I have posted these pics a couple of years ago,but here is so much new people I decided to do it again.And it is tech week,right... I'll hope you get this.My english is not so good. First you have to have a pressure tank and a top cover with a hole same as the shape of the lens.This is what I made. Cut a piece of plexiglass.I used 3mm thick. Bolt it between top plate and tank.You must make a rubber gasket between plexi and pressure tank. Now you start apply some heat and pressure to the tank.The plexi will start to come up. This is what you end with.And this is a critical part of the job.There will be some leak and the pressure will come down.So will your taillight lens until it cools.So litle more pressure to the tank and wait to plexiglass to cool. This is what I ended with.Kustom -41 Studebaker lens.
that is fuckin' awesome! so easy yet so slick when finished. i really dig the fact that even the tools are home-made. sorry guys, but that might just get my vote for tech week winner... tred.
Yes, this is on to be saved in the Tech section! And a closer look at Kartsa´s Buick show a lot of clever details. That is a custom that Im always is lookning forward to see,. So many great details, like the one bar spinners in his own design end the Sledantte emblem. I know that it´s not finished yet. Maybe a new colorful dress next summer?
AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... that looks so cool...very nice ....oh and your english is just fine.......
[ QUOTE ] great tech... how do you get the reflective cuts in there? [/ QUOTE ] I use prismatic plexi under the red one.Little less buble on that.
There's an article in this months Rodders Digest using a slightly different technique. male molds made of bondo or plaster and a bottle jack. They heated the plastic with a heat gun, but then pressed it into shape from the backside with a male piece with a bottle jack on a frame. Then they made a slightly smaller mold and formed a piece of clear, patterned plastic to make the "reflector". From the pictures they came out looking like Lee lenses.
I remember the first time you posted this. It really kicked my ass the first time around - I was looking for this post the other day (when Ryan asked for HAMB suggestions). It was taking me too long to find it so I gave up. Big thumbs up, and thanks. This will be helpful to many.
Kartsa, can you save me some time and just make me some tail lights and a custom grille bar for my '52?? Just kidding, but I'm keeping an eye on you... G.
This tech is worth the time and effort of fabrication...! It's funny that he's doing this for 41' Stude taillights because 1941 Studebaker original lens's will cost anywhere from $250 to $500...! I just sold my set for something more affordable...! This gets my vote as well...! Mark
Anybody else wish Kartsa was their next door neighbor? Man, I'd build some sick-ass engines for him to get some of his work on my car... You rock Amigo. Damn impressive.. like all your other posts. Scotch~!
I always thought that you could cut up a diffuser out of a flourescent light to use as the reflector behind the lenses. They seem to be really cheap, and there are a number of different designs. Anyone ever tried it?? Geno
That's really cool! How aggressive can you be when you're shaping the lens? I've been needing a fairly mild domed cone, but do you have any idea what the limits of the plexi are? For what it's worth there's also an article in Hop Up: The First 12 Issues on making taillight lenses. They used 1/4" to 3/8" plexiglass and ground it to shape, used a file to cut the diamond pattern into the back (since it was still flat), then worked up to 400 grit wet sanding to get the front smooth and shiny.
great stuff! i remember this from the first time, almost forgot about it. need to save this one!! the finished product is AWESOME!!... don't forget folks, you can sand and polish this stuff too.
BTW, The first time Kartsa posted this I went to work and tried to swipe some red plexi for my own. I talked to my boss and had him ask our plastic supplier if they had a red (transparent) plexi with a smooth side and a ribbed side and they said yes. Trouble was that I couldn't afford a 4'x8' sheet of red plexi and I couldn't convince my boss that someday we would be building a sign that needed it.....damn it! It's out there though. Used to be called Cadillac Plastics or something like that - but they've since changed ownership and name. I guess you could just do it this way.......
[ QUOTE ] Anybody else wish Kartsa was their next door neighbor? Man, I'd build some sick-ass engines for him to get some of his work on my car... You rock Amigo. Damn impressive.. like all your other posts. Scotch~! [/ QUOTE ] Well,I can move to your next door.
[ QUOTE ] That's really cool! How aggressive can you be when you're shaping the lens? I've been needing a fairly mild domed cone, but do you have any idea what the limits of the plexi are? [/ QUOTE ] I think that a picture no. 5 is all the crown you can get.Air pressure is about 30 psi on that.After that it's going to be dangerous.But if the lens is wider there will more bubble.
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