Turn Signal Rehab of the Amber color

[rstclark]

Anyone know how to rehab the amber color on front turn signal lenses and the amber section of tail lights 

 

The red and be restored quite nicely with red Night Shades spray been there done that   but the Amber is illusive

  I hear there is a color of tint from  Michaels  art stores

Any body Know ????

[Mike Self]

Absent a tint or dye, an orange Magic Marker or highlighter applied to the inside of the lens will help darken a bleached out lens.  You might have to make that an annual maintenance item, but it'll work.  An amber bulb will do wonders for the signal's color when blinking...

 

Dunno if it'll work, but I've seen translucent dyes at large hobby shops (Hobby Lobby, etc) that are used to create "stained glass" by painting designs with the dye on plastic.  

 

mike

 

[adawil2002]

New turn signals & rear lenses are readily available. There are times that a kluge is necessary, this is not one of those times. 

[visionaut]

I’m with Andrew, get fresh plastic if you can. It really makes a very noticeable difference...

[rstclark]

Yes I understand what a nice improvement it can be to replace lenses but I’m trying to retain my 1968 lenses that are euro style on a 1969  2002

The euro style ones that are out there for sale now may or may not fit ??

Regardless. I’m not paying the Highway Robbery prices being asked

I'll go with Mikes solution or something similar if a transparent tint can be found

[visionaut]

I’ve seen Lamin-x makes some self-adhesive films in the correct color amber/red for taillight refreshing. No idea if they’ll work for your application.

 

The pro taillight lens restorers use a dye to refresh the red/amber bits - but I don’t know the specifics on it. Others use cleaners with sanding on both sides of the plastic if it’s just dull/pitted but not faded.

 

 

 

 

[adawil2002]

Euro fronts are available new.

https://www.max2002store.com/product-page/european-flush-turn-signal?mc_eid=cc0753296f

[rstclark]

Opening the attachment shows them available for free. While that’s an unbelievably good price I still want to keep the ones I have that show they were made in 1968

[Jae]

I used krylon stained glass tangerine orange a few years ago, I sprayed inside and outside about 4 coats. Came out nice I think. So far so good with no fading, chipping, or peeling 3+ years and counting. I also did my rear amber signals as well.

Edited January 2, 2021 by Jae

[rstclark]

Very Nice.  This what I was looking for

[rstclark]

$6.99 at Ace Hardware

[Jae]

You can also try Duplicolor Metalcast orange. It’s heat resistant and work well if your still using incandescent bulbs. I used this but in yellow to paint fog lights on my Tacoma.

Edited January 3, 2021 by Jae

[Vicleonardo1]

 

20 hours ago, Jae said:

I used krylon stained glass tangerine orange a few years ago, I sprayed inside and outside about 4 coats. Came out nice I think. So far so good with no fading, chipping, or peeling 3+ years and counting. I also did my rear amber signals as well.

That looks great! 

Did you prep the lens before painting it? i.e. plastic polish

Edited January 3, 2021 by Vicleonardo1

[Jae]

Inside just soap and water, outside I wet sanded 1500 then 3000 to have the paint stick better, then buffed and polished using plastx then ultimate polish. I basically followed the steps for headlight restoration except I didn’t clear coat at the end. I felt I didn’t need too.