Niteshade Help

[jj2314]

Ok so i finally got my niteshade in.

Ive been reading and have heard to apply the clear after the niteshade has set for a while

How long are we talking or do i just apply the clear say 10 to 15 minutes after the niteshade?

Also i want them to be about the same color of my truck which is black so i was thinking 5 or 6 coats.Is this about right?Im not worried about cops i had covers on for over a year without getting stopped

However i do want it to light up good so where is there a place to get some led bulbs to go in there?

Oh and also after im done what should i do to get them all shiny?

Sorry for all the questions and thanks for the help guys

Pictures to follow

[gmac95]

When I had mine niteshaded, I just let the last coat of night shades sit for about a half hour. I then followed with a good rattle can clear coat from a local paint store. As far as LED's go, the site just ot a discount code from a company that I can't remember. Search "vleds" and you should get it.

[Fluffy]

All I did to mine was wipe down with water or alcohol, no sanding. Then spray a coat out in the sun. Let it set 5 minutes between coats. I wouldn't do more than 5 coats IMO. On the last coat let it set about 30-45 minutes. For the clear, since I did 3 coats of NS, I matched it with 3 of clear and it's somewhat shiny. Depends on the clear you use.

[AllThingsEnd]

I'm going to do mine on Saturday. I'll let you know how it goes.

This is what I'm going to do:

Clean with alcohol. Drink some alcohol.
Spray 5-6 coats of niteshades with 10 min in between each coat. Drink some alcohol.
After the last coat wait 20 min or until it gets tacky and hit it with 3-4 coats of clear. Drink some alcohol.
After about an hour get some 1000 grit sandpaper and wet sand it. Drink some alcohol.
Use some wax and buff it out. Drink some alcohol.
Install and take pics while smashed. Drink some alcohol.

[WeezyRT]

I think 5 or 6 coats is too much, the light wont shine through too well. Id only do probably 4 tops.

I didnt use any clear on mine. Just wiped them down with water, taped them up, and sprayed away. Waited about 10mins between coats and about 45mins before handling them to reinstall them.

[midnite]

ok so youve got them night shaded.. lightly wet sand them to make the clear coat 'stick" id say let the paint sit a good couple of days (2-3) to air out". also, get it clearcoated a good 3 times. then once again, letit air out (2-3 days at least). this is b/c the paint is still curring and letting bubles andchemicals escape, the wax will keepo them in and it will look bad. (this is why you dnt wax car for a good 3 months(?) after you paint it). 5-6 coats maybe to much. id say do 3-4 then see how u like it. put a flashlite and turn it on to see the darkenss...

[AllThingsEnd]

ok so youve got them night shaded.. lightly wet sand them to make the clear coat 'stick" id say let the paint sit a good couple of days (2-3) to air out". also, get it clearcoated a good 3 times. then once again, letit air out (2-3 days at least). this is b/c the paint is still curring and letting bubles andchemicals escape, the wax will keepo them in and it will look bad. (this is why you dnt wax car for a good 3 months(?) after you paint it). 5-6 coats maybe to much. id say do 3-4 then see how u like it. put a flashlite and turn it on to see the darkenss...

auto paint is completely different than niteshades. you dont need to wait.

From another forum:
Apply 3 coats of this for a light smoke

Apply 4 coats in a similar fashion for a darker smoke

Apply anywhere from 5-6 coats for a dark or almost black lens.

[jj2314]

thanks for the tips guys

im trying to get them to look similar to jarheads

[AllThingsEnd]

Video of light output on a focus with 6 coats of niteshades

http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/Lord_of_Dance_/?action=view&current=DSCF1034.flv

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/Lord_of_Dance_/Random%20Shoots/DSCF1264.jpg

[Rigeldust]

Where did you get the niteshade at?

[AllThingsEnd]

Summit

[2YuNg2Di]

Video of light output on a focus with 6 coats of niteshades

http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/Lord_of_Dance_/?action=view&current=DSCF1034.flv

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/Lord_of_Dance_/Random%20Shoots/DSCF1264.jpg

that looks sick :mullet: like there arent even lights at all

[moore_716]

I agree about letting the night shades sit for a while before clearing. Idid that to mine and have had no issues at all. This includes being driven thru the winter with salt and shit. I think I let mine sit out in the sun and back for 24 hr.'s before applying the clear.

[realdeal7369]

Ok so i finally got my niteshade in.

Ive been reading and have heard to apply the clear after the niteshade has set for a while
How long are we talking or do i just apply the clear say 10 to 15 minutes after the niteshade?

iwhen i did mine, i let it sit overnight on the radiator.

Also i want them to be about the same color of my truck which is black so i was thinking 5 or 6 coats. Is this about right? Im not worried about cops i had covers on for over a year without getting stopped

However i do want it to light up good so where is there a place to get some led bulbs to go in there?

try ebay

Oh and also after im done what should i do to get them all shiny?

wet sand with 2000 grit, and polish, and buff.

Sorry for all the questions and thanks for the help guys
Pictures to follow

answers are in your quote there...:mullet: :jester:

also, i sanded mine down first with 400 grit, to knock off the factory shine, and to give the paint some bite to the plastic. prep is the key for a real nice turnout. after sanding it down, clean it well with dawn dish soap. then rince thoroughly. mask off anything you dont want painted, then coat it, using even light coats, leaving each coat a flash time a little longer than the previous one. first coat flash time like 15min, second, about 25, third about 35 and so on. after final coat of niteshade, let it stand for a good amount of time, to outgas. then wetsand with 2000 grit paper. real light pressure. let the paper do the work. just enough to know the shine off. the wash and rince real well. remask if needed, then apply 3-4 coats of clear in the same manner as the nightshade coats. allow to cure overnight, them wetsand with 2000 or higher grit, and the wash, rince, polish, and buff.

done

[Slick]

i did about 2 or 3 light coats, came out to be a black cherry, then i used some omni au clear, came out nice and shiny

[Jarheadoo7]

ill throw my input here as well..

5 or 6 coats and your gonna ave problems lighting them up.. at least i am..

i have 4-ish coats.. tough for even a 63 LED SMT tower to light em up at night.

anyway..

i let mine dry over night then the next day hit em with some 1000 grit, wiped with alcohol lightly, then cleared..

waited 15 minutes and repeated clear coat application, 3 or 4 times i didn't sand in between each coat.. let that set for a day..

then come back and polish the piss outta them with 2000 grit.. then hit that with some 3M fine cut rubbing compound till your elbows hurt, and you should be set.. and SHINY.. throw some wax on.

which also why i might be having a hard time lighting mine up :huh:

keep us posted!!

[Rigeldust]

Summit

thanks

[jj2314]

Well i started on it last night and put on 4 coats

Im waiting to put on the clear now

Here is some pictures

[midnite]

looking good !!!!!!!

[Jarheadoo7]

mine came out much smoother and shinier then that w just niteshade..


i like the flat look thou!

lets see some clear coat pics!

[jj2314]

yeah im not sure why they didnt come out shiner but hopefully aftter i clear them and polish them up they will get shiner

[realdeal7369]

looks liek a grey color....should be a transparent black color...

[AllThingsEnd]

Erm how THICK are your coats?

[jj2314]

i applyed it very lightly

[Rigeldust]

yeah im not sure why they didnt come out shiner but hopefully aftter i clear them and polish them up they will get shiner

:waiting:

[AllThingsEnd]

http://i35.tinypic.com/33aqqrl.jpg

[jj2314]

im putting the clear on tonight and polishing them probally tomorrow will take some more pics.

Hopefully it brings out the shine.Or i guess ill have some flat black tailights :funny:

[JethroStyles]

My buddy did 7 coats of Nightshades on his Cummins taillights.

At night it was fine, but during the day you couldn't see a damned thing (brake lights)

After almost being rear ended, he bought another set of stock lights, did 4 coats and was 'happy'

[Ben]

The last set up tails I did I did not even use clear. I just waited a day or so then used Wax Shop super galze and they shine good.

[threesixoh]

I did 3 coats, came out a dark cherry color. They look black from certain angles, but if the lights hits them just right the red still shines through. Even with 3 coats, the light output was reduced enough that I'm cautious about people following behind me close during the day. At night the light up great though.

But I painted the borders high gloss black, and just niteshaded the center of the brake light. They came out great after I cleared and buffed them, they look OEM even.

[Rigeldust]

:needpix: someone had to

[jj2314]

ok heres some of the pics with the clear added and after i took the tape off

Im real happy it is now a deep black with a little shine.After polishing them up they should look like glass

More pics after i polish them when i get some time but here you go

[AllThingsEnd]

I guess its your camera, they still look pretty flat and dull to me.:huh:

[jj2314]

yeah all the pics i take have to be with my cell phone so they pretty much suck

i need a camera.

[dakboy99rt]

Niteshade rules lol. heres the post of my niteshade process. ive recently done the 3rd brake light also. it looks killer.
http://www.dakota-durango.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1211100#post1211100

[Jarheadoo7]

like glass baby

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/jarheadoo7/TRUCK%20STUFF/Tailpassreflect.jpg

[jj2314]

like glass baby

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/jarheadoo7/TRUCK%20STUFF/Tailpassreflect.jpg

yeah my goal of this whole project as to make it look similar to yours so hopefully it turns out like that

[Jarheadoo7]

grease up that elbow man!! the 3m stuff is the SHEEEET