Hi guys. I want to tint my lights, in the past ive just sprayed the whole unit. That gives a matte effect.

If i want that glossy then i lacquer over it.

But i want to try something a bit more factory looking so howabout this.

 

Ive taken the inserts out of a spare light unit (you see where this is going)

has anyone ever sprayed these directly then put them back in the car.

This way it wont affect the unit, but the lenses will be tinted.

I cant make my mind up if it will look nice or be completely crap.

Id keep the reflector there for legal reasons.

 

Thanks

Mark

as you say dont think many have done it that way as in if they take light apart its mostly to replace the inserts with clear ones (99spec look)

 

would be something different !! and if its a spare set then why not

Yeah ive got the clear stuff at the moment, but one side has come away from its place.

Ive always prefered tinted stuff to clear stuff :D

If I was doing that, I think I would replace both the top and bottom lenses with clear ones, then tint them, I can't see you getting enough light out of the originals tinted really, plus they'll be the same. Never seen it done, not my cup of tea, but it could turn out ok!

I have no objection to tinted lights but (imo) the zed looks better with clear, interesting idea what you have there as it would look allot different to just spraying them matt black from the outside!!

If I was doing that, I think I would replace both the top and bottom lenses with clear ones, then tint them, I can't see you getting enough light out of the originals tinted really, plus they'll be the same. Never seen it done, not my cup of tea, but it could turn out ok!

 

 

good point!!

That is a good point.

I like the idea of having the shiny plastic on the outside still with the dark inside

That is a good point.

I like the idea of having the shiny plastic on the outside still with the dark inside

 

yep me to and would be good to see the results get stripping lol!

ok well the lenses are already out, gotta find a suitable spray and some suitable plastic. Should be able to find something pretty quick.

or make life easier and buy some smoked perspex and make the lenses out of it!

I did think of that also.

My original plan was to replace the outer plastic bit with smoked perspex vac formed. But it looks like its injection moulded and i wouldnt be able to get a good enough shape.

Im a design student and here at uni ive got a plastics workshop, so this stuff would be easy to get.

yeah, you wouldn't be able to vac form anything thick enough really, I'm looking forward to how it looks tho, never heard of it done before...

Sweet, glad one of my ideas is an original :D Ill get on it tomorrow

I used the sheet of plastic used for the backlight from a knackered 42" plasma TV screen, perfect thickness and spot on diffusion, so I reckon my lights are unique :)

i'll go with that (toshiba lights are certainly unique) ;)

 

any pics?

brilliant

no pics soz, but you are a psychic, as it was from a Toshiba Regza 42", you freek!

 

You can turn it around 180 degrees if you want it too diffuse horizontally, or vertially....

no pics soz, but you are a psychic, as it was from a Toshiba Regza 42", you freek!

 

You can turn it around 180 degrees if you want it too diffuse horizontally, or vertially....

 

ha ha lol !!!! that is mad, i just pressumed though most of the bigger sets are toshiba or lg

Get your de-fusion correct, as you need it to spread the pattern correctly. If you're going to go for a clear lens then tint it then just go the normal route and use a florescent light de-fuser. You'll still get a decent spread, plus it's rigid and clear.

You are going to have to use coloured bulbs, but you've got to consider the brightness as well, otherwise you'll get pulled by Plod! ;)

Yeah thats my worry. Im going to use the existing stuff as a good guide. Ill need to see what is available.

The lights should still shine through a reasonable amount. Ill do some tests first. Ive always thought it was the reflector was the police issue and the visible light was the mot issue.

So i went to see what i could use today. They only had a big diffuser like you get on flouresent tube lighting and some opaque plastic sheets.

So it looks like ill be spraying something.

But ive had another idea, howabout spraying the back of the lens instead of the individual coloured bits. That way it would gice the overall smoke effect, but would still have the black line datail and gloss on the front.