Tail Light Lens Restore?

[DrDoctor]

Plymouthy Adams,

   I‘ve read the entries herein, and my question for you is based upon your comment regarding the spray paint for the reflectors. Our ’46 Plymouth has glass tail lite lenses, so the lens crazing issue is a non-issue. However, the reflectors just below the tail lite lenses are more pink than red. Do I understand you correctly – the spray paint will make them redder, yet still retain some (or most) of their reflectability? If so, that’d be great!!! Thx.

 

P.S. – When did the tail lite lenses material change from real glass to plastic? Just curious . . .  Thx.

[rb1949]

Shop around for that #1605 can. Amazon is better than ebay. Amazon reviews reference tail light coating.  Hobby Lobby has it, but does not offer free ship to store pickup. Will call and see if they stock it. If so, the best deal @ $4.99, plus use their 40% off weekly coupon (print from website). Good luck refreshing your tail lenses.

EDIT: don't call Hobby, they have no way to check if an item is in stock(?) So off to the store. Success, on the shelf. Great coupon brought the price down to $2.99. My kind of shopping. Print coupons and buy more if needed, but doubtful. Anxious to compare this 1605 spray to the 4630 brush on I used, seen in the above photo. Update when ready.

Edited November 15, 2016 by rb1949

[Furylee2]

15 hours ago, TheDoctor'sIn said:

Plymouthy Adams,

   I‘ve read the entries herein, and my question for you is based upon your comment regarding the spray paint for the reflectors. Our ’46 Plymouth has glass tail lite lenses, so the lens crazing issue is a non-issue. However, the reflectors just below the tail lite lenses are more pink than red. Do I understand you correctly – the spray paint will make them redder, yet still retain some (or most) of their reflectability? If so, that’d be great!!! Thx.

 

P.S. – When did the tail lite lenses material change from real glass to plastic? Just curious . . .  Thx.

 

My brother has a 46 as well.  When he restored it, he talked to the Plymouth Owners Club P-15 Tech Advisor at the time (lives here in Omaha).  He stated that in 46, those reflectors were white for that year only.

 

Might explain the lighter color you see on yours.

[Plymouthy Adams]

yes...white for 46 but given the very statement he has made, the items are more pink than anything else...given that UV rarely will add color...and that he is probably no where near the original owner, has no detail of previous maintenance....and the pink can pretty much say with a degree of certainty that the bezels may not be original to the car.  If he is going for points in judging events, then yes by all accounts his lenses need to be correct and pink is not going to cut it either..

as for the small reflectors...they still have to be removed and that is usually a destruct method to either the lens or drilling of the depressed retainer disc...only he can decide how he wishes to proceed and source his parts at no time did I tell this person to paint any reflector only that I had the spray on hand for the time when I dress the reflectors on my little ENGLISH as stated earlier....

Edited November 15, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[rb1949]

This project has brought up some confusion. I was lucky enough to have an extra set of lenses. Observation indicated that this set had indeed been painted at one time, probably trying to hide the crazing. No problem to sand them down smooth to prepare for my painting. Sanding took off the paint easily, but revealed that these lenses are a milky white plastic, not red(??) My original lenses are red plastic. Why are identical lenses different? Did they change the process in how they were made? This style is specific to '49 only. The picture shows the difference. Any explanations?

 

[DonaldSmith]

My WAG:  The milky white appearance is due to the sanding.  Put water on them and the milky white should disappear.  Also, put a light behind the surface, and some of the red should show through. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

the milky will be as stated, due to sanding or oxidation through aging process.....if you do sand these....and prior to any application of a translucent paint or any application of a clear coat....use a ultra fine paper to finish the surface....one could even gently buff with a good plexi-glass polishing compound prior to final coating application..you are in control..if buffing...do not get in a hurry and do not get the plastic hot...this will cause it to melt and embed contaminates into the plastic.  The end results is usually a reflection of due diligence...get in a hurry and you will have a contaminated lens that may not clean up after the fact.

[rb1949]

OK, old and faded. I know the feeling. Yes, illuminating shows red, because there is red on the inside. No rocket science there. Similar to those who paint the OUTSIDE of an Amber turn lens Red.When lit, it still glows Amber. 1500 wet sand, same as the first one pictured on the car that was brush painted. No, putting water on it does not turn red, only shiny white. Update later.

[DrDoctor]

   I don’t have any problems with our tail lite lenses themselves, as they’re glass. My question earlier was about the little round reflectors in the chrome housing just below the tail lites, as they’re not red, but rather they’re pink. I know they’re faded from the sun/UV, and was inquiring about how to get them red again. I purchased some “glass spray paint” (transparent) tha’is “cranberry”. I masked off the area around the reflectors, wiped them thoroughly with lacquer thinner, and then gave them about a half-dozen light coats of this spray paint. While they’re not red, per se, they’re definitely no longer pink. Definitely a step in the right direction, and we’re very happy with the results – looks almost new.

   Thx . . .

[rb1949]

Doctor, as eluded to above, the CORRECT reflector for your model year seems to have been White, not Red. Glad you're happy. How about a photo?

And the particular paint in question has been stated several times.

Edited November 16, 2016 by rb1949

[rb1949]

Chop Chop, time's up. Now you can take a look at the LEFT side tail light refresh. This one was done using the aerosol spray mentioned, the can I got cheap at Hobby Lobby if you've been reading. They are a definite improvement for daytime viewing, And do glow a nice Red at night. Do remember, this process will NOT resolve the crazing issue.

 

[DrDoctor]

rb1949,

   Oh, oh. Well, even if originally white, I don’t know if I’d like it that way. My wife and I are pretty happy with them red, and it looks like a color much closer to the tail lite lens than it did yesterday. Not to be argumentative, but wouldn’t you think that some state DMV’s would have a problem with a white reflector on the back of a car? Or, do you think that any reflector on the back was good enough for them back then? Which makes me wonder if the DMV would have a problem with a white reflector on the back of a car today . . . Oh well, that’s a moot point, now, since the reflectors are closer to red than white now.

   As for a photo, I’d love to oblige, I really would, but . . . . I’m “electronically challenged”, and I don’t know how to take a photo I’ve taken and send it electronically. Now, when it comes to putting a photo in an envelope, and dropping in the mailbox – I’m your guy!!! I’m a 19^th century soul stuck, reluctantly I might add, in the 21^st century. I still miss my Big Chief tablet and crayons. I can do certain things, like email (altho’ I don’t like to, and I now do email VERY rarely), I don’t text (if someone wants to call me – talk to me, and if someone wants to type something to me – email me, and I addressed that already), I don’t do twitter/facebook/etc, because I’m busy living the remainder of my life, not talking about it to strangers on the internet, and I certainly don’t follow other people’s lives on the internet, because I’m busy living the remainder of my own. Why, I don’t even carry my mobile phone with me, because I don’t want to be disturbed while I’m driving, working in the garage, mowing the lawn, etc. I can deal with that at EOD when I’m sitting and relaxing. I’ll bet you weren’t expecting all of that in what was to be a short reply. Sorry ‘bout that . . .  sort of . . .

   Thx . . .

[rb1949]

Now that this project is done, I can express personal opinions of using the paint on tail lenses, both Testors products. Each had only 2 light coats. They were painted on the outside, not the inside.  I honestly like the finish of the brush on better than the spray. It is very very thin and flows smooth. The aerosol, however, seemed to have a slightly more tail light Red than the brush on. Both are Transparent but have different names for the Red color. As it goes, the brush on bottle is not available in a spray, and the aerosol is not available in a bottle. I am satisfied with the improved cosmetic appearance of the lenses, both day and night. So far so good. But the test has just begun. They look good newly refreshed. The test of time will now determine the durability of this effort. Will it hold up to the elements and heat of the bulb, and for how long. The picture lets you see both left and right together, brush and spray. Can you tell any difference?

 

[DrDoctor]

rb1949,

   I’ve got to say, I personally think the tail lite lenses look GREAT!!! I really can’t discern any difference between them in the two photos, and I’ve been giving those photos a lot of scrutiny. Any difference in the photos is most likely due to the difference in the lighting between the two views. More importantly, tho’, is how they look “in person”. Can you discern any difference between them? If you can, I’ll bet it’s very minimal, and you’re noticing it because you know what you’ve done to each lens. So, everyone else won’t have a clue, and they’ll be of the opinion that they’re identical, in which case I wouldn’t correct them. Again, your tail lite lenses look fantastic – I know I’d be happy “as a pig in slop” with the way they turned out. Regards . . . .  Thx.

[Bingster]

I agree with that assessment!

[rb1949]

Thanks. The jalopy needs all the help it can get. Let's add one more for those who may be curious and tempted to ask. The car is backed into a small dark garage. Best I could do with a picture of the lens illuminated.

 

[DrDoctor]

rb1949,

   I’ve got to say it again, by looking at the photos, I personally think the tail lite lenses look GREAT!!! If there’s anything failing in their appearance, I certainly can’t discern it. So, from my personal point of view, I’d say “Problem Solved”.

   Regards . . . .  Thx.

 

[rb1949]

Just to clarify one more time, so no one is misled by what you see in the pictures. Painting did improve the red cosmetic appearance of the lenses. It does NOT solve the crazing issue. The crazing cracks are still there, and visible.