DIY Tail Light Paint Matching and Tinting - Advice Wanted

I'm thinking about color matching and tinting my 06 Charger RT tail lights and would appreciate some advice. I have the following questions:

1. Where would I buy the paint to match my body color?

2. As a first timer at trying something like this, do you think I would be better off picking up a second set of tail lights to experiment on before messing around with my originals? If so, other than EBAY, where could I find a set of tails (maybe a junk yard)?

3. Are there Illinois laws that require the backup lights, reflector strips, or any other parts of the lenses to be untinted?

4. If I wanted to make a masking stencil for a custom graphic (e.g., Mopar logo, etc.), how would I do it and what material would I make it out of?

5. I figure I would need to have the following materials: primer, paint, Nightshades, masking tape, fine grit sand paper for wet sanding, and clear coat. What else?

6. Am I better off just having a pro do the work after all?

Thanks in advance for your advise.

Jay

1. What color is your charger?

2. A second set would be nice if you have never done anything like this.

3. Not sure if there are any specific laws other than how far your lights have to be visible from. I would recommend not going very dark unless you have LED tails. Dark tint on stock tails with halogen bulbs makes them hard to see in the daytime. Back when I tinted a set black on one of my trucks I had a LEO that didn't like them and told me to "take the covers off". So I sanded them down and went lighter.

4. To mask off for a pattern you need a stencil that will stick to the tails (like out of self adhering masking paper).

5. No primer.....you need them to be transparent. Unless you are referring to a clear adhesion promoter.

6. A pro will be able to leave it much better with a HVLP gun vs. what you can do with a rattle can. Unless you are very good with a rattle can.


A pro that knows what he's doing will leave a clear reflection and nice depth like what my tails are:



Mine are done light just to darken up the red some and avoid any issues from having them too dark.

Thanks for the advice, Dan. The color is midnight blue (PB8). Sounds like you are recommending the professional route. Joey said the same thing.

Jay

Yep, especially if you want to match the midnight blue.....you'll want it done professionally.

I know a guy that can get them done for 100 bucks but you gotta send 'em your lights..

Yeah I would say if you are going to have them the same color as the car then professional is the ONLY way I would go.

Good luck and can't wait to see the outcome.