i was thinking about tinting my tail lights useing Duplicolor's Metalcast Smoke has anyone used it if so hows it look an any pics or is there somethin else i can use
if anyone has tinted tail lights with pics post them up so i can see them lol thanks Josh

Use:

http://volvospeed.com/Pics/Review/vht_nite_shade_taillight_tint.jpg

It's VHT Night shade. It's what's most commonly used for tinting lights. I don't have mine done yet, but I have a can on order (it's illegal up here, so you can't buy it in stores..had to get it online). There are a few people on the forum with it done though.

Got mine done bout 3 weeks ago 1 light mist then a level coat came out really nice and i didn't lose any visibility...oh yeah light bar is untinted
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o87/TWO1NINE/CIMG0009.jpg

Are you wanting to black them out or candy a set? If blacking them use the above product. If wanting to candy them they is a seller on ebay that sales transparent film in different shades that works really well.

i could sell you a set the only thing is you would need to use red bulbs because they were originally a set of clear lenses
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j101/packofqtips/DSCF0066-1.jpg
100 bucks shipped

I'm actually doing mine tomorrow. I also went with VHT Nite-Shade, and bought some Krylon Gloss clear.
Has anybody tinted their 3 brake light?

I used VHT Nightshades on mine as well.

http://www.blazerforum.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=389&pictureid=2405

http://www.blazerforum.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=389&pictureid=2741

How many coats you do use Okvortec?

Just one, since I sprayed them, the black has worn off a bit.

http://www.blazerforum.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=389&pictureid=2736

ah, lol! looks good. I might just go with one coat then.

Well it depends on how quickly or slowly you move the can and how far away you hold it from the light. I held it close and moved relatively slowly.

the third brake light is tinted

the third brake light is tinted

... are you asking if mine is? Yes it is

no someone asked if anyone has but they all are

That looks nice! Does anyone have a pic at night with the tail lights on? Or with brake lights on? Just wondered how transparent it was before I do it thanks.

Well I did mine, but my right tail light didn't come out too well. the paint cracked, and it looks like crap. :-( So that one is getting sanded down and redone tomorrow.

Well I did mine, but my right tail light didn't come out too well. the paint cracked, and it looks like crap. :-( So that one is getting sanded down and redone tomorrow.

NOT a good idea, you'll scratch your light and the tint won't come off. TRUST ME. :icon_wink:

When tinting with VHT, make sure you put a nice clearcoat over top of it so it's nice and shiny.

When I get the Regal's tails done, I'm sending them out to a paint man who mixes black with clear coat and sprays it all at once.

i sanded one of my tail lights

when you paint them you need to do light coats a thick coat will crack every time

NOT a good idea, you'll scratch your light and the tint won't come off. TRUST ME. :icon_wink:

What did you do to get the tint off?

i sanded one of my tail lights

when you paint them you need to do light coats a thick coat will crack every time
makes sense. I did the left, and my friend did the right ( I swear), you can tell he put it on too thick because it' s a bit darker than the left. The right is also the light we sprayed first. :icon_doh:

Here's a pic using the black paint mixed with clear method. Notice how shiny? MMMmmmmmm

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/wtf8269/Car/l84bngo4.jpg

I Used spray paint, but left star designs on mine so they show through..i did it so well, alot of my friends paid me to do similar designs to their cars too.

The advantages of being a tattoo artist i guess.

How would that spray stuff work on head lights? I lave window tint on mine right now, a low grade, and it looks ok, i had to sand off the head light brads though.

Well, I fixed my right tail lamp paint. What I did to remove the old paint is I used a little bit of lacquer thinner on a rag, and wiped the paint off. Then I used a 100 grit sandpaper to take off the rest of the paint and smooth it out, then I progressed to a 600 grit wet sand, then I wiped it off, and sprayed two very light coats. It looks mucho betta! Not sure if that is correct way, but it worked!

Here's a pic using the black paint mixed with clear method. Notice how shiny? MMMmmmmmm

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/wtf8269/Car/l84bngo4.jpg

Purrty!

Well, I fixed my right tail lamp paint. What I did to remove the old paint is I used a little bit of lacquer thinner on a rag, and wiped the paint off. Then I used a 100 grit sandpaper to take off the rest of the paint and smooth it out, then I progressed to a 600 grit wet sand, then I wiped it off, and sprayed two very light coats. It looks mucho betta! Not sure if that is correct way, but it worked!

pics?

when i sanded mine, it completely ruined the smooth, shiny look.

if you sanded it after you sprayed it then you would need to buff it

Pics tomorrow, I reinstalled them this evening so unfortunately, no picture. Yes, the shiny surface is gone when I sanded it, but the lights are supposed to be dull when you paint them anyways. So it looks fine. Besides, I may clear the lights after all. Still deciding.

if you sanded it after you sprayed it then you would need to buff it

well, I took the old tint off, and resprayed the tint, so do I still need to buff it?

no i was saying that if you tinted them then sanded them after you would need to buff them to make them shiny again

Oh, I see. I must have misread that lol!

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/mgl_995/IMG_0831-1.jpg
http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/mgl_995/IMG_0826-1.jpg
http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/mgl_995/IMG_0838-1.jpg

looks good, tint the 3rd brake light too!!

Thanks, I'm really thinking about doing the third brake light too. One of my friends has an '88 Blazer, and we tinted the side markers on his. I'm trying to find those pics.

I don't understand the fascination with the flat/matte tint.

Well all the Black trim on Blazers are flat Black. So... yeah.

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/mgl_995/IMG_0831-1.jpg
http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/mgl_995/IMG_0826-1.jpg
http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/mgl_995/IMG_0838-1.jpg

what brand did you use? thats how i want mine but more glossy

Well all the Black trim on Blazers are flat Black. So... yeah.

So yeah what? None of the other lights are flat/matte. I would compare lights to lights before comparing lights to trim.

I think it looks sloppy and unfinished. The only time I've seen it look good is when the rest of the vehicle is satin black (professionally sprayed, not rattle-canned).

Like so:

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8861/dsc02800.jpg
http://ravenf430.ra.funpic.de/radebeul-09-01-2008/slides/IMG_1738.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/15ri1qw.jpg

Here are some more glossy tails that look waaaaay classier IMHO:

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc272/White02ws6/IMG_0028.jpg
http://www.detailwerkz.com/clientcars/sportscar/dodgevehicles/black2009challenger/11.jpg
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/attachments/4-6l-talk/54758d1225726157-tinted-blacked-out-tail-lights-smoked-taillights-01-mustang-38l.jpg

I think the VHT is good and all, but it NEEDS to be finished off with a clearcoat and buff/polilsh/wax to look it's best.

I think it looks sloppy and unfinished.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course! I just happen to like matte black.. actually mine look kind of glossy in the sun now that I look at them.

It depends on the paint and finish of the car. Those first 3 you posted TBB are all flat black painted vehicles, so a glossy finish on the lights would probably stand out and look out of place IMO.
I do agree with you though about the bottom ones. If you have a shiny/glossy paint then I like the clear coated tint better. I haven't decided if I will clear mine once I tint them. I figure I'll get them tinted and decide what to do once I see them.

Btw...cbr, those tails look AWESOME on your truck!!

To young morph: I used VHT Nite Shades.

to TBB: I compare the tail lights to the trim because all the trim you see when looking at the rear is all flat. It's the way I see it, Just my opinion. besides, I am still contemplating clear coating them anyways. The shine would look pretty good against the shiny paint. Not sure...

Thanks Sisk. I am at that stage right now where I am trying to figure out where to go from here. But yeah, the tint came out great afte second attempt lol.

I HATE VHT. I've used it in the past before I knew any better. It's flat and hard to apply in an even coat. Even if you topcoat it with clear it still doesn't look right. Real automotive clear mixed with some black looks best. I prefer to wet sand the letters off the lights with 400 then sand the whole light with 600. You have to spray light even coats and keep counting how many coats you put on since the more you put on, the darker they get.

These are a set of Camaro lights I did then traded to a friend(this is his car):

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/camaro_ss_2002_345hp/S3000002.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/camaro_ss_2002_345hp/S3000003.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/camaro_ss_2002_345hp/S3000004.jpg

Real automotive clear mixed with some black looks best.
These are a set of Camaro lights I did then traded to a friend(this is his car):

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/camaro_ss_2002_345hp/S3000002.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/camaro_ss_2002_345hp/S3000003.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/camaro_ss_2002_345hp/S3000004.jpg

See? Send them to a body man/paint shop and tint them right!

That's fine and all, but how much does it cost to have a shop do them?

No idea since years ago I had tried to get a shop to tint mine since they did it on their personal vehicles. They wouldn't give me a price and said they can't guarantee it would stick. I did the lights myself and had the paint stuff already laying around. It only cost me my time to do it.

May sound stupid but im brand new to all this, just bought my first blazer. Do you spray the outside of lights or have to take them apart and spray the inside?

Clean well and spray the outside

That gave me a sigh of relief lol glad I dont have to start taking things apart lol. Thanks.

If I bought a set of lights, would anyone be interested in painting them? I have little time as a college student, and since the blazer is sitting in the garage... might as well right? PM me, if you are interested just shoot me a price, I am zipcode 61422 and 61606 at school...

The only problem with tinting clear is most clears is says right in the data sheets its not tint-able. Thats why most body shops won't do it for you and you have to find either some hack or somebody doing in under their carport. There are one or two brands that is tho so if you can find somebody that will research and do it right by all means please go ahead.

Personally I still like the tinted films, little soap and water, razor blade, heat gun, and you don't have to worry about too dark or runs.

I agree with you neo. I picked up some smoked film from my vinyl supplier. I have been working on making a template for our tails so I can make pre cut tint kits. I finished one last night that I will post pics of later tonite. Easy to put on and also easy to take off if you get in trouble with the cops.

Hmm, interesting. I never thought of stick on tint for tails. It would have saved me having to spray mine lol. Can't wait to see them pics. I'd like to see how they turn out.

Heres the pic of the tailight wrapped in smoked vinyl.

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq351/kegraffix/Picture.jpg

Why leave the backup light uncovered? It looks unfinished and stands out like a sore thumb. On my Camaro the tinted clear made them look dark, but barely effected the light that shined through. Seeing when backing up was never an issue for me.

I think it looks good, esp when you have all clears in the front. All tinted just looks too drab in the back but with the small bit of lens showing it breaks it up a bit. Plus I do like being able to see backing up no matter what. I have 55 watt back up bulbs in my lens and another set of 55 watt bulbs in my bumper I can flip on.

Looks good, SP. we had a dude come to work in a Tacoma, and he used a vinyl tint on his taillights. Looks sharp. I wished I did them that way lol. If I buy another set of stock tails, I'm vinyl tinting them.

Why leave the backup light uncovered? It looks unfinished and stands out like a sore thumb. On my Camaro the tinted clear made them look dark, but barely effected the light that shined through. Seeing when backing up was never an issue for me.

I also left my backup light untinted when I sprayed mine. I wasn't taking the risk of not being able to see backing up. My buddy tinted the tails on his car (the whole thing) and now he can't see a thing backing up. I don't think they stand out at all. It blends nicely with the truck:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/socomflf/Blazin/Winter%202009/100_3611.jpg

Since we whoring tails, lol, my red tinted ones.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/neo71665/Truck%20crap/rearbumper006.jpg

Those don't look very tinted...? lol

Those aren't red tinted, you bought them that way on ebay. I have similar ones for my 2nd gen. They're called "smokey red"

Those aren't red tinted, you bought them that way on ebay. I have similar ones for my 2nd gen. They're called "smokey red"

Yes I did but they are the clear gayzellas that have been tinted on the inside before they were put together Not the smokey lens ones. I've had these apart already looking how hard its gonna be to retrofit LEDs into them.


As for smoke tint I don't care for it so it aint happening. I been running the reds for almost 2 years and the only one I've seen with them in a 4 state radius. Everybody and their momma smokes their lens out.

Eh you can take those lenses apart?

Eh you can take those lenses apart?


Sure, just like any other lens we take apart. Are they meant to, no. Give me time I'm busy working on my engine right now but once thats taken care of I'll be back to butchering lights to put LEDs in. My grill lights are still going strong and I've had the front end splashed with some pretty deep water/mud so I guess I waterproofed them well enough.

Hmm I wouldn't think tint film would stand up well against the weather.

Hmm I wouldn't think tint film would stand up well against the weather.

What I used is a cast vinyl that has a 6+ year outdoor durability. will hold up pretty well to the elements.

Oh I see. That makes more sense.

i did it to mine, i used VHT niteshades, i only used not even half a can, but i wasnt into the look got rid of it and bought stock ones again so make sure its exactly what you want, i didnt like the tinted taillights on the pewter tan color truck like mine, but thats my opinion

Now see I think it would fit really well with your truck. The black rims, fenders, bull bar...it would match perfectly!

Off topic, I know, but does anybody make LED tail lights for the Blazer? I have only seen one style of LED's for our trucks, but IMO, I think they look really cheap.

Only ones I've seen were for a 2nd gen and they are the ugly 3d lights.

I've only seen the gaytezza style ones. Keep looking on ebay though, there's always lots of tail lights on there.

I've been looking for months now, those ugly ass altezzas are the only ones I can find. *sigh* looks like no LEDs for me. I found another real nice set I want to buy, they look sort of like Trailblazer tails. I'll try to find a pic when I'm at a real computer.

So i ordered a pair of bowtie tail light covers... i was thinking of tinting the lights and then repainting the covers to the body color.... good idea?

That would look pretty good IMO.

Yeah, that would look great.

okay, these are what I'm looking at.
http://www.pilotautomotive.com/images/products/TL-607BK_prod.jpg
(http://www.pilotautomotive.com/images/products/TL-607BK_prod.jpg)

I got those ^ where are they for sale at?

Well I found them at the company website, Pilot Automotive. I've been trying to find them on ebay, but no luck. Where'd you get yours?