Wheel opinions for the IS

[WRXtranceformed]

Hell yeah, I asked the chrome guy how much it cost to have that done and where he had it done. If it's like $200 or something I'd go for it... any more than that and I'm sticking to the paint idea.

[HAULN-SS]

I always wanted to do my own chroming. does anyone know if the chemicals are highly toxic or anything? Its a pretty easy process, but you never hear of amatuers doing their own chroming for some reason

[CaptainHenreh]

I always wanted to do my own chroming. does anyone know if the chemicals are highly toxic or anything? Its a pretty easy process, but you never hear of amatuers doing their own chroming for some reason

I was thinking about this very thing.

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Regulations

Electroplating was the nation's first categorically regulated industry. So, what does categorically regulated mean? It means that all the waste products from this industry--even very dilute rinse water--are, as a matter of law, automatically declared as a hazardous waste even if the particular substance is actually harmless. Mix the waste in with other waste, and the whole mass is by law hazardous waste (see EPA 'mixture rule'). Make another product from it and (with some exception) the product is hazardous waste (see EPA 'derived from' rule).

In turn this means you can't discharge a single drop of hose water without pretreatment and permits; it means you can't take your bad solution anywhere without hazardous waste manifesting; it means you can't accumulate it without permits either. Finally, it means you are legally responsible for it forever regardless of how much you spent to get rid of it.

But are you subject to these regulations? If you are a factory selling plated parts or plated services, absolutely and without exception! If you are doing it solely as a hobby, maybe you can get away with it if you stay lucky. But if the sewer authority wants to impose an assessment for upgrading the piping, and your neighbors know that you are plating, they will probably turn you in in a heartbeat. Read the fine print on your sewer agreement: you're forbidden from putting hazardous wastes down the drain and both your neighbors and the sewer authority would dearly love for you to have to bear the cost of repairs or upgrades.

There you go. Now, many powder companies have an "almost chrome" powder that looks really good. Certainly a viable option for the do-it-yourselfer.

[WRXtranceformed]

Yeah the powder-coated chrome colors actually look really good. A friend of my brother's father does it for a living, and he brought the book of colors over that he can do. I was surprised at the exotic colors he could do: chrome pink, chrome green, chrome black, etc etc

[JustinG]

dead sexy, chrome or black FTW...cant wait to see the final pics

[WRXtranceformed]

Figured I didn't need to start a new thread, I'll just use this one to chronicle the cosmetic stuff that's happening to my IS.

Did the tint film on just the tail lights today. I really suck at tiniting, if you get close you can see some tiny bubbles and shit but it's not bad for my first time with that thick film material.

One side done to compare before and after:



Finished product with my friend James stuntin' hard with the Coronas:


The kit came with the side marker tint too, so I did those as well. What do you guys think? I have the front headlight kit to do after I put the angel eyes in... it's probably not good to put that tint in the oven. This is what the headlights should look like:

[JustinG]

dunno if you knew this but a solution of water and dish soap can allow you to move the tint around and get air bubbles out quicker, for next time Looks great though

[WRXtranceformed]

Yah that's what I used, except it was recommended to use a solution of alcohol and water so I used that instead... what I really needed was a hairdry to heat that shit up before I put it on... but I was hungover and too lazy.

[Nis01]

but I was hungover and too lazy.

LoL. Looks good Lee, can you see the turn signals and stuff through that? Also, doesn't it limit your reverse lights?

[HAULN-SS]

yeah - i dunno if i like it. I'd have to see it in action.

[WRXtranceformed]

I'll see if I can get a picture of it at night, but you can see the lights through it perfectly. They're only marginally harder to see.

I can't wait to get the new wheels on it, have them painted black, and do the calipers with the Lexus logo vinyls I bought.

[CaptainHenreh]

I wonder if this is easier than hobby smoke? What made you pick tint over canned smoke?

[WRXtranceformed]

I dunno, I liked the idea of a protective film over my lights. The stuff is really thick, basically a rockblocker. I like that it won't chip either if rocks or road debris hit it.

[CaptainHenreh]

I dunno, I liked the idea of a protective film over my lights. The stuff is really thick, basically a rockblocker. I like that it won't chip either if rocks or road debris hit it.

Totally and utterly reasonable.

[ScottyB]

nice....can't go wrong with the black/white

i'll be anxious to see your blue tint on the front. i've seen it on other white cars and it's gorgeous.

[Feersty]

Not my cup, but not bad.

[WRXtranceformed]

Thanks guys. I never was a huge fan of the OEM altezza look, so once it gets all "blacked out" with the wheels and brakes and everything it should look great.

[REED]

A couple days ago I saw a Blue IS that had some nifty shit going on on the small brake lights on the back. when the brakes were off they were body colored and when he would hit the brakes they lit up with LEDs maybe. I dunno how he did it but it was awesome

[ziich]

the tint is too dark, imo.

but def chrome those wheels!

[WRXtranceformed]

It'll all fit together once the black wheels go on.

Remember people, Lee always has a master plan! (even though it changes pretty much constantly =P)