| Author | Message | ||
     Buell |
I have been looking everywhere online to find a smoked brake light lens for my bike - but to no avail. Who manufactures the lenses? I have googled the ish out of this and have come up with nothing - I even went so far as to type in the letters/numbers that are on the inside of the lens! PLEASE HELP! | ||
| Jackbequick |
Buy a clear lens and smoke it. But did you know that a smoke colored lens is not likely to work well and will probably not be street legal? A clear lens with a red bulb works, and a red lens with a clear or red bulb works. Both of these combinations are legal in all or most states. What works best for me is not a subtle fashion statement but something with a lot of red and a lot of brightness. Jack | ||
| Buell |
Thanks for the info - I'm not really a fan of the clear lens look - I've seen bikes around with smoked lenses before - and I like that... technically my pipes aren't "street legal" either, LOL! Anyway, I had seen one on ebay a while ago, and when I emailed the guy who sold it and asked where he got it from he had no idea. He said he got it from a friend of his. How do you smoke a lens? Thanks!  | ||
| Jackbequick |
I was actually joking, I'm not sure that you can do that. Most tinted plastics have any color mixed in while they are still in the liquid state. Then the liquid is poured into a mold to harden. You may be able to find something that can be sprayed or painted onto the inside. I'd probably ask at a plastic ship. Jack | ||
| Bomber |
stores that cater to the sewer-pipe exhaust on Honda Civic folks will likely have a spray on coating -- go esay, and put it on lightly -- ya still want folks to be able to see it, I'm guessin | ||
| Al_lighton |
Well, several folks have successfully dyed their XB bodywork by boiling their plastic body work in rit dye. You could get a clear lens and try that. No guarantees it would work, but it might. Al | ||
| Buell |
Here's the pictures of the one that was on ebay - how would you say they made this? It looks to perfect to have been sprayed... but then again, I have NO idea about that stuff, lol...    | ||
| Littlebuggles |
That lens looks tough. Model shops usually carry colored translucent paint for tail lights and stuff. Maybe you could find some spray or paint on color at a model specific store? | ||
| Jackbequick |
That lens would have been made in a mold. A hollow cavity and they pour a liquid plastic (like a two part resin) in, let it set and open it. For mas production metal molds are made. I used to know a guy that made replacement lenses for vintage autos. You had to have a lens (broken was okay) and he would make a mold out of RTV silicone. I'm still wondering what a gray tint does to the appearance of a red light. Jack |
