superdan50

iTrader: (3)

thanks evo, for the kind words. I understand the draw of the Re-A being an authentic Japanese piece but the lighting will be awful.

evot23

iTrader: (17)

yeah...it aint great and the HID goes everywhere..

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

the problem of the HID scattering everywhere is a problem that all HID retrofits in to a halogen housing will suffer from (some worse than others). i am not aware of any sleek kits that offer a true HID option, all seem to be HID retrofits into a halogen module.

$lacker

iTrader: (9)

If anyone wants to sell their OEM headlight covers (damaged or not is fine), send me a PM

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

try creating a WTB thread, please keep my thread on topic, thanx.

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

i painted the aluminum plug yesterday, so today as i am sanding it i can identify the low spots. im glad i did as it really makes the trouble spots obvious, whether it be i deep grind spot, or a low casting spot.

im using a belt sander for the first grits, it distributes the pressure of a greater area so i dont gouge or create a "bowl" shape low spot. i will do this for 40, 80, and 120 grit, then switch to a random orbital sander for a number of grits. once im satisfied i will go by hand, then buff.

if any one is planning on polishing metal (aluminum, in this case) make sure you have power tools!

Laz93RX7

iTrader: (5)

how goes the progress superdan, dont tell me you gave up.

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

after all my work, you think id give up? not a chance. im working on getting the aluminum lens plug done. its just a lot of sanding, anyone thats polished their uim knows what im talkin about, except my cast is rougher than the mazda one. lots of elbow grease.

got_hp

im in desperate need of new lights, but im trying to hold out....keep up the good work

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

i wish people could see how close i am. just a bit longer

bally89

cant wait!

evot23

iTrader: (17)

That's why you have a cameral LOL.

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

you know thats not true

Laz93RX7

iTrader: (5)

updates dan, i need my fix. so sick of looking at my old sleeks.

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

i gave up. sorry

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

lol, just playin.

im workin on the lens plugs, i need to get them, just right. its taking awhile because i abandoned the cast aluminum pieces. and started a new kind. im gunna keep the details of the plug under wraps for a while, or permanently.

bally89

i like the sound of that

$lacker

iTrader: (9)

I tried using plaster for the molds, but found I didn't have the patience to get everything just right
The lens seems to be the most difficult part of the whole process

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

there is a lot of doing, then undoing, followed by redoing, its a tedious process but i have learned a lot of patience from this project (and from being married, )

fyi, i wouldnt use plaster. it is very porous, and if you are vacuum forming the lens will pick up all of the pores in the plug.

$lacker

iTrader: (9)

Yeah, I stopped trying with plaster, although due to impatience more than anything else
I'm not looking to sell anything, so I only need a result that is good enough for me and doesn't need to be reproduced a hundred times, so I have a bit bigger of an allowable margin of error than you do
Best of luck, and keep up the good work

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

i see where youre coming from, but what a meant is that the reproduction of the pores into the plastic would/will result in a cloudy lens. just in case u decide to take another whack at it.

$lacker

iTrader: (9)

Ah, I understand. Thanks

I've actually found that you can avoid reproducing some of the tiny imperfections in the lens by keeping the protective plastic film on the acrylic when you heat form it.
Obviously I haven't had perfect results, but I found that helped. The film still peels off fine after forming, and I assume that's why the film is present on some of the "professional" lenses you buy

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

awesome that's good to know bout the film. i haven't ever vacuum formed myself, i have been doing a lot of research and talked a bunch, to the guy doing my forming (its an actual plastics company).

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

still stuck on the lens. waiting to hear back from the plastics guy, the waiting is getting old. i should hear from him soon. Thursday i will be making a mold of the lens plug. this will allow me to make several solid lens plugs in stead of using the ones i have now, which are body filler, resin, fiberglass, stock covers, PU foam, and paper. this way there is consistent expansion and contraction. so hopefully i can get a hold of him tomorrow.

evot23

iTrader: (17)

waiting is getting old...lol...man your progress is awesome...I think its coming along nicely. Must be hard to be this close and still waiting on stuff.