Polishing tinted tail lights.

[Spazzz]

I tinted my tails today with Duplicolor automotive paint.
roughly.....2 coats clear.4 coats of black/clear then 2 more coats of clear.

How long should I wait to wet sand? & after sanding should I start with Ultimate Compound or Ultimate Polish?
Are they both cool on uncured auto paint?

I could always wait for 30 days but I would like to get them polished out.

[The Guz]

Re: Polishing tinted tail lights.

I'm assuming you are going to finish with 3000 grit. Ultimate Compound or the M101 you have should be able to pull those sanding marks out. A 3" microfiber pad would work really well followed by your polish.

I would give it a week. When I painted my center caps on my camaro I gave it 10 days prior to wet sanding and compounding. I then waited 30 days to seal them. No issues thus far.

[Eldorado2k]

Re: Polishing tinted tail lights.

What kind of car are those to? Looks like they came out good.

[Spazzz]

Re: Polishing tinted tail lights.

O4 Grand Prix.
I just realized my mistake. If you compare the bottom and the top, the top is smoother than the overspray looking bottom.
I had them sitting on a sheet of plexi. I thought the bottom was flowing but it must have been getting an overspray deflection from the plastic sheet.

Tomorrow I will set them on cardboard and lean them back to get airshots on the angles.
Plan is to build up the clear more so the leveling is a less risky job.
Wish I had a mesh table.....wait I do,,,but my sister would kill me if I used the patio table.

I'll feel out the wait on the sanding/polishing
I will most likely start with 2000 then 2500(highest I have). It worked great on the VHT/clear last time.
Then use M205 slowly. I forgot about the 205 because I used Ultimate polish last time.
If that isn't biting then I'll use UC...M101 if I have to

[The Guz]

Re: Polishing tinted tail lights.

They are going to look good when you get them all done and installed. Show those guys on GPF how it's done.

[Spazzz]

Re: Polishing tinted tail lights.

They are going to look good when you get them all done and installed. Show those guys on GPF how it's done.

If I don't say Turtle wax enough they won't care.

[Spazzz]

Re: Polishing tinted tail lights.

5 more coats of clear today.
Matt(idrivejunk) from G.P.F.net suggested more to help with leveling.

Like the Guz said I'll wait awhile to sand and let the lacquer harden more.

[The Guz]

Re: Polishing tinted tail lights.

They are going to look great on the car.

[Spazzz]

Re: Polishing tinted tail lights.

Thanks Mike.
They are rather smooth and glossy. The lighting with the garage door open makes it looks like there is small imperfections.
I actually just went out to the garage to double check.
Besides a few dust dealies that will sand out, the only defect is a small divot in the clear from the mold injection, which should smooth.

I ordered some 3M 3000 Trizact and a Meguiars E7200 sanding backing pad for the final steps