When clear coating how long should I wait from the point I spray the clear to when I sand it? Wait until dry of corse but any prefrence?

Also I am taping off the blinker and reverse light parts (like steves) and want to know... After I spray the coats of VHT do I take the tape off then wet sand and clear the whole light or do I leave the parts that are taped off alone?

Last thing... When buffing it will any orbital buffer work? Any details on this process? This is the first time using a orbital buffer so just want to know.

Thanks!

 

I am in the process of doing this fun task now and I just sprayed my first coat (going to do two) and noticed I have a little bit of running on one light on the side. If I wet sand them after they dry will that take that out? Or what should I do? Thanks.

 

I fixed the running problem by wetsanding the lights back down to the lenses, but now there is a slight problem with the clear coat. I wetsanded with 1000 grit then did 2 coats of VHT and 4 coats of clear and now the lights are partialy clear, (wetsanding with 2000 grit paper between each coat). They have this weird texture to them and would like to know if anybody else had this problem and/or how to fix it. The lenses are smooth to the touch but like I said there is this kind of specked texture to them. They are both the same way too. I was told to wetsand them again with 2000 grit and then polish them but everytime I sand them they get really "cloudy". Is this right? Any and all help is well appreciated!

 

What kind of Clear Coat did you use? is it a lacquer finish? i would just give them one more hit of the clear coat and Don't wet sand them if you have no more runs and just polish them with a buffer. I today just decided to tint mine more and i was faced with a dilemma, I wet sanded the clear coat and then applied more VHT and all of a sudden, the coat turned all spiderwebby, i guess the clear coat must of not been a Lacquer or somethin of the sort, cause now i gotta let them dry and sand out that coat and try again. Sux cause i'm almost out of the VHT

 

I used the same clear steve used in the start of this thread (the link in the beginning). They look good to me other than the little specks. Anything special I need to use/know with the buffer? (never used one)

 

if u don't have a buffer, just use a baby diaper cloth or a micro fiber towel and some good wax. Be sure the coat is dry!

 

ok, I have plenty of micro fiber towels for my car and the clear has been drying for about 2 days now. I will probally go buff them tomorrow because it is dark outside. Thank. STLTH WGN!

 

ok I just got my vht....I got some clear coat...the clear coat is "dupli-color truck, van, & suv clear top coat" is that what i need? and at the risk of sounding dumb...what is/ how do you wet sand?

 

That sounds like the right clear coat to use. Wet sanding is simply wetting the sandpaper or the surface then sanding. Keep the paper or the surface wet at all times. This is what I was told. There is a thread in here about the procedure, I will find it for you!

Here you go...

http://www.custommagnums.com/forums...s.com/forums/general-magnum-discussion/3622-give-me-tools-knowledge-please.html

 

goodlooking out...I am moving back to nebraska in a few weeks so I am holding all my mods (including the tail light tinting) until the winter is over...but thank u for the info

 

No problem man.....any time!

 

just paint my tails. I followed all the instructions everything came out fine.Just one thing, when i applied the clear coat and it dried it has left a orange peel look, not smooth as I expected. Can anybody advise me how to smooth them out. Do i have to buff them? Thanks All.

 

wet sand, 1500 grit, and then hit it with a buffer!~

 

I did 4 light coats and wasnt enough. Your car is darker than the image you posted of the painting process. What coat were you on there is a huge difference than your final image.

Either way thanks for the steps it was easy. Applying clear coat this morning so I can have time to dry and buff.

 

Ok with it being so cold past week or so . I wanted to try this mod , So I was thinking of a way to dry the lights ,I had use a hairdry and it works great 3 coats within 15 mins , and the same amount of time on the clear . What took the longest was tapeing up the lights . The clear that I used is called engine clear resists heat up too 500*f , it is made by plasti-kote. I don't think I will ever get that close to the sun, I am sure the blub will get that hot. I am sure the clear will last a long time against the sun rays .

 

Hey I'm thinking bout doing this mod, but with it finally getting cold in CO, Would it be better for me to put this one off till after winter? or would that matter?

 

^^^ Not sure.. i know you want the paint to dry, you could use the hair dryer like mistayoung did..

I actually taped my lights up last night (i have a new set).. so i'm going to be doing this pretty soon..

 

This was my first mod and the one that got me hooked!

 

Thought I'd add pics of mine. I did the 3rd light also.

 

^^Your ride if friggin hot bro

 

The surface receiving the paint needs to be 60 degrees or more. If you've got a garage, you should be fine, otherwise, for a good end result, you should wait for warm weather.

 

what kind of clear coat did u use

 

Duplicolor, Automotive clear coat.

 

I did use the Duplicolor clear coat. The finish was excellent for my amature painter status.

Nuts

 

just did my lights tonight pics coming up in a few minutes

 

sweet man. Be sure to post those pics!

 

^listen here paint Junkie....


ok I got nothing, I actually agree