CraigyB

I saw the results of painting rear tail lights, and thought, that'd be a nice little project. Took some reccomendation of the web, bought the paint.
Followed all the rules, but it turned out that the paint wasn't very translucent, so reversing lights, and indicators are now red !
Anyway, I thought ho-hum live and learn, lets try to remove the stuff.
I was using G3 which is very nice for polishing plastic, and this certainly works, but may well take me a year to remove the stuff.
I wondered if anyone has come across a decent paint stripper for this job ?

The results of my 'project' are on the faded tail light thread..
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...45#post3013245

Indycam

Did you use a clear coat ?

LouZ

When I did mine, I also put on too much red. Even if clear coated, Carburetor Cleaner will take it ALL off, then you can start over.

Light coat this time

JasonAndreas

The paint should wipe right off with lacquer thinner or mineral spirits, it might even say something on the paint can about the solvent contents (use that). Acetone will definitely take the paint off but it will also probably melt the plastic.

jeff522

You may want to try the tinting option.Its easy to put on and take off.Gila River makes a red window tint.

Kahdmus

Craig, I wouldn't worry too much as it will probably come off ok. If not, still not to worry as you can find faded ones on Ebay for little money (I bought a center reflector for $1 last year) and start over.

I would put this down to bad paint and start over with one of those recommended on the board. The one I used (see the thread: https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...=151042&page=2 worked perfectly and there are others that provided the users with good results.

Dont be put off by this first result. It has to be the paint.

cwrm4

Kahdmus - is the Matrix Racing paint the one you used?

http://www.matrixracing.com/pc-4116-...spray-red.aspx

In the original thread so many folks have talked about so many paints and options I now find myself confused!

Kahdmus

Yuppers thats the one!

Pesty

Craig My mate used nail varnish remover to get his off. He fetched in the rest of the can so I spreyed mine at work and ye the reversing light is red lol oh well im leaving it that way. but I need to polish it because I think the nozzle was past its best and the finsih is a bit motley.

Acetone will alos get it off but im not sure what that will do to the plastic. I have plenty of actione if you want to try it.

TJN

lacquer will also "eat" the lenses! don't use it! maybe try oven cleaner on a very small out of the way area. bought a boat once wanted to change the transom name, used oven cleaner, didn't affect the paint, removed the previous name. good luck! tjn/vk

CraigyB

Thanks all for advice, pesty, thanks for the offer, I can get a huge variety of solvents from our lab at work, but I'm not sure I'd want them anywhere near the car.
I'm going to have a look see what they have ion halfords, and what is in the carb cleaner if they have it, if not I think its a case of take the can of paint to work and see if any of our applications chemists know what is the right solvent exactly for the job.
Just want it to look decent for Thursday night as there's a free screening of the Mission impossible 3 up here in Leeds for us folks with 'special' cars.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...6188&f=117&h=0

CraigyB

Just started going at it with nail varnish remover, works a treat, no damage to the light.

Pesty

craig good to hear. The stuff i used was made by savage i think. seems to be a bit more translucent that the pics tou puy up. for instance you can still read Porsche easily and i used loads of coats. but yes the reverse light is pink I didnt think to mask it.

http://www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/C...Style_110.html

about £12 but its a very big tin. did my mates car and mine and there was still some left so lots of room to experiment.

CraigyB

Pesty, are your indicators still orange though ?
I wouldn't mind a pink reversing light, actually the worsty thing about my job was the lack of translucency, the lights really were'nt bright enough.
Do you have piccys of your finished job ?

Pesty

will have a look at the indicators tomorrow (didnt check those doh)and get a pic for you when I get chance.