I 'Smoked' my Third Brake Light.

Ok so I finally got around to 'smoking' or tinting my 3rd brake light/cargo light.

The last time that I had 'smoked' an automotite light was back when I was into Eagle Talons, so things like "Nite Shades" were not common knowledge.

Back then I used a spray on window tint, made to be used on model cars. And clear coated over the 'smoked' taillights.

I used the same process today on the Raptor's CHMSL or 3rd brake light.

Here are my pics of it all:
The Paint is called "ModelMaster Custom Spray Lacquer" in the color "Transparent Black Window Tint" and it can be purchased at Hobby Lobby for $6. And it will be in the model car area of the store, in the glass case that they keep model car spray paints.


Before Pics:



Upside down:

After and reinstalled:



At Night (camera sucks):




The process for uninstall and re install is pretty simple, just two screws.

You can control the level of 'smoke-ness' by limiting how many layers of the tint spray paint you use. I used the entire 3 oz can on this one and it came out black, but the lights shine trough pretty good, so I am happy with it.

Then after you get the level of darkness you want clear coat it with about 3 coats. The tint paint is very weak and can easily scrap off with your finger nail which is why you must clearcoat it to pretect the tint.

I also painted the heads of the screw since they were silver and would have stood out against the smoked light. I did this by sticking the screws in to an old cheap styrafoam cooler i use for painting bolts and screws. I just stab the screw in, and leave the head of the screw/bolt showing and spray it a few coats, and when it dries the threads remain unpainted and I didn't have to use tape. Just my thing.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Just tryna pass along some knowledge to the forums. And it took me about a day and $6 (I had clear and gloss black at the house already) and not I don't have that white rectangle sticking out against the black and orange theme.

Thanks,
--Chris

Looks good man


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=49.647749,-98.543329

-Posted with my iPhone.

Thanks!

looks excellent. i'm surprised how much light shines through..

It shines bright enough during the day on the red LEDs, but the reguler bulbs for cargo lights were weakened enough to notice. But I dont really care about cargo lights.

All the pics above are just running lights not barake lights (like pedal down).

I am happy with it.

Wondering how this is holding up? If it's holding up well, I'd like to do it this weekend. Why kind of clear did you use?

Thanks for the info.
MDU

My LEDS burnt out today. What's up with that? High center stop beam... I think they call it. Replacement tomorrow.
Anyway nice look man.

Just smoked mine this week. Thanx for all the info.

As for the Clear, I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby as mentioned in this thread. The clear was right next to it.

awesome, thanks. The more I see that big white light on the back of my tux black screw, I have to do something about it.