Overlay Installer- Bangor area

[Boynton4]

I picked up some tail-light overlays for my 09 WRX hatch, and am looking for a place to have the installed. I don't want to lose my $45 investment by messing it up.

That being said, I would think most tint installers would be qualified at installing overlays. I was looking for tint installers in the bangor area, and there didnt seem to be much of a selection.

I think I found a place called Twin City Tint in brewer. Does anyone know of any other installers in bangor, or have places they would recommend?

Thanks

 

[IBratmanI]

You got an 09 WRX?! Awesome!

 

[GClark]

Did you get a silver hatch?

 

[drvsdwz]

Scott sun control

 

[Boynton4]

Yeah I did get the silver hatch! I'll start a thread on it soon.

Scott sun control

Thanks Justin,

Have you used em, you like them?

 

[drvsdwz]

he's the go to guy in bangor. Did both of my parents vehicles and does an exceptional job.

 

[WRB_Tank]

I also can vouch for Scott's I have had him do 3 of my vehicles, plus recommended him to LOTS of people. He does great work and stands behind it.

 

[Boynton4]

So I met up with Scot, and he wrestled with the vinyl for an hour and decided to call it quits before the vinyl became useless. He's a really nice guy, and I think I'll go to him for my window tint, but the taillights were a no-go.

Anyone know an overlay installer in this state that has specific experience with putting overlays on the 08+ Hatchback? It looks like someone who's going to install this, should have some experience installing them already.

 

[Colerdub]

I spent a full hour on one of my outer lights (08 hatch) and gave up. I called around Portland and no tint guys wanted to do it. I even had my car tinted and the guy would not do it. I am a little picky about how things look on my car and I think the overlays are extremely difficult to make them look right.

I just finished painting my lights 2 nights ago and I will be wet sanding them tonight. Paint sounds ghetto but there are tons of guys doing it on iwsti with oem like results. I will let you know how they look and hold up when I get them finished.

 

[blmpkn]

Like nightshades only red right?

 

[Colerdub]

Yup it's called metalcast it's made to look like anodized alum. It's a translucent red paint. It requires a few coats I clear to look nice and glossy like the stock tails. Nightshades also makes a red version but I did not know about it until I was at advanced auto parts buying the clear coat.

The stock tail lights are ugly unless it's on silver or white. I don't know what Subaru was thinking it looks cheap.

 

[Boynton4]

Yeah, I'm thinking paint may be the way to go. I'm sure they have guides all over Nasioc on how do it. I was surprised how easily the taillight can be removed. I'm thinking a couple coats of the red, and maybe a single coat of the nightshades just to make it a slightly darker red. Unless of course I can find a place to install the Vinyl correctly.

So, a couple questions. What level grit are you using to wetsand? Did you have to do prep on the lights, such as a light sanding before you painted? Did you tape out the centers, or go full red?

 

[Colerdub]

The way I did it was to remove lights and wipe them down with rubbing alcohol then tape the turn sigs and backup lights off then re clean with alcohol. I did not wet sand the lens befor paint. I sprayed 5 coats of the metalcast red paint starting light and getting heavier. I gave it 30mins between coats. I let that dry for 2-3 hours and unmasked the turns and backup and again cleaned with alcohol getting of any tape residue. Then I sprayed 5 or 6 coats of clear 30 min between each. I let it dry for 48 hours and then wetsanded with 2000. The lights looked clear befor the wetsand just not perfectly smooth. I used rubbing compound and 2 polishes to bring to a shine. Now they look like glass. 3 things I would do differently would be taping off some of it when the lens are in the car. One side of mine is off buy a 1/16 or so but it bugs me. I would also think about wetsanding befor paint, might help the paint stick. Last I would only clear over the red as when I cleared over the backup and turn sig it became slightly cloudy, very slight but a little bit. This may make a ridge between the red and clear. I would check out the thread on iwsti it's 30+ pages long with a lot of pics and tips. Let me know if you have any more questions. I will try to get some pics up soon

Theres a pic in that thread with a guy that did 3 coats red one nightshades and it looked great.