DIY: 2009 wrx tail light mod (only 10 dollars!) - Page 34

lostsubi · 02-11-2013, 05:31 PM

Those lights look awesome. Does the paint eat the plastic of the lenses at all?

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jawsoflife603 · 02-11-2013, 05:33 PM

Well done, definitely adds to the aggressive stance.

thildwrx · 02-11-2013, 05:40 PM

No not at all they are just plastic so it's totally safe.

Trunx · 02-11-2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thildwrx

Here's a couple quick cell phone up close pics

They definitely have the glossy look. I'm thinking about wet sanding mine and maybe add another clear coat. Think I messed up with the clear coats. I like how the red turned out, and it actually looked nice before the clear coat. I did like four light costs with the clear and I guess I messed up. Any other suggestions on how to getting it super glossy?

thildwrx · 02-11-2013, 11:26 PM

Ya I would wet sad and try again. The only concern is to not sand two much and damage the red. I would at least try though. I would recommend a lite dust coat first to get adhesion then two pretty heavy coats just on the edge of running. It's a fine line though. And if that doesn't work sand it off and try the duplicolor.

Trunx · 02-11-2013, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thildwrx

Ya I would wet sad and try again. The only concern is to not sand two much and damage the red. I would at least try though. I would recommend a lite dust coat first to get adhesion then two pretty heavy coats just on the edge of running. It's a fine line though. And if that doesn't work sand it off and try the duplicolor.

Thanks for the tip. A bit bummed that I finally halftime to do this, and it didn't come out perfect :/ but still better than stock IMO. So hopefully if I have time in the near future ill definitely fix it! Sucks that life doesn't allow me to have all the time devoted to my wrx. If I were younger...... Lol

thildwrx · 02-11-2013, 11:42 PM

Haha I feel your pain! I practiced on some old headlights first so I knew what to do.

scarney1988 · 02-12-2013, 05:46 PM

Depending on the grit used, clearing over a sanded headlight should restore glossy finish. Ide imagine wetsanding with ~1000 to remove the desired amount of material and then wetsanding with 2000 to smooth the finish out would be decent removal procedure. Then just reclear and your good, or retreat and re clear.

LUMBERZACK · 02-12-2013, 06:40 PM

They should call this the Maserati mod!

MMX_WRX · 02-16-2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Risko

I couldn't find the Krylon but I found

Looks factory up close too.

Did you sand it at all or just spray it on? just bought that same brand today couldn't find the krylon one either

thildwrx · 02-16-2013, 03:33 PM

I sanded mine with 800 grit before painting

NoNRG · 02-17-2013, 08:55 PM

How long did you all wait between coats? I finally bought the paint and plan to do the mod tomorrow. If there's a chance of rain on Tuesday, should I not do it tomorrow?

mmfullen · 02-17-2013, 09:08 PM

Depends on the weather. I'd say at 70 degrees...5 minutes. It was tacky when I sprayed the next coat. You don't want it to run, so keep an eye on the edges.

NESsti · 02-18-2013, 12:04 PM

Thanks for sharing! Gives me another small project to think about

asterling7830 · 02-28-2013, 02:17 PM

I bought those vinyl liners to do this same thing to my 2011 hatch but I messed it all up and it looks like garbage. I have been looking for a better way to do it all morning and I must say this looks to be the best.

I will be doing this to my tail lights this weekend and I will post some before and after pictures sometime saturday or sunday.

Thanks for the post!

-Aaron

Apedz215 · 02-28-2013, 09:27 PM

so after say a year which is looking better? vht red or metalcast?

Trunx · 03-05-2013, 07:46 PM

Finally have the time to redo the lights. They look real nice now after the nightshades. I'm just scared if I spray the clear coat layer it'll ruin them O.o

thildwrx · 03-05-2013, 10:05 PM

Just make sure you do heavier coats. First dust coat then heavy coats!

Trunx · 03-05-2013, 10:26 PM

Finished!! They look great! Thanks!! The heavy coats of the clear coat worked. It was a pain to get the headliner back on though. Think I broke one clip. But it's all good. Will take some pics in the morning

Trunx · 03-06-2013, 05:21 PM

Here's the end product.

thildwrx · 03-06-2013, 08:12 PM

Much better!

jason6_WRX · 03-31-2013, 12:10 AM

To those of you who have repainted your tail light.

I am going to repaint mine in the spring due to a small amount of fading around the edges. I used red night shades and rustoleum clear coat.

my question is, can i just clean the lights, tape them off and repaint over it? or do i have to do a light wet sanding, or do i have to completely strip the paint off them and start over? thanks

WilR · 03-31-2013, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trunx

Here's the end product.

Hey trunk, did you use the same paint for your wrx badge?

thildwrx · 03-31-2013, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason6_WRX

To those of you who have repainted your tail light.

I am going to repaint mine in the spring due to a small amount of fading around the edges. I used red night shades and rustoleum clear coat.

my question is, can i just clean the lights, tape them off and repaint over it? or do i have to do a light wet sanding, or do i have to completely strip the paint off them and start over? thanks

Ideally you would take all the paint off and start over buy at a bear minimum you need to sand them.

Trunx · 03-31-2013, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilR

Hey trunk, did you use the same paint for your wrx badge?

Yea. Had some leftover and they turned out pretty good

02-11-2013, 05:31 PM	#826
lostsubi Scooby Newbie Member#: 346719 Join Date: Feb 2013	Great tip Those lights look awesome. Does the paint eat the plastic of the lenses at all? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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02-11-2013, 05:33 PM	#827
jawsoflife603 Scooby Newbie Member#: 344912 Join Date: Jan 2013 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Cambridge MA Vehicle: 2011 Subaru blue	Well done, definitely adds to the aggressive stance.

02-11-2013, 05:40 PM	#828
thildwrx Scooby Newbie Member#: 303531 Join Date: Dec 2011 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Redding, Northern California Vehicle: 12 Subaru WRX White	No not at all they are just plastic so it's totally safe.

02-11-2013, 11:26 PM	#830
thildwrx Scooby Newbie Member#: 303531 Join Date: Dec 2011 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Redding, Northern California Vehicle: 12 Subaru WRX White	Ya I would wet sad and try again. The only concern is to not sand two much and damage the red. I would at least try though. I would recommend a lite dust coat first to get adhesion then two pretty heavy coats just on the edge of running. It's a fine line though. And if that doesn't work sand it off and try the duplicolor.

02-11-2013, 11:42 PM	#832
thildwrx Scooby Newbie Member#: 303531 Join Date: Dec 2011 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Redding, Northern California Vehicle: 12 Subaru WRX White	Haha I feel your pain! I practiced on some old headlights first so I knew what to do.

02-12-2013, 05:46 PM	#833
scarney1988 Scooby Newbie Member#: 317760 Join Date: Apr 2012	Depending on the grit used, clearing over a sanded headlight should restore glossy finish. Ide imagine wetsanding with ~1000 to remove the desired amount of material and then wetsanding with 2000 to smooth the finish out would be decent removal procedure. Then just reclear and your good, or retreat and re clear.

02-12-2013, 06:40 PM	#834
LUMBERZACK Scooby Specialist Member#: 340009 Join Date: Dec 2012 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Arizona Vehicle: 2007 Impreza WRX STi Crystal Gray Metallic	They should call this the Maserati mod!

02-16-2013, 03:33 PM	#836
thildwrx Scooby Newbie Member#: 303531 Join Date: Dec 2011 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Redding, Northern California Vehicle: 12 Subaru WRX White	I sanded mine with 800 grit before painting

02-17-2013, 08:55 PM	#837
NoNRG Scooby Newbie Member#: 258437 Join Date: Sep 2010 Chapter/Region: BAIC Vehicle: 2009 WRX 5-Door Blue Mica	How long did you all wait between coats? I finally bought the paint and plan to do the mod tomorrow. If there's a chance of rain on Tuesday, should I not do it tomorrow?

02-17-2013, 09:08 PM	#838
mmfullen Scooby Specialist Member#: 236685 Join Date: Jan 2010 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Hampton, VA Vehicle: 2008 WRX 5 door WRB 30R'd &PPG'd...yup.	Depends on the weather. I'd say at 70 degrees...5 minutes. It was tacky when I sprayed the next coat. You don't want it to run, so keep an eye on the edges.

02-18-2013, 12:04 PM	#839
NESsti Scooby Newbie Member#: 346928 Join Date: Feb 2013 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: AZ Vehicle: 2013 sti hatch Dark Gray Metallic	Thanks for sharing! Gives me another small project to think about

02-28-2013, 02:17 PM	#840
asterling7830 Scooby Newbie Member#: 346405 Join Date: Feb 2013	I bought those vinyl liners to do this same thing to my 2011 hatch but I messed it all up and it looks like garbage. I have been looking for a better way to do it all morning and I must say this looks to be the best. I will be doing this to my tail lights this weekend and I will post some before and after pictures sometime saturday or sunday. Thanks for the post! -Aaron

02-28-2013, 09:27 PM	#841
Apedz215 Scooby Newbie Member#: 328682 Join Date: Aug 2012	so after say a year which is looking better? vht red or metalcast?

03-05-2013, 07:46 PM	#842
Trunx Scooby Newbie Member#: 341122 Join Date: Dec 2012 Chapter/Region: South East Vehicle: 2013 wrx dgm	Finally have the time to redo the lights. They look real nice now after the nightshades. I'm just scared if I spray the clear coat layer it'll ruin them O.o

03-05-2013, 10:05 PM	#843
thildwrx Scooby Newbie Member#: 303531 Join Date: Dec 2011 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Redding, Northern California Vehicle: 12 Subaru WRX White	Just make sure you do heavier coats. First dust coat then heavy coats!

03-05-2013, 10:26 PM	#844
Trunx Scooby Newbie Member#: 341122 Join Date: Dec 2012 Chapter/Region: South East Vehicle: 2013 wrx dgm	Finished!! They look great! Thanks!! The heavy coats of the clear coat worked. It was a pain to get the headliner back on though. Think I broke one clip. But it's all good. Will take some pics in the morning

03-06-2013, 05:21 PM	#845
Trunx Scooby Newbie Member#: 341122 Join Date: Dec 2012 Chapter/Region: South East Vehicle: 2013 wrx dgm	Here's the end product.

03-06-2013, 08:12 PM	#846
thildwrx Scooby Newbie Member#: 303531 Join Date: Dec 2011 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Redding, Northern California Vehicle: 12 Subaru WRX White	Much better!

03-31-2013, 12:10 AM	#847
jason6_WRX Scooby Newbie Member#: 308253 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Vehicle: 2012 WRX hatch Ice Silver Metallic	To those of you who have repainted your tail light. I am going to repaint mine in the spring due to a small amount of fading around the edges. I used red night shades and rustoleum clear coat. my question is, can i just clean the lights, tape them off and repaint over it? or do i have to do a light wet sanding, or do i have to completely strip the paint off them and start over? thanks