07-02-2012, 12:18 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 22
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DIY de-amber smoked tint
I have now completed the de-amber dark smoke tinting on my front indicators. I used smoked tint spray and then a few layers of clear lacquer before polishing up with an electric buffer, pics below...
Before
During
After
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07-02-2012, 01:26 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 1,396
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Excellent job!
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"Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... that's what gets you."
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07-02-2012, 03:00 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 475
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did new plates come with the tint :P
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Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles
2003 Midnight Blue S
LN IMS Retrofit
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07-03-2012, 03:04 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 22
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had the plates for a while, only found time yesterday to finally sort out the transfer... a LONG process in the UK!!
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07-03-2012, 01:53 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 88
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Looks good. I would like to see this on an Artic Silver Boxster.
Last edited by jesseborgelt; 07-04-2012 at 08:10 AM.
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07-04-2012, 05:27 AM
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#6
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Homeboy981
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Sherman, TX
Posts: 663
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Indicators look too good to have come out of a can!
What did you do with the side markers? Did they get a similar treatment?
Looks good! You have given me the confidence to "smoke them"!
Thanks!
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2002 Porsche Boxtser S - Silver & Chrome - Died from IMS failure AFTER IMS was replaced!
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07-04-2012, 07:56 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 22
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cheers guys,
The side markers and tails already had clear lense covers, it was only the front that needed de-ambering. I actually surprised myself with how well the tinting came out in the end... Tempted to tint my rear window as it is really cloudy and sun damaged beyond repair!! I was going to get a new one fitted anyway so no harm in trying this i guess!! It could look really cool blacked out but I reckon the movement when the roof goes up and down may cause the tint to rub off or crack up... will let you know...
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07-04-2012, 08:13 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 88
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Ok, the more I look at your finished product the more I like the alternative to speding $1000 on a new set of lights. What brand spray tint did you use? Keep us posted on the durability.
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07-05-2012, 12:14 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NKY
Posts: 211
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looks good on a black box, don't care for it on anything else though.
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2001 Seal Gray 5-Speed - 2007 Yamaha R6 - 2003 Honda Civic EX - 1999 Nissan Frontier XE - 2003 Coleman Utah
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07-06-2012, 05:28 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: atlanta, ga
Posts: 91
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you can also use regular tint film. Looks the same but easier to apply.
I've done both. The spray tint has to be done just right or when blinker is on it looks uneven.
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Richard Griffin
Atlanta GA
2001 blk/tan Boxster 18" turbo twist wheels
2003 gray/tan Navigator
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07-06-2012, 04:51 PM
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#11
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Custom User Title Here
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,163
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Am I the only one that thinks it looks very cheap and "painted on"?
Hey, as long as you like it...but I think that it looked much better in stock amber. 
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https://youtube.com/@UnwindTimeVintageWatchMuseum
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07-11-2012, 02:09 AM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 22
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I think I would have left amber if the tails and side indicator covers were still amber when I got the car but since the previous owner had replaced these with clear it made the amber on the front really stand out and look out of place on a completely black car. I can't justify paying for new headlights so thought this would be the most affordable option to de-amber and I am really happy with how it came out.
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08-01-2012, 02:35 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 93
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Quote:
Originally Posted by particlewave
Am I the only one that thinks it looks very cheap and "painted on"?
Hey, as long as you like it...but I think that it looked much better in stock amber. |
I agree. Also, without the curve at the bottom of the headlights the lines no longer make any sense. I would have left it amber as well, but it's not my car. 
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08-30-2012, 04:01 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 22
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The more I looked at the lights with the dark black shiny smoked job I did, the more I agreed with Squozen and particlewave's comments...
I decided to try and get the lines back and get rid of the "painted on" look so I removed all the tint spray and re-did the job.
This time round I used a lighter smoked tint vinyl with a matte black finish so that it didn't get lost in the shiny black paintwork. I have also chromed the headlight corner units for more contrast and to give it a newer look which ties in nicely with the silver and chrome wheels, chrome exhaust and silver decals.
Sorry about rubbish pics but my phone is all I have at the moment...
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08-30-2012, 06:34 AM
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#15
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Custom User Title Here
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,163
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I like this better
Nice work
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https://youtube.com/@UnwindTimeVintageWatchMuseum
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08-30-2012, 08:05 AM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 1,396
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noooooo..... change back.
"you can please some of the people some of the time..." 
__________________
"Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... that's what gets you."
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08-31-2012, 12:15 AM
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tonycarreon
noooooo..... change back.
"you can please some of the people some of the time..." |
one thing i've come to realize on here is that you really can't please everyone lol!! But that's all good, we all have our own tastes which makes everything much more interesting!!
Maybe i'll go with one in each style... 
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08-31-2012, 12:26 AM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Bay Area California
Posts: 415
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Not digging the new look either....how about just a lighter tint on the amber, where they don't get lost in the black but don't stick out so much.
They would also look sick red, but not sure how legal that would be.
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08-31-2012, 01:04 AM
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Arizona
Posts: 720
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Just save up and buy clears, LEDs, or Litronics
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08-31-2012, 09:47 PM
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#20
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Custom User Title Here
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,163
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crono0001
Just save up and buy clears, LEDs, or Litronics
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That's my plan
$1000 though? Geez, I wish I had some of what they're smoking!
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1998 Porsche Boxster 986 2.5 Manual
"Bernie" - PONZI that 'made off' with my money!
