a lot more sense, appreciate your help,
Would you recommend spray over tinting strips?

 

[ben g]

I tried using a red tint vinyl first time around, but I couldn't bend the material enough to suit the curve of the light. The tint spray gives a nice finish, but as said, will fade over time (few years with lacquer, few months without).

 

[dg12]

Perfect ill give the spray and lacquer a go!
They currently have a slight orange tint to them i assumed someone has tried before to tint them,
Will the need to be sand/washed/rubbed down before spraying with red?
Cheers

 

[ErrErrminator]

Just posted a thread on a similar topic. Spray tinting a clear set as above is probably the route I will take. Just got to get hold of some clear rear lights....

 

[ben g]

Perfect ill give the spray and lacquer a go!
They currently have a slight orange tint to them i assumed someone has tried before to tint them,
Will the need to be sand/washed/rubbed down before spraying with red?
Cheers

You could probably spray over the top of it, but I rubbed the old faded tint off before I re-coated them. It was a bit time consuming, but they came ok looking good.

 

[dg12]

Yeahh id rather rub them down a little before,
Any recommendations on whats best to rub it down with?
Apologies for all the questions just wanna get the best finish

 

[Russ59]

I did mine a few years ago and still look factory.
3 to 4 good coats of tint then several coats of lacquer. I never rubbed down between coats, just gave a wipe over with alcohol wipes before I applied the tint.
Keep them as flat and level as you can when applying the lacquer then you won’t get any runs, also best when it’s warm.

 

[ben g]

Yeahh id rather rub them down a little before,
Any recommendations on whats best to rub it down with?
Apologies for all the questions just wanna get the best finish

I can't 100% remember what I used to rub the tint off, but it was probably turps/white spirit. Did the job