Figure 7. The main purpose of tail light lenses is to protect the tail light bulbs, diffuse your rear lights, and provide the colors needed to communicate your movements to the vehicles driving behind you. You could even use a hand formed custom one off design done in wood clay or whatever. ), Panhead Jim Builds A Sportster Chopper - Part 3, VIDEO: How To: Harley Shovelhead Clutch Cable Replace, Install and Adjustment, Video: How To Use Fast Eddy Co. Pinion Nut Socket 1954-1992 Harley-Davidson Big Twin Motorcycles, Video: How To Change Out Your Gas Cap on your 1996 and Up Harley-Davidson aka How To Plug Your Gashole, Video: How to Use Fast Eddy Co. Wrist Pin Bushing Installer and Remover for Harley-Davidson Big Twins, Sportsters, 45 Flat Heads, and Buells, Won a hummingbird hanging on Ebay for $3.49. Also, Photo credit goes to Henri Thomassen. The sky’s the limit. Who the hell would hang this in their house? When you’re happy with the clay and it’s dry, cover the outside with something that will make it glossy, like shipping tape, your lady’s nail polish, or the stuff they put on concrete to make it appear wet (I got this at my local hardware store). This mold making how-to DIY video tutorial shows how you can replicate a tail light lens of any car using a Mold star silicone rubber mold and Crystal Clear optically-clear UV resistant resin… For clay, I used regular old modeler’s clay that dries in a few hours when exposed to air. Ford Mustang various years. Terms of Service. Pinellas County - the skin tag on the underside of, http://www.delviesplastics.com/vacuum_forming.htm, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. You mix the two things in the bottles in a 5:1 ratio, and then pour it over the object to be cast. I thought not. There will always be some imperfections in the resin; some little air bubbles cannot be avoided, but it’s got a vintage, clearly one-off look to it that separates it from the CNC or machine-cast parts out there. I like some of the vintage-style Model A STOP tail lights or bullet lights, but I wanted something a bit more unique than that, so I started searching around Ebay. The classic Squareback design mimics the look of the stock taillight and mounts to the stock taillight baseplate to add a modern look to your rear fender, The worst part is it comes in 16-oz kits (about $30-$40 each!) 0 Comments. EMAILS ARE NEVER SHARED. For this particular project, I had to tint the clear polyurethane with a red transparent dye. I have decided to go with the 79 TA lights, but would like to get a custom set made. Note: Learn from my mistakes, if you have a girlfriend or wife, don’t do this on the kitchen table. They came in a set of two, but I knew I only needed this one; it was hard finding a bird with the right amount of detail that was also in a good position for a motorcycle tail light; taking into account screw placement, position on the bike, etc. I also knew I needed a hummingbird because if you've seen my bike you'll understand why...but this is where you use your imagination; this process can work on any shape you can find. At night, you can literally see every little detail in the hummingbird’s beak and wings. Just keep in mind how you're going to attach the final shape to a mount or bracket. If you don't see your make and model listed then feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist in the process of creating your very own gauge cluster face. Figure 11. I guess it could make a cool rapper necklace…. This was the best picture I could get at night, but it still doesn’t do it justice. This one has shipping tape on the outside, but I’ve found anything that makes it shiny and smooth will work great. Copyright © 1995-2020 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. I used a two-part silicone mold and you have to pour it around the object, slowly, so air bubbles don’t get trapped. Obviously, the hanging wasn’t deep enough to house a bulb, so I went to work making a clay housing for the bird that was deep enough for a light; I used an old Harley light as a reference as to how deep to make it for an 1157 bulb. Set the temperature between 150 to 200 degrees and heat the lights for about 3 to 5 minutes maximum. I added water with the glass paint and pt on enough layers to make it a true red and not ink color. Figure 2. Here you can see the holes drilled for the brass screws, the resin is mighty tough so you don’t have to worry about cracking it. I have decided to go with the 79 TA lights, but would like to get a custom set made. On the bike, the light was looking good. Won this wall hanging off of Ebay and the madness began. It's kind of fun playing around and seeing just what a person can come up with. I made a brass ring around the back, a clear window for the license plate illumination, I even made a light for another bike out of the cap of a spraycan. This is regular modeler’s clay you can get at any art store. Lens housing . The resin is hard as hell, so you don’t have to worry about cracking or breaking it. We can produce custom gauge cluster faces for most makes and models. ... making a mold for one set is not very cost effective.You should use polycarbonate plastic for the lenses. This how-to was written up by Ryan, aka originalrumrunner, on the ChopCult forum. **Only one coupon code or discount can be used per order. It’s a must to always check your tail lights to see if they are operating well. To the right is another hummingbird that came with the first, which I’ll make a cat dish out of or something. If you have a buffing wheel you can use it to polish the lenses if you are careful and you use the right … Guide to Tail Light Codes this has been taken down. Figure 8. This is the reverse mold of the object in the previous picture, done using a two-part silicone rubber mold kit you can get online or at a local art store. Also, Photo credit goes to Henri Thomassen. The good news is that once you have the mold, you can use it hundreds of times with no loss of detail. Plastic and rubber parts. Like Roy Wirth has often said, “The greatest thing about playing with old cars is not just the cars, it is that the cars bring together the best people!” Once the resin is dry, you can start carving room out for the bulb. Heating & Cooling One of the easiest ways to make more power in your ride is lowering the operating temperature in your engine. when you use tinted clear plastic. Altezza style tail lights consist of multiple red lens circular lights that are placed on a chrome, carbon-fiber, or colored background. Do not overheat as it will crack the glass. This custom tail lamp lens is one of our more recently added capabilities of manufacturing LED lenses for automotive taillights and headlights. This video shows you how to replicate the turn signal lens of a Volkswagen. Hmmm, what else could you use this for? Easy to do with a dremel, and the residue cleans up nice with just soap and water. Purchase price of excluded items is applied toward free shipping level of $79.95. Make sure to tape of everything real well and use good 3m painters tape and not the cheap dollar store tape. NO SPAM, EVER. Okay, that’s all there is to it. Cut a piece of clay that is at least twice as large as your taillight lens. No? JUST GREAT STUFF. Hot rod. Figure 1. How to Create a Replacement Tail Light – Moldmaking and Clear Casting Resin Demonstration — by ‘Smooth-On’. Step 3 – Fit. Warm and fuzzy. Knowing that a right hand light assembly will be added during the restoration, the clear and amber lenses on this left tail light were used as patterns to make the tail light lenses for the right tail light assembly. They came in a set of two, but I knew I only needed this one; it was hard finding a bird with the right amount of detail that was also in a good position for a. The resin had this nice warm red color. Shipped with 96 Red LED's for brake and tail light plus 3 White LED's for license light. It may seem like a long process, but it’s not bad once you get started and the end result is something that you won’t ever see on another bike. Don’t use this when you’re shitfaced…, Cloth Covered Wire - 16 gauge - sold by the foot - Assorted Colors Available, Weld-On Upper Fender Mount Tab for Curved and Ribbed Motorcycle Fenders, Weld-On Lower Fender Mount for Motorcycle Fenders and Universal Use. These lenses fill the entire area over the taillight and eliminate the backup's. Pontiac Firebird various years. Once I had the mold, used a two-part clear polyurethane resin kit, again found at a local art store. Flush Mount Lenses and Lights. Your order may be eligible for Ship to Home, and shipping is free on all online orders of $35.00+. ). Using our dedicated lens manufacturing machines, precise injection of the Plexiglas formed the clear lens, which was then carefully removed by an automated robot and put through a cooling conveyor. *Excludes frames, hardtails and specified oversize items. Figure 6. How-To: Wing a Custom Taillight (Cast a Custom Tail Light Lens!) Privacy Policy. Once you have done this, get the wires of your housing pulled through the hole. Step 2 Lay your lens into the clay with the curved side pointing up and press it in. Otherwise, dig from the back and be easy. Check here for special coupons and promotions. Figure 10. Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Smokey, Mar 14, 2005. (below) The LED assembly is designed for dual brightness. Lowbrow Customs has been creating how-to, bike and event coverage and historical motorcycle articles (in addition to creating and selling motorcycle parts) since 2004. VINTAGE HEADLAMPS - COURTESY INTERIOR - HOT ROD - CUSTOM. Remove the housing of the tail light from the vehicle. Go nuts you crazy bastards! so you don’t have a ton of material to play with. You can create a replacement tail light lens by learning the mold-making and casting processes. If someone rear-ends me, I’ll punch them in the brain. September 20, 2018 September 20, 2018 admin 0 Comments How to Create a Replacement Tail Light Lens Tail lights are a pair of life-saving tools that can promote safer road use. 124.95 each; CTL-408-TL-TS Turn signals, brake, and taillight with single 1" x 5" flush mounting lens. Use An Oven Put the used lights in the oven and heat them. The first time I added dye, I just put in two or three drops and it looked like the right color red. Automotive Lighting and Lenses. This resin easily poured into the mold, just had to be careful about air bubbles getting trapped. Photo 1 — TRILIN tail light assembly for the driver's (left) side is shown. Won a hummingbird hanging on Ebay for $3.49. 1963 LeSabre Wildcat. 1962 Buick Special. Danchuk # 2631 will work on any 1955 classic Chevy. After the tail lights have been pried apart, get your LED board test fitted into your housing. sad to say you may have to use my site to figure out what you have. The following brands are exempt from additional discounts to the selling price: Drag Specialties, Biltwell, How-To: Wing a Custom Taillight (Cast a Custom Tail Light Lens! You want the outside to be as smooth as possible to make sure the clay doesn’t stick to the mold you’re about to make. You have to get the mold out of the container so that you can peel away the sides and remove the clay model. It snowballs on ya and one thing leads to ten others. Custom blue fender with Invisible SmoothTail and brake light on! ... making a mold for one set is not very cost effective.You should use polycarbonate plastic for the lenses. Figure 9. Note the vertical flutes in both the clear and amber lenses. Vintage headlamp. Figure 4. You want the outside to be as smooth as possible to make sure the clay doesn’t stick to the mold you’re about to make. Also, use a plastic container, not a glass one, because getting the mold out of the container requires that you cut it out. Interior courtesy. Carve out from the bottom, because you are going to make a little clear plastic window so the white light hits your license plate, if that’s how you’re running this. Any additional items purchased ship free. 1961-62 Olds Station Wagon. I wish I had access to a vacuum, but even the little imperfections look cool, as you can tell right away it's not some factory part. Diggin’ away with a dremel. This how-to was written up by Ryan, aka originalrumrunner, on the ChopCult forum. 1965 Catalina Star Chief. Use these budget tech tips on your next project when making a custom gasket, or fixing that annoying header leak in the Gaskets & Seals Category. Now it’s a very feminine paperweight. The finished model that I’m about to make a mold of. Free shipping available to the contiguous 48 states, DC, and to all U.S. Military APO/FPO/DPO addresses only. This stuff is super strong, so you don’t really need thick walls. if you see something that i dont have please send me a good picture and all the info on the lens and ill try to post it up for others to help identify what they have. You can use this method to cast pretty much anything in resin, pretty cool, thanks for the write up Ryan! Smokey We aim to gather and share knowledge, further interest and appreciation about all aspects of motorcycling. Smoked lens option with Top Window is ECE Compliant. Can't ya just go buy some repro 39 ford lights? The tail light lens is an inject-molded plastic cover that encases the tail light bulb and other electrical components inside the tail light housing. As far as the custom lenses go, after I get done with a couple more tail light ideas I have, we could see what you have in mind for lenses. Back Up (Reverse) MULTI COLOURED LENSES. Figure 3. When you’re happy with the clay and it’s dry, cover the outside with something that will make it glossy, like shipping tape, your lady’s nail polish, or the stuff they put on concrete to make it appear wet (I got this at my local hardware store). Does anyone know where I could get a custom tail light made? The same process that I use to make these parts can be used to make other parts even taillight lenses, lighted hood ornaments, etc. You could also use the same process to copy an old tombstone or maltese cross light, in that case you already have a good model. Just another shot of the mold, showing some of the detail. Shipped pre-installed in new Harley taillight lens, just remove your lens, connect the wires, and re-install new lens. Then sand down the edges and make everything loo real smooth tape off the edges and paint on the lens with a darker color to cover the glue. Put two bulbs in behind these and they really light up! Jeeze, Denny! Visible SmoothTail with light off (above) and light on! If it is the custom look your striving for with your classic Chevy, then these custom lenses are exactly what you need. Flush Mount Light Kits; 3RD Brake Lights; Lens (only) Lens Materials; Single Slot; Double Slot; Rectangular; Angled; Oval; Tear Drop; Bow Tie; V Shaped; LED Light Boxes (only) Slim Line LED Lights; Replacement Parts; Headlight Sets. Hell, make a Hitler portrait or a dildo or a viking riding a wolf throwing a skull. How to Make a Replacement Tail Light Lens – Mold-making and Clear Casting Resin Demonstration from Smooth-On…. Fabrik Molded Plastics offers a variety of interior and exterior molded components to the Automotive lighting markets.. Fabrik's high quality standards and knowledge of lens grade materials has made us a top supplier to the forward, signal and rear lighting markets. Same fender with brake light on! The first one was the perfect color red, but then I began to cut into the resin to make room for the bulb, and it started to get pink real quick. Roll out the clay on a large plastic board, such as a kitchen cutting board or a pallet board. 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