Easiest Tinted lens diy ever!

[JWerner2]

I have been busy with some things. Havent been on this site for a long time.


While I had some free time I came up with a idea.

This is by far the cheapest easiest way to tint your lenses. Beats the snot out of that spray garbage and is more fun than the film.

Lets get started.

First of course you will need to get the lenses you want to tint. For that you need the headlights with the grey glue or if its side markers you can just use the entire unit.


Items needed.

1. lenses

2. RIT dye ( sold at any crafts store or even grocery store )

3. Polish

4. Wax.

To start bring a pot of water to a boil. After it begins to boil add the dye and set to simmer.

Once you set it to simmer you can add the lens you wish to dye.

Let it simmer for a minute and keep checking on it using tongs to pull it out of the pot till it reaches how dark you want it.


After its as dark as you want it rinse it in luke warm water slowly turning the water colder.


After you rinse it off and the water runs clear which shouldnt take long at all polish the lens with some compound or Plastic lens polish. I use what I have shown cause it was what was laying around and I didnt feel like wasting the good stuff on this simple project anyway.

After you are done polishing you can wax the lens to add some depth to it.

Here is the finished product.

After you are done with the lens simply reinstall it into the headlight, sit back drink a beer and enjoy your new lens.

You can see I also did my side markers. For those I just submerged the whole unit in the dye.


A shot of the visible light output.

Another one up close.

Daytime.

Enjoy!

 

[TheArchaic1]

Whats the best way to reseal the headlight so that you don't get condensation build up in it?

 

[Former Member]

nice tint, id say thats perfect. if you let it dry and put it back in will it make it darker?

 

[JWerner2]

Whats the best way to reseal the headlight so that you don't get condensation build up in it?

First things first. Make sure all of the Grey stuff is smooth and cleaned up pretty good. If you get rid of the clumps and can get a smooth bond you often dont even need another sealant. My one light at this moment dont have any sealant and the other does. After some washing and a few bad storms no water got in. Its not like it has anything more from the factory right?

I suggest black RTV sealant or aquarium silicone ( black also ).


EDIT: I just got to your other post. In your case definitely use the black RTV or aquarium sealant.

 

[JWerner2]

nice tint, id say thats perfect. if you let it dry and put it back in will it make it darker?

I would just let it sit longer than layer it up. Might reduce light output. Could always use more dye also.

I guess it would have helped to mention I used just as much water to cover the objects and 1/4 of a bottle dye.

 

[Frogman]

That's a great project idea. Seriously.

 

[TheArchaic1]

First things first. Make sure all of the Grey stuff is smooth and cleaned up pretty good. If you get rid of the clumps and can get a smooth bond you often dont even need another sealant. My one light at this moment dont have any sealant and the other does. After some washing and a few bad storms no water got in. Its not like it has anything more from the factory right?

I suggest black RTV sealant or aquarium silicone ( black also ).


EDIT: I just got to your other post. In your case definitely use the black RTV or aquarium sealant.

Thanks for the tip!! After I get my stereo in, doing the clear corners, side markers is next on the list. I think the tinted lenses look great, but on my LS I think the clear would look better. My LS is british racing green, and with the black rims that I have, I don't think that the darker lenses would look that good. Any suggestions because I could do them either way.

 

[Frogman]

I wonder, how hard would it be to do the whole headlight lens without taking the headlights apart.

By "lens" I don't mean reflector. Just the clear plastic part that protects the gizzards.

 

[TheArchaic1]

Thats a good question!! It would save you a whole lot on paying for the tinted covers if they even make them.

 

[Former Member]

i beleive headlights should be clear or like his with smoked lenses. tinting the headlights is a bad idea to me. why would you want to reduce light output? I removed my yellow lense, can see the turn signal for about 1/4 mile reflecting off of street signs :LOL: but it looks alot better.

 

[TheArchaic1]

What kind of bulbs do you have for your turn signals?

 

[JWerner2]

I wonder, how hard would it be to do the whole headlight lens without taking the headlights apart.

By "lens" I don't mean reflector. Just the clear plastic part that protects the gizzards.

I guess it could be done. Bring the water to a boil and then add the dye. After that pour it into a shallow baking pan just deep enough to cover ONLY the lens. You really dont need to let it simmer since you are dying clear and it sets fast I imagine.

Cant submerge the unit itself, it would be pretty bad

What kind of bulbs do you have for your turn signals?

Sylvainia silver stars but Im planing on broadening my horizon soon. I had these bulbs for a long time tho.


Tril, thanks. I still like my no lens turn signals with the painted bowls better tho

 

[De-marko]

Looks great!

Yeah, you haven't been on here in awhile.

 

[rickztahone]

great project bro. i need to redo the side markers so i might tackle this one

 

[JWerner2]

Im contemplating on getting a set of the clear ones from the dude on ebay and tinting those. Im going to do the door panel courtesy lights and maybe the ceiling lights next just for some different pop. The courtesy lights never did anything for me anyway. Im also wondering how the fogs would look if I did those with yellow but I'll wait on that till I get around to getting Gen 2 fogs in case I mess my stockers up dying them. I dont want to cut the lens off of them. Might get a second set of stockers for scrap and try to see what its like smoking them with black also.

Rick, do you still by chance know how to get a hold of the guy on ebay with the cheap headlights that have the Grey glue?

PM me if you do.

 

[pektel]

Welcome back, dude. Wondered where you went!

Now this is something I think I want to do. The chrome housing/silverstar bulb seems really loud to me on my LS. And I've been going for subtle. Maybe this is the ticket. And if I don't like it, I just pull the amber lenses back out.

 

[Lincoln Luebbe]

Where did you get the LSE grille?

 

[JWerner2]

Local steelership.


Whats up Pete. I see you have been busy with the detailing. Looks nice. I say do it! They look lighter in person during the day.

 

[Lincoln Jealous]

great job, and good idea, that comes out pretty good:Beer

 

[rainjacks]

Amber Bock. Good choice after a well done project like that. I typically will have a standard American ale at my side while the project is going on. Say a Miller Lite. Then celebrate a completed project with something a little better.

 

[rickztahone]

Im contemplating on getting a set of the clear ones from the dude on ebay and tinting those. Im going to do the door panel courtesy lights and maybe the ceiling lights next just for some different pop. The courtesy lights never did anything for me anyway. Im also wondering how the fogs would look if I did those with yellow but I'll wait on that till I get around to getting Gen 2 fogs in case I mess my stockers up dying them. I dont want to cut the lens off of them. Might get a second set of stockers for scrap and try to see what its like smoking them with black also.

Rick, do you still by chance know how to get a hold of the guy on ebay with the cheap headlights that have the Grey glue?

PM me if you do.

a couple of people pm'd me and told me that the vendor that sold me those was no longer selling them. i swear it was the best deal ever. they still look new on my car and i have never had any condensation problems, maybe that can be attributed to my super sealing, but still.... regardless, i will try to find out if maybe he decided to sell them again. i'll keep you posted

 

[Lincoln Luebbe]

The grille and lenses look good on that silver man!
Do you think it would look good on a 2nd gen lens? I really wanted clear but this is probably cheaper than custom lenses!

 

[LSblack00]

Great project! How long did the entire process take from start to finish?
Also, is there a problem with using the regular turn signal bulbs?
Just might do this tonight or tomorrow....

 

[PetesSweets86]

Great idea werner, that will make the turn signals much better instead of just deleting them. I'll most likely get that done when I'm installing angel eyes this fall

 

[Andrizzle]

Yea I too am wondering about what it would be like if someone dyed the entire clear housing?