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Tail light reflectors, white or silver?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Bugman, Jul 30, 2005.

  1. Bugman
    Joined: Nov 17, 2001
    Posts: 3,483

    Bugman
    Member

    Ok, so all the factory chrome has peeled off my tail light reflectors. One side is marginal, the other is coated with tin foil. I remember hearing somewhere(it may have even been here) that painting the reflectors flat white will actually make the light appear brighter through the lense than silver will. So, should I paint them white, paint them silver, or try to lay more tinfoil in them? Thanks for the input.
     
  2. Mutt
    Joined: Feb 6, 2003
    Posts: 3,219

    Mutt
    Member

    I sprayed mine with refrigerator white epoxy enamel. Very glossy. Big improvement.


    Mutt
     
  3. DrJ
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 9,419

    DrJ
    Member

    White is more reflective than gray/silver.

    Another trick, if it'll fit your housing, is a drilled out trimmed to fit flashlight reflector behind the bulb.
     
  4. We discussed this a while back and Digger Dave shared some tests he'd run.

    White paint in the taillight housing was more reflective than anything else.

    I'm guessing that gloss white would be better than flat white.
     
    lemondana likes this.

  5. Yep, white. Do a search for Digger Dave and tailight.
     
  6. Fraz
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 1,818

    Fraz
    Member
    from Dixon, MO

    Flat white'd the taillight reflectors on my 60 Buick when I swapped the 59 lenses and housings on, made a BIG difference.
     
  7. AV8Paul
    Joined: Mar 2, 2003
    Posts: 1,813

    AV8Paul
    Member Emeritus

    I used aluminum cup cake linners with a hole cut out for the bulb to fit thru. Works good for me and no over spray.
     
  8. Crestliner
    Joined: Dec 31, 2002
    Posts: 3,013

    Crestliner
    Member

    I am trying the reflective tape thet is used on trucks and trailers. It is bright,just don't know how it will hold up.
     
  9. old beet
    Joined: Sep 25, 2002
    Posts: 5,750

    old beet
    Member

    White is the best!! Oh shit, I sound like a racist??????.....OLDBEET
     
  10. Bugman
    Joined: Nov 17, 2001
    Posts: 3,483

    Bugman
    Member

    I knew it had been discussed here before, but I've had problems searching recently. Anyway, I did a side by side comparison on my tail lights, and the white was much brighter that the tin foil. The lense was lit more evenly too, no sharp bright spots and dim spots. I used flat white, because that's what I had handy. I tried to get a pic, but it didn't turn out so well. Thanks for the info gang.
     
  11. FiddyFour
    Joined: Dec 31, 2004
    Posts: 9,024

    FiddyFour
    Member

    Bah... Black primer looks better than white :eek: :D
     

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