Appearance & Detailing Interior & Exterior Appearance Modifications

Removing raised letters from tail lights

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Old Mar 25, 2017 | 08:29 PM
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Default Removing raised letters from tail lights

Has anybody removed the raised DOT letters from their tail lights? I figure sanding is going to be the best way, but which grit will cut it off? What grits should I follow up with to smooth it out the sanding scratches?

Thanks,
DW
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 06:55 AM
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220ish using a DA, ended up somewhere around 800, buffed, cleared, done
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 08:42 AM
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Could you do this by hand?
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 08:55 AM
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Originally Posted by DwDrummer
Could you do this by hand?
Yes, but I would go 800 grit, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 then finish with a automotive polish and like a power Ball for cleaning rims for the final step
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by DwDrummer
Could you do this by hand?
I wouldn't but yes....I'd start with what I suggested...maybe 320 or 400 and go from there
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Old Mar 27, 2017 | 12:49 AM
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I first took a razor blade to take down a majority of the letters then hit them with 800 before I layered on the niteshade

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Old Mar 28, 2017 | 03:07 PM
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Did this on my exports the other day. I had a leftover headlight restoration kit from cleaning up my tailblazer. Did 800 wet, 1500 wet, 3000 dry, 3000 wet, then polish with a powerball and it turned out perfectly. All the sanding was by hand. I'll post up some pictures for you whenever I get back on land
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Old Apr 1, 2017 | 06:26 PM
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Here's how mine turned out. Sorry for the bad angle, car wasn't running and backed into the garage.






Here's how one looked with letters compared to the one without.


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Old Apr 1, 2017 | 08:19 PM
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Thanks for the pics! Looks much better with no letters. My buddy sanded my letters off for me at work. I ended up sanded the whole light down to get rid of some imperfections. You can see this weird texture in the second picture. I removed about 98% of it and looks much better now
Attached Thumbnails Removing raised letters from tail lights-img_3209.jpg   Removing raised letters from tail lights-img_3203.jpg  
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Old Apr 3, 2017 | 12:15 PM
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those look awesome! looks like I have a little project for the weekend
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