I am wanting to tint my taillight lenses and would like to get some opinions. Which is going to give me the best desired look...Nite Shades or regular spray window tint?

I dont want the tint to dark, just tinted enough to notice that they are "different", like Hartmans. Those that have experiences with these products please give me your thoughts.

Thanks,
michael

The Nite Shades works great!

[imghttp://stlouismtb.tripod.com/smokedtails/DSC00369.jpg[/img]

Helping ya out there Matt:
http://stlouismtb.tripod.com/smokedtails/DSC00369.jpg

Originally posted by Black Magic
The Nite Shades works great!

[imghttp://stlouismtb.tripod.com/smokedtails/DSC00369.jpg[/img]

How many coats did you apply to your lights? Yours looks great!


Michael

Yeah NiteShades is a quality product. I used 4 even coats on mine, and it hasn't faded a bit after about 8 months.

same here, that stuff holds up great. before i used the nite shades i sprayed the orange part with candy apple red transparent sray paint. i got it at wal-mart. it made everything red, then i hit them with the nite shades.

Originally posted by alphabets13
same here, that stuff holds up great. before i used the nite shades i sprayed the orange part with candy apple red transparent sray paint. i got it at wal-mart. it made everything red, then i hit them with the nite shades.

Do you know who made transparent spray paint that you used on the orange lenses and how many coats did you use to get the desired color? I would like for mine to be red too.

Michael

yeah, it was made by testors or testers, not sure which is spelled right. i think it was like 4 cts of red then 3-4 cts of niteshades over thew red and formerly orange part. i left the clear alone, although i'm liking hartmans look of all black. either way is 1000 times btter than the stock look. good luck.

Originally posted by alphabets13
yeah, it was made by testors or testers, not sure which is spelled right. i think it was like 4 cts of red then 3-4 cts of niteshades over thew red and formerly orange part. i left the clear alone, although i'm liking hartmans look of all black. either way is 1000 times btter than the stock look. good luck.

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I have heard of Testors paint being used before on here or somewhere. I think I will go with the Nite Shades over regular spray tint.

Just wondering though, I was looking at the tails this afternoon and was curious if just changing the bulb in the rear turn signals from clear to red would make any difference in color? This would seem to be alot easier than painting that one lens red. Just curious?

Michael

it depends on what you are looking for. i did it strictly for cosmetic reasons. i hated the orange plastic. i really don't care what it shines through, but yes a red bulb would help, but no matter what you do the inside of the orange will always be orange whether you paint the outside red and add a red bulb or not. so it will always be a little orange.

What about the legality of tinting the tails? I have a black Mountaineer so I think this would lot HOT.

Black Magic and others: have you ever been sighted by the cops for having "altered tail lights?" I assume Night shades isn't DOT approved.

I don't want to make myself more of a target than I have to once I get the lift and noisy exhaust.

no problem whatsoever here. mine look like the tails on the new trailblazers. that dark dark red look.

Originally posted by alphabets13
it depends on what you are looking for. i did it strictly for cosmetic reasons. i hated the orange plastic. i really don't care what it shines through, but yes a red bulb would help, but no matter what you do the inside of the orange will always be orange whether you paint the outside red and add a red bulb or not. so it will always be a little orange.

What I was actually asking was about the output color of the light when the signal is blinking. I would think that a red bulb would make the signal seem more red than orange. Just a thought...
:rolleyes:

yeah, thats basically what i said. a red bulb would help, but no matter what you do the bulb still has to travel through the orange pice (tinted or not) and will still give an orange hue.

What's good about NiteShades is that it lets light through, and at night it looks like your tail lights are stock. I've never had any problems with coppers. When I have one behind me, I usually overuse my turn signals just to let him know that my lights aren't dimmed by the tint. ;)

Where is the best place to get Night Shades?

I got mine at http://www.caswellplating.com/ because I couldn't find it anywhere in stores.

You could also try http://store.summitracing.com

Thats where I just ordered mine :D

Thanks for all of the great info. I feel better about going into this little project now.

Michael

Thanks for all of the great info. I feel better about going into this little project now.

you'll be much happier with them tinted. like i said, they will look a 1000 times better.

I think I am just going to use the Nite Shades and leave the orange part alone. If I start getting to curious, I may put in a red bulb just for giggles and see what happens. Ive seen some "gel caps" that fit over the bulb to change the color of the emitted light. Are these any good? Anyone have any experience with these? I may take that route instead of changing the bulb and see what it looks like.

Michael

It's not gonna do anything to change the bulb to red. The lense itself is what gives it it's orange color, so putting a red bulb in there is not going to do much.

anybody have pics of a second generation explorer with Night shades? I have a 96 and wondering what it'd look like.

-=bmacd=-

I have never had any problems with the tails sprayed and police either. I have even been pulled over and no problems there either.

Originally posted by bmacd
anybody have pics of a second generation explorer with Night shades? I have a 96 and wondering what it'd look like.

-=bmacd=-

http://www.explorerforum.com/data/502/7134tintedtail.jpg

Well my curiousity got the better of me and I bought some red gel caps for the rear turn signals. The output light is a very nice red color. The orange lens is still orange mind you, but the light itself is red.

The red cap also makes the orange lens look more dark or deeper orange, which looks really cool:cool: .

I am going to hit the rear lenses with Nite Shades sometime this week and see what they look like then.


Michael

Hey Alphabet do you have any pics?

Damn Hartman I remember just over a year ago when I got on this site Your truck with the stock rims and the orange neon underbody. I thought it was so nice back that. Now look at it:)

ya, just hit the homepage link at the bottom of my sig. it'll take you to my cardomain page.

Originally posted by Silverblade
Hey Alphabet do you have any pics?

Damn Hartman I remember just over a year ago when I got on this site Your truck with the stock rims and the orange neon underbody. I thought it was so nice back that. Now look at it:)

I know. :D Although I am on stock rims at the moment, perhaps I've taken a step back. ;)

Originally posted by mdriggan
...The output light is a very nice red color. The orange lens is still orange mind you, but the light itself is red.

The red cap also makes the orange lens look more dark or deeper orange, which looks really cool:cool: ....

Sounds great! Do you have any pics of the red light for others to see the improvment?