DIY : remove taillight tint
DIY : remove taillight tint
You will need the following tools:
Dual action polisher or a buffer, 4 microfiber towels (these will get really messed up), 1 can of lacquer thinner, 3M Rubbing Compound, Meguiar’s Plast-X and your choice of wax
What the taillights looked like before and after
Apply a small amount of the lacquer thinner onto the microfiber towel and work it into a circular motion on the tail light. When you start to feel resistance between the towel and the tail light, apply more thinner until you have completed the entire tail light
After you have completed removing the tinted surface from the taillights take your polisher/buffer and apply a small amount of 3M Rubbing Compound to the surface of your taillights. Turn on the machine and slowly work it into the lights. Allow time to dry (5 minutes) and remove with a clean microfiber towel. Complete this step at least three more times, for a total of 4 coats
Take your polisher/buffer and apply a small amount of Meguiar’s Plast-X to the surface of your taillights. Turn on the machine and slowly work it into the lights. Allow time to dry (5 minutes) and remove with a clean microfiber towel. Complete this step at least three more times, for a total of 4 coats
Wipe down your taillights really well using a clean microfiber towel
and redouts them , i very like the way redouts look on my tail lights
- If you have quite a few cuts on your hands or fingers from everyday activities like me, you may want to wear plastic gloves or surgical gloves. When the thinner gets in your cuts, it burns.
- It is VERY important that when applying the thinner not to get any of it on the plastic mounting tabs of the tail light. If this does occur, you may notice some discoloration (not a big deal) but if you get the thinner and plastic in contact numerous times….it could begin cracking apart or even break altogether.
- Give yourself a break every once in awhile when performing this task. The smell of the fumes could get to you and cause you to get dizzy or become lightheaded
Dual action polisher or a buffer, 4 microfiber towels (these will get really messed up), 1 can of lacquer thinner, 3M Rubbing Compound, Meguiar’s Plast-X and your choice of wax
What the taillights looked like before and after
Apply a small amount of the lacquer thinner onto the microfiber towel and work it into a circular motion on the tail light. When you start to feel resistance between the towel and the tail light, apply more thinner until you have completed the entire tail light
After you have completed removing the tinted surface from the taillights take your polisher/buffer and apply a small amount of 3M Rubbing Compound to the surface of your taillights. Turn on the machine and slowly work it into the lights. Allow time to dry (5 minutes) and remove with a clean microfiber towel. Complete this step at least three more times, for a total of 4 coats
Take your polisher/buffer and apply a small amount of Meguiar’s Plast-X to the surface of your taillights. Turn on the machine and slowly work it into the lights. Allow time to dry (5 minutes) and remove with a clean microfiber towel. Complete this step at least three more times, for a total of 4 coats
Wipe down your taillights really well using a clean microfiber towel
and redouts them , i very like the way redouts look on my tail lights
- If you have quite a few cuts on your hands or fingers from everyday activities like me, you may want to wear plastic gloves or surgical gloves. When the thinner gets in your cuts, it burns.
- It is VERY important that when applying the thinner not to get any of it on the plastic mounting tabs of the tail light. If this does occur, you may notice some discoloration (not a big deal) but if you get the thinner and plastic in contact numerous times….it could begin cracking apart or even break altogether.
- Give yourself a break every once in awhile when performing this task. The smell of the fumes could get to you and cause you to get dizzy or become lightheaded
Last edited by TOMMYPHAM; Oct 24, 2010 at 10:04 PM.
I guess I'll tell you guys a way easier way to do this. I learned this from back when I used to build model cars and I wanted to strip the paint off the body of the cars if I did
not like the way the paint job came out on them.
BTW: this works on anything plastic that was painted.
1. Buy a cheap container that will submerge just the lense or whole light. Also buy the cheapest brake fluid you can find buy enough of it to fill the container
2. Take the lights/or plastic piece and strip it of any electrical devices light harnesses and such.
3. Leave the item in the brake fluid over night and in the morning you will see all the paint bubbled up. The brake fluid acts like a paint striper but it does not harm the plastic in any way.
Edit: Forgot to add that once you remove the light from the brake fluid you can remove the paint with a garden hose with a small amout of water preassure and a soft brush.
not like the way the paint job came out on them.
BTW: this works on anything plastic that was painted.
1. Buy a cheap container that will submerge just the lense or whole light. Also buy the cheapest brake fluid you can find buy enough of it to fill the container
2. Take the lights/or plastic piece and strip it of any electrical devices light harnesses and such.
3. Leave the item in the brake fluid over night and in the morning you will see all the paint bubbled up. The brake fluid acts like a paint striper but it does not harm the plastic in any way.
Edit: Forgot to add that once you remove the light from the brake fluid you can remove the paint with a garden hose with a small amout of water preassure and a soft brush.
Last edited by B16da9; Aug 9, 2010 at 07:30 AM.
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I guess I'll tell you guys a way easier way to do this. I learned this from back when I used to build model cars and I wanted to strip the paint off the body of the cars if I did
not like the way the paint job came out on them.
BTW: this works on anything plastic that was painted.
1. Buy a cheap container that will submerge just the lense or whole light. Also buy the cheapest brake fluid you can find buy enough of it to fill the container
2. Take the lights/or plastic piece and strip it of any electrical devices light harnesses and such.
3. Leave the item in the brake fluid over night and in the morning you will see all the paint bubbled up. The brake fluid acts like a paint striper but it does not harm the plastic in any way.
not like the way the paint job came out on them.
BTW: this works on anything plastic that was painted.
1. Buy a cheap container that will submerge just the lense or whole light. Also buy the cheapest brake fluid you can find buy enough of it to fill the container
2. Take the lights/or plastic piece and strip it of any electrical devices light harnesses and such.
3. Leave the item in the brake fluid over night and in the morning you will see all the paint bubbled up. The brake fluid acts like a paint striper but it does not harm the plastic in any way.
Last edited by TOMMYPHAM; Aug 9, 2010 at 01:27 PM.
On my Integra I have the JDM one piece headlights. What I did it i wet sanded and polished to like new condition. I then took them to a body shop to have them sprayed with a layer of clearcoat. Hell it's been a couple of years now and my headlights on my Integra look good as new.
