[willys36@aol.com]

I have a friend who needs to make some custom tail light lenses but we can't find a supplier for SAE approved color in small quantities. Does anyone out there know of a mail order source?

[Dutchman]

Try one of these, maybe a phone call to one of the companies will give your friend what they need.

http://www.installer.com/lights/ledlights.html
http://www.taillightking.com/index.htm
http://www.customclassic.com/product.../ledlights.htm

Dutch

[willys36@aol.com]

Thanks Dutch but they seem to sell lights and we need sheet stock. I thought for sure someone sold that stuff. My local plastics shop will sell us a 4'x8' sheet but that is a little overkill!

[2-manytoyzs]

Did you see the Dec 03 issue of Street Rodder? There is a very good article on how to make your own custom lenses in any shape you want. Process not much different that the front end you made on your Willys. They used a 2 part clear urethane and mixed ruby-red dye in it to get the desired color.
I suppose another option would be to scour your pic-a-part until you could find a lens that you could modify.
BJB Enterprises sells the moulding and urethane compounds. www.bjbenterprises.com

Ross

[Weimer]

Willys, try this place US Plastics I am almost positive that you can buy sheets of any type plastic from them. The company that I work for used to buy plastic sheets from them for various projects. That was a couple of years ago. You may want to call them just to see.
Later,
WEIMER

[BillyJoe]

I'm currently working with a plastics shop to produce some custom 53/54 Chev taillight lenses ala 'Lee' lenses. They have a vacuum form unit and all I have to do is make the moulds out of plaster of paris and they do the rest. They use red acrylic plastic and the first out of the moulds look great. They just charge for the material and the small amount of time it takes to vacuform. Maybe check that out with a plastic shop near you.

[willys36@aol.com]

Originally posted by BillyJoe
I'm currently working with a plastics shop to produce some custom 53/54 Chev taillight lenses ala 'Lee' lenses. They have a vacuum form unit and all I have to do is make the moulds out of plaster of paris and they do the rest. They use red acrylic plastic and the first out of the moulds look great. They just charge for the material and the small amount of time it takes to vacuform. Maybe check that out with a plastic shop near you.

I did check with local shop and they will only sell full 4'x8' sheets. Would your shop sell small quantities?

[BillyJoe]

I'll check with them and get back to you. How much material are we talking about? 2' x 2' or 2' x 4' or what? How critical is it that the red lense color is SAE approved? Is that for insurance reasons because I doubt if a cop would know SAE from XYZ. I made a set for my brothers 54 and he hasn't been hassled about them.

[willys36@aol.com]

He want to make tail light lenses and a blacked out dash insert so I assume 2'x4' would be more like it. I said SAE approved 'cause he did. I don't even know if there is such a standard but it does eliminate the usual fluorescent red that is most common.

[BillyJoe]

If you check my gallery I have uploaded a picture of the mould, clear test form and final red acrylic lense in the 54 housing.

[fat50]

This place used to sell scraps (some were 2'x2') a buck a pound.

http://www.tincna.com/ainp/division/...html/home.html



or try

http://www.americanacrylics.com

"custom colors available"

[willys36@aol.com]

Originally posted by BillyJoe
If you check my gallery I have uploaded a picture of the mould, clear test form and final red acrylic lense in the 54 housing.

Nice looking lights. Did you consider blowing a bubble using the rim as the form? Would be a lot easier than making the mold, could do it in the family oven, and resulting lens would be optically perfectly. Inly drawback would be you wouldn't get the sharp ridge you get with the vacuum formed one.

This is how I made the bubble top in the picture below.

Originally posted by fat50
This place used to sell scraps (some were 2'x2') a buck a pound.

http://www.tincna.com/ainp/division/...html/home.html



or try

http://www.americanacrylics.com

"custom colors available"

Thanx for the links. I sent them both inquiries.

[Jag Daddy]

If your still looking for the red plastic I know a place down by my moms' Called South Bay Plastics. If you need transparent red I can call and see what they have. Let me know

Regards
Mark

[troy-curt]

Most states require a reflector inside the light, or built in the lens.I know someone sells it , I've had customers that furnished there own, but never bothered to find out where they got it. I'll check around.

Troy

[willys36@aol.com]

Still looking so would appreciate your help guys. My friend will put the lens over the stock reflector and cut some diffraction grooves in the back of the lens so it should work as good as a stock light.