I'm still here. Just been working to refine the process.
And I believe, once I have a few more things here at home, the price will drop about 30 bucks. Since I don't have to sublet them to get tinted and cleared. It will be a cut and dried process, all done by me.
The latest set that I did, I just delivered to a guy tonight. They look freakin' great. I did them for Jon, silicoan86 here on the forum. I'm sure he will chime in and say something or another. I will get pics of them tomorrow.
And, you're all gonna love what I'm working on next. I'm attempting to see if I can repair cracks in GT lenses. . . .That will be cool. And I'm pretty sure that it'll work, as long as the crack is only in the black part of the lense.
Eric, I must've missed this part, but how do you get all the scratches out of the clear part of the lense? I know with the black part you can just sand smooth, and paint. Obviously, you're not putting any paint on the clear part. But you are clear coating that part, along with the rest of the lense? I'm not fully understanding the process.
------------------ 86 SE 4 spd - 86 GT auto - 86 SE auto oh yeah, and the 85 coupe parts car
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11:48 PM
Racingman24 Member
Posts: 2304 From: Land of 10,000 Idiots Registered: Apr 2003
I just take a red, scotch bright pad, and sand until all the scratches are out. It can take a while. But since it's being done by hand, there is less possibility to overdue it. At least that's how I feel. Ocasinally I will follow that with a grey pad, since that is a bit less harsh.
Then I tape off the clear section of the lense, and the PONTIAC, and shoot it all with black. Wait for it to dry lightly scuff, and shoot again. Wait for it to dry, then remove the masks, and sand some more. I just scuff most of the black, except the "ridges" those I go after kind of hard to try and get rid of most of the edge that's left there.
Then They are shot with a mix of black paint, thinner, and colorless base coat. The whole lense, clear part and all. Then once that dries, they are shot with clear coat, again, over the entire lense. And that gives them the super shiny cool look that they have.
Thanks for the explanation. I figured you would be able to see the scratches in the clear part of the lense if you just clearcoat them, but I guess not. They look really good.
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12:27 AM
Racingman24 Member
Posts: 2304 From: Land of 10,000 Idiots Registered: Apr 2003
I hate to say it, but the lights in the previous pics look very amature comparted to the last set I just did. If you think those looked good, just wait until tomorrow, when Jon shows up and some pics get taken.
Eric
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12:36 AM
Racingman24 Member
Posts: 2304 From: Land of 10,000 Idiots Registered: Apr 2003
Wow, the painted lenses look fantastic, I can't believe I missed this thread before! Mine are started to delaminate pretty badly, this is quite obviously the best solution without access to new parts anymore. Looks great! I'd be interested to try the full tinted type, but I worry about any reduction in light intensity, even small ones.
Bryce 88 GT
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08:50 AM
Racingman24 Member
Posts: 2304 From: Land of 10,000 Idiots Registered: Apr 2003
Wow, the painted lenses look fantastic, I can't believe I missed this thread before! Mine are started to delaminate pretty badly, this is quite obviously the best solution without access to new parts anymore. Looks great! I'd be interested to try the full tinted type, but I worry about any reduction in light intensity, even small ones.
Bryce 88 GT
Any particular reason you are so concerned about loosing a tiny bit of intensity?
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09:39 PM
Silicoan86 Member
Posts: 1614 From: Savage, MN, USA Registered: May 2004
Wow, the painted lenses look fantastic, I can't believe I missed this thread before! Mine are started to delaminate pretty badly, this is quite obviously the best solution without access to new parts anymore. Looks great! I'd be interested to try the full tinted type, but I worry about any reduction in light intensity, even small ones.
Bryce 88 GT
IMO these likes look 100 times better than any other lights I've seen and I haven't noticed any difference in intensity at night. You can see the lights just as well at night as you can w/ stock lights. In the daylight there is a tiny bit of reduction but the only way to tell is if you actually compare them to the stock ones. I would recommend Eric's lights to anyone, well worth the money.
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11:31 PM
Racingman24 Member
Posts: 2304 From: Land of 10,000 Idiots Registered: Apr 2003
Any particular reason you are so concerned about loosing a tiny bit of intensity?
It's not often that I like to be noticed while driving my car, but when I'm hard on the brakes I'll take all the attention I can get. I've never been rear ended and I'd like to keep things that way. Also, I have a friend who works for Hella Lighting that would probably kill me if he saw my taillights blacked out!
check out the notchabck tailights also! they rock! honestly, ive seen both types notch and fastback lights, and they honestly look better than original. they take nothing away from the car and ad alot. Joel
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02:31 PM
mattm Member
Posts: 1647 From: lancaster, pa Registered: Aug 2003
That depends. Right now I am working on an expirimental set that have a crack in the black area only. If that works out then cool. But if the crack is in any part of the clear, then I can't do anything for it, reguardless of how my expiriment turns out.
Eric
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11:00 PM
Dec 3rd, 2004
Rhino88gt Member
Posts: 718 From: Maumelle, AR Registered: Jun 2003
That depends. Right now I am working on an expirimental set that have a crack in the black area only. If that works out then cool. But if the crack is in any part of the clear, then I can't do anything for it, reguardless of how my expiriment turns out.
Eric
Come on now... you could still make it pretty and shiny... it would just still have a crack in it
------------------ 88 Fiero GT Auto 01 Prizm 5 Spd.
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11:58 AM
PFF
System Bot
Dec 6th, 2004
MOBILE Member
Posts: 768 From: Linwood, MN, USA Registered: May 2002
Member MN Fieros Forever Self Installed SC3800/getrag. 11 years in Car Audio and Car Electronics Experiance........ GOT 19"s?? w/ 13" Brakes all around.
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01:31 PM
Feb 21st, 2005
SLagrec1 Member
Posts: 241 From: Troy, Michigan Registered: Aug 2003
96k Miles, 2nd owner
