2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

Cleaned the taillights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-27-08, 10:05 PM
  #1  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cleaned the taillights

Got some S5 tails with some ugly tint on it for $90


started to dry sand with 800 grit



then wet sand with 1500 grit


Then polished with some Meguirs PLASTX



Called it a day, good deal.
Old 02-27-08, 10:09 PM
  #2  
Lots of rotors

iTrader: (33)
 
BrettLinton7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: North GA
Posts: 3,281
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
Nicee... That's a good deal on them. And what was the black crap, like spray paint or something? Because when you said tint I thought about tint just peeling off...
Old 02-27-08, 10:10 PM
  #3  
I Heart Turbos
 
MrsBoostedfc3s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Cheyenne,WY
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hard to believe those are the same lights, nice work
Old 02-27-08, 10:11 PM
  #4  
Jpk3200

 
Jpk3200's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 824
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nice work.
Old 02-27-08, 10:17 PM
  #5  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It was like a SPRAY kinda tint im guessing. But yea good deal anyways. Thanks. You guys should try this if you want your tails to shine like new.
Old 02-27-08, 10:23 PM
  #6  
Inexperienced Tinkerer
 
j0rd4n's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sanford, NC
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's probably Nightshades. It's pretty sweet stuff if you like that look. Personally, I think the stock RX-7 lights are great the way they are.
Old 02-27-08, 10:25 PM
  #7  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yea I had them on for awhile with the tint. It was cool at first. But I wanted the stock look back.
Old 02-27-08, 10:28 PM
  #8  
Pobody's Nerfect

iTrader: (3)
 
willub and company's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Worcester Massachusetts
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i've always been hesitant to sand clear plastic parts but this has convinced me it can be done! nice job
Old 02-27-08, 10:33 PM
  #9  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yea if the grit was lower it would have done some damage maybe?
Old 02-27-08, 10:36 PM
  #10  
Pobody's Nerfect

iTrader: (3)
 
willub and company's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Worcester Massachusetts
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
not maybe, definitely. i have just always dreaded the lens' becoming cloudy after i was done.
Old 02-27-08, 10:42 PM
  #11  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thats where PLASTX saves the day. haha
Old 02-27-08, 10:43 PM
  #12  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
When you wet sanded did you use water and if so did you add anything to the water to make it more slippery and you need to be commended for an excellent job.
Old 02-27-08, 10:44 PM
  #13  
Make Money.
iTrader: (6)
 
eriksseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,137
Received 8 Likes on 2 Posts
I've used as low as 400 grit (wet) on tails. Plastic is just like any other surface from my experience. The time I went to 400, I finished with (all wet) 600, 1000, 1500 and then 2000 with a plastic-polish to finish them off. I had to remove some bad clear-coat that *did* get cloudy.
Old 02-27-08, 10:45 PM
  #14  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This was my first time wet sanding anything. Me being the age of 18 it was a pretty good first try. I did not add anything to the water.

Just got a bucket of water and dipped the sand paper and started lol

Is that how it goes?

But yea thanks for all the e-props.
Old 02-27-08, 10:46 PM
  #15  
Make Money.
iTrader: (6)
 
eriksseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,137
Received 8 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by satch
When you wet sanded did you use water and if so did you add anything to the water to make it more slippery and you need to be commended for an excellent job.
A little soap mixed with warm water is pretty good. Soaking your paper in the water is also a good idea to help "soften" it up a little bit--especially if you're going to be using a lower grit (like 400).
Old 02-27-08, 10:48 PM
  #16  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by eriksseven
A little soap mixed with warm water is pretty good. Soaking your paper in the water is also a good idea to help "soften" it up a little bit--especially if you're going to be using a lower grit (like 400).
Ill try it this way next time

And I want to throw this out there

You are the creator of Modernized S5 tails right?
Old 02-27-08, 10:49 PM
  #17  
Jpk3200

 
Jpk3200's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 824
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Reminds me of the FTP lens restoration procedure.
http://www.rotorwiki.com/index.php/Lense_Restoration
Old 02-27-08, 10:53 PM
  #18  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yup. Thats where the idea for this came from.
Old 02-27-08, 10:57 PM
  #19  
Junior Member

 
va creeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Va.
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I do my final buffing with tooth paste. Makes em shine
Old 02-27-08, 10:58 PM
  #20  
Pobody's Nerfect

iTrader: (3)
 
willub and company's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Worcester Massachusetts
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hahaha Erik is a celebrity for those.
Old 02-27-08, 11:03 PM
  #21  
Junior Member
 
4x4hiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: norcal
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tooth paste? realy?
Old 02-27-08, 11:09 PM
  #22  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yea ...I heard toothpaste has the consistency of 3000 grit. haha. depends if its Crest or Colgate :p
Old 02-27-08, 11:10 PM
  #23  
Pobody's Nerfect

iTrader: (3)
 
willub and company's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Worcester Massachusetts
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i have used tooth paste on the coolant over flow tank and it really really cleaned it up. it was like night and day difference.
Old 02-27-08, 11:50 PM
  #24  
Full Member

 
Anubis06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Princeton
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ok i need to see proof of this toothpaste sanding haha but good job though. convinced me to do my flash to pass lights. getting a lil cloudy
Old 02-27-08, 11:57 PM
  #25  
RX-7 DISCIPLE

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Ex-Eg-Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal,California
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yea the supplies cost $16. Thats one bottle of PLASTX and the two packs of sand paper.


Quick Reply: Cleaned the taillights



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:46 PM.