Night shade review!

[RoaminGnome]

So I just tinted my tail lights on my dakota, thought Id share my thoughts on what I used Its "night shade" from Advanced Autoparts. It was like $13 a can and I barely use any, should be enough for my subbie too lol

It does NOT go on like spray paint lol. I had better luck putting it on in medium to almost heavy coats. I have spray painted quite a bit so I kinda know when im getting close to runs. That got me a nice smooth even shiny finish! I made the mistake of saying "well that one looks darker..... Ill fix it!", THAT was a mistake

I did a light coat to start on my 3rd taillight (thats where I started, I have 2 ) and one of the tails isnt as good as Id like. Its not shiney OR smooth. Still looks good but could be better. I did not clear coat it (didnt think of it, thanks ptcgreg for pointing that out ) but I will do that soon.

Its not a big review or anything but I have read some on here and they were a big help so I thought Id help out too

Ill post a pic of the can and some close ups soon, its raining and crappy out so I dont wanna now

[RoaminGnome]

OK so here is a pic of the product, damn NH weather, damn NH weather on the mountain to boot



And here is a pic of the difference after 2 coats

[Parts/Service]

Major difference....

[ERT]

Also did mine with the same stuff, not quite as dark though I don't think. Has held up well without clear coat. If I did it again though I would clear it.




 

[Jr. Mechanic]

Did my Camaro and had a hard time finding the right balance.  Ended up going a little too dark:

[RoaminGnome]

ERT, I did see that pic before. Looks good

I did want it a but darker BUT I think its 2 dark now 

JR, Does the law give you a hard time about it? I am in the middle of a different project so I havnt tested the locals yet lol. I still think its to dark tho 

Least they look good tho

[Mitch]

I picked up a can of that stuff a few days ago at O'reillys. I am gonna do my tails. did you have to sand down the lights at all?

[RoaminGnome]

I didnt, tho I dont know how that will work in the long run.

I just cleaned them real well and dried them before painting. My 3rd brake light went into a custom cardboard cradle so i could do the whole thing all at once and the tails sat perfect so no custom cardboard needed

Still need to clear coat them tho, my advise would be to start with one coat and once dried put in and try out. Mine are VERY dark, tho i think the bulbs are just not bright....

[Jr. Mechanic]

ERT, I did see that pic before. Looks good

I did want it a but darker BUT I think its 2 dark now 

JR, Does the law give you a hard time about it? I am in the middle of a different project so I havnt tested the locals yet lol. I still think its to dark tho 

Least they look good tho

I've been pulled once because my tail lights were completely out (I had a ground issue.)  Once I got them working the officer said something about it and that I should probably take it off.  He said the law is pretty sketchy, I'm pretty sure the lights have to be visible within 500 feet on a clear night.  If that's the case I'm well within the law, as they still are reasonably bright once the bulbs light up.

Mitch:  The first time I used this stuff was on my front marker lamps.  Without sanding, the paint wouldn't stick to a bunch of little tiny spots, so it kinda looked like it had air bubbles in it.  I had to clean them off and redo them a few times until I got it right with some 800 grit sand paper.

[Mitch]

I won't be doing the whole lights. The round lenses are staying red. The rest will get painted though. Eventually I want to get some Demon eyes for the tails. That would look pretty sick.