Homemade clear fog lights....... - Page 4

Kaliwest84 · #46 (**permalink**) 07-09-06, 11:52 PM

no problem mayn..if i send you the lexan..would you be able to cut that for me? im picky mah bad..once i see suttn i like..like "GOT5ONIT's ..i dont change my mind..i stay on one thin lol..... (unless i get the same effect and look from his by using plexi?)

wildwhl · #47 (**permalink**) 07-10-06, 12:00 AM

Kali (and others) -

I simply cannot laser cut polycarbonate aka Lexan. It discolors/burns the material too badly to be useful. I can easily cut acrylic aka plexiglass.

The primary difference is in impact resistance. Lexan is substantially more impact resistant. Acrylic is plenty strong, and unlikely to break under any circumstance, however, I can make no guarantees.

The upside to acrylic is that it doesn't scratch as easily as Lexan...so we have a catch 22.

For lasercutting, acrylic rocks, and that's what I've made mine out of.

Technicaly, no, they do not look the same, as acrylic is (generally) more clear than Lexan

WW

Kaliwest84 · #48 (**permalink**) 07-10-06, 12:06 AM

thanx mayn..put me down for a set (thats all i needed to know) only thing im worried bout know is it breaking..but i doubt that would happen..unless sumone kicks my fogs.."The upside to acrylic is that it doesn't scratch as easily as Lexan" thats the line i was lookin for lol..but whenever you have a set ready ..let me kno..drl fogs and side markers..thanx

wildwhl · #49 (**permalink**) 07-10-06, 12:08 AM

Acrylic is seriously difficult to break. Fishtanks are made of this stuff, big fishtanks.

WW

Kaliwest84 · #50 (**permalink**) 07-10-06, 12:17 AM

once i buy it from you..how do i pull the fog lights out?

wildwhl · #51 (**permalink**) 07-10-06, 01:18 AM

http://www.cadillacfaq.com/faq/answe...ogs/index.html

Above is how they are removed.

And here is how they are modified:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...ighlight=clear

WW

wildwhl · #52 (**permalink**) 07-10-06, 01:26 AM

Sidemarker lense kits will be $12.95 for unetched (no pattern, just a clean cut piece of plexi in smoke or clear). The removal of the stock lense from the stock assembly is pretty straight forward.

I really need to wait a few days before shipping any out so the beta testers can improve upon what I've started. If you're OK with a prototype style part - paypal:

wildwhl@registeredink.com

WW

Kaliwest84 · #53 (**permalink**) 07-10-06, 09:30 AM

nah ill just wait..let me kno when...thanx

LUVMY04V · #54 (**permalink**) 07-10-06, 12:10 PM

use these paint can openers to pry the lens off it works great

WGT31 · #55 (**permalink**) 07-10-06, 05:53 PM

i would also like a set of the drl and side marker please. let me know when and i'll paypal u. THANKS!!!!!!!! William

Kaliwest84 · #56 (**permalink**) 07-11-06, 05:41 PM

k i dont have a garage like some of you guys lol..so what would i put over my bumper..where the fogs are supposed to be..cuzz once i take out the fogs..it might rain and what not..what should i cover it up with overnight? thanx

wildwhl · #57 (**permalink**) 07-11-06, 07:42 PM

email is:

wildwhl@registeredink.com

I did some "ballistic" tests today with one of these:

http://www.pyramidair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=135

Results? There is no doubt the Lexan(Polycarbonate) is stronger. However (and I did not use a metronome) at about 500 fps the Acrylic cracks but does not shatter. Above that, it implodes. Lexan, on the other hand (1/8") handles full power (3000 psi) from this rifle with one of these:

http://www.pyramidair.com/cgi-bin/pe...l?pellet_id=57

Though I can penetrate it - it does not shatter.

So, correctly stated by others before, Lexan is superior in terms of impact resistance. However, the real question that still begs is whether "acrylic is strong enough".

WW

Barak · #58 (**permalink**) 07-11-06, 08:58 PM

Acrylic should be plenty strong in my estimation. The stock lenses are certainly not lexan.

greggbat · #59 (**permalink**) 07-11-06, 11:25 PM

WW:
If you want to try a set of Polycarbonate lenses let me know. We cut a lot of it on our waterjets. We also use a quite a bit of scratch resistant polycarbonate (Hyzod or Tuffak). I might have some scraps laying around. All I'd need is .dxf files.

wildwhl · #60 (**permalink**) 07-11-06, 11:29 PM

greggbat -

thanks for the offer. Poly is easy enough to bandsaw out now that I have the files...but not in .dxf unfortunately.

I've already built my smoked fogs with acrylic and they're doing just fine

However, for those of you that really want poly lenses - greggbat - you interested? I can send you the file(s) I have? I'm sure I can export to .dxf one way or another.

It is a very simple pattern to draw from scratch if not.

WW