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Removal of Nightshades ect ( tutorial ) (56k warning)

Started by SC S12 · Nov 11, 2010 · 7postsSMF 2010–26

SC S12Nov 11, 2010, 11:45 pm · #1

Ok so you or someone else tinted your lights and it looked like butt.
you want to remove it, but every where you look to it says you cant remove it without serous damage to the lenses...
Well they are wrong

The Subject = my crappy job on the tail lights
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First Clean and Tape off your lights ( looking like a Midget Al and wearing plad is strictly optional)
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Next are the cleaners mild abrasives ( i also used a bit of reducer to get through the clear coat really fast) mequires steps one and two abrasives and 3m Plastic Polish as a side note, i had really good success with Goof off stuff, it cut through the tint super easy today on my US spec corners left them slightly blueish though
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I used a scotch brite pad to take it down to the plastic with steps one and two mequires stuff. if you want to preserve the factory lettering use a bit of reducer on a rag and softly rub them, it should just melt the paint and not the plastic(but be careful)
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Its matte now as you can see
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And now for the polish, no further explanations needed
buff till polish either drys or disappears, use very light pressure

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End Results nice factory tails=
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xxstreetbikesxxNov 11, 2010, 11:54 pm · #2

im probably just going to do this just to get that shine lol

StephenGNov 12, 2010, 4:37 am · #3

The plastic polish works really great, but if you don't wanna shell out the money, pretty much any car polish will work. Ive had great success with Meguire's SwirlX.

DeezusNov 13, 2010, 5:26 am · #4

I love how you included the "if someone else" lol

Soo... i dont want mine factory shine. I want mine tinted i just wanna redo it. So can i do everything except the polish part with the drillllllll?

StephenGNov 13, 2010, 8:51 am · #5
Deezus on 05:26:48 AM / 13-Nov-10I love how you included the "if someone else" lol

Soo... i dont want mine factory shine. I want mine tinted i just wanna redo it. So can i do everything except the polish part with the drillllllll?

If you just wan't to redo it, I would wipe it down with reducer, then wet sand it with maybe 800-1000 to get the old off, then 1500 to give yourself a nice smooth surface to grab.

On a side note, has anyone ever tried polishing nightshade? I like the idea of smoked lights but it always looks somewhat dull compared to nice shiny plastic.
SC S12Nov 13, 2010, 12:24 pm · #6

if you put the parts in a oven around 150F degrees while it drys you will get a wet gloss look. then clear it and buff it out later.

and yes i left my third brake light night shaded and buffed it to a super high gloss

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celestialsilviaNov 15, 2010, 6:17 am · #7

or just use dark vinyl to tint it in the first place. good write up