Gauge Lighting Update (Please Read)
08-05-2002, 05:37 PM
#47
Instructor
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Colorado
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Count me in for just plain old white. I just took the whole cluster out and used alluminum foil and replaced the bulbs and it didn't make as big a difference as i'd hoped. So i'm down for these, as I saw pictures of what the white looked like. Thanks for putting this together. And i'll email you in a bit.
Patrick
Patrick
08-17-2002, 03:47 PM
#48
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Long Island, NY
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i'm in for a set of white lights. my lights are so bad that you can't even see it's a lit gauge unless it's pitch black out. just let me know what the cost will be and i'd be happy to paypal
08-18-2002, 10:24 PM
#53
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Deerfield Beach, FL
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Pics of it in red abytime soon? I REAAALLY want to do this mod but only if it looks good in red... I am also looking for other methods to make the lighting in the dash red (or dark orange..), I would also consider El-glo or Indiglo (if anyone knows were I can find in red please e-mail me!)
08-19-2002, 01:00 AM
#54
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Just got back in town this evening, so here is an update.
I have 1 mold made, and am making a test reflector from it tomorrow night. If it comes out exactly like the stock one, it will work.
I have made almost 20 diffrent molds from plaster, latex, wax, concrete, rubber, and anything else I thought would work. The one I have now is solid latex. The only problem with latex is that it takes about 10 days to fully set. Wax and rubber work great, but the heat from the catalitic conversion from the plastic melts it, thus destroying the mold. Plaster and concrete flake off too easy and fracture when I try and get them apart. If I can get the latex to hold up, I should be able to start pumping out some product soon.
I have a delay in the White LED's. I found them for a little over 3 bucks a pop, but I had to order 250 of them. They should be in sometime in the next 2 weeks.
Hang with me, I know many of you want this, and I want to give it to you.
I have 1 mold made, and am making a test reflector from it tomorrow night. If it comes out exactly like the stock one, it will work.
I have made almost 20 diffrent molds from plaster, latex, wax, concrete, rubber, and anything else I thought would work. The one I have now is solid latex. The only problem with latex is that it takes about 10 days to fully set. Wax and rubber work great, but the heat from the catalitic conversion from the plastic melts it, thus destroying the mold. Plaster and concrete flake off too easy and fracture when I try and get them apart. If I can get the latex to hold up, I should be able to start pumping out some product soon.
I have a delay in the White LED's. I found them for a little over 3 bucks a pop, but I had to order 250 of them. They should be in sometime in the next 2 weeks.
Hang with me, I know many of you want this, and I want to give it to you.
08-19-2002, 01:04 PM
#55
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New Jersey
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If this is the clear acrylic i played with in high school shop then one way to do it is to lay it in a bath of solvent deep enought to just cover the depth you want to implant the circuitry. The stuff becomes mushy like winter slush and you can just press the leds, resistors, and wires into the plastic. Let it dry, and its embedded until you do the same to melt it out.
08-19-2002, 01:26 PM
#56
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It might be the same, but since the dimentions of the stock reflector need to be retained, I need a solid form to start with. I have the process to cast the reflectors with the LED array knocked out, but making the mold is the hardest part.
10-10-2002, 04:21 PM
#58
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Still on hold. I am trying to get my car together before it is too cold to work on out in the garage. Once it is back on the road, I will explore more options with the molds.
A few people have contacted me about having molds produced, but they were all over $300 each, and I would need at least 3 so it would not take a week to make 1 set of reflectors. There would never be a way to recover close to that cost.
I have been in touch with an injection molding company. I think I can get some ABS molds made (like a lot of 20 of them) for about $80. They are concerned that while making the mold, the origional reflector will warp from heat, making the mold and reflector useless.
Anyway.. I have not forgotten about this.. just on hold until I can find a way to make it worth my while, and at a cost everyone can afford. I could have them out this week if I spent the money on the expensive molds. To make it work for me, I would have to sell 15 sets to you guys at $240 each to cover the cost of molds, resin, and LED's. That still would not pay for my time (some 3 hours per set).
Enough for now. I will make it happen, just hang in there.
A few people have contacted me about having molds produced, but they were all over $300 each, and I would need at least 3 so it would not take a week to make 1 set of reflectors. There would never be a way to recover close to that cost.
I have been in touch with an injection molding company. I think I can get some ABS molds made (like a lot of 20 of them) for about $80. They are concerned that while making the mold, the origional reflector will warp from heat, making the mold and reflector useless.
Anyway.. I have not forgotten about this.. just on hold until I can find a way to make it worth my while, and at a cost everyone can afford. I could have them out this week if I spent the money on the expensive molds. To make it work for me, I would have to sell 15 sets to you guys at $240 each to cover the cost of molds, resin, and LED's. That still would not pay for my time (some 3 hours per set).
Enough for now. I will make it happen, just hang in there.
10-10-2002, 04:51 PM
#59
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Perry,
I have a friend that could duplicate one out of aluminum (he's a machinist and makes most of my parts for the Probe track car) then they could use that for a mold . . .
I have also thought about having him make me a complete set out of delrin, but making sets to sell would be cost prohibitive.
I have a friend that could duplicate one out of aluminum (he's a machinist and makes most of my parts for the Probe track car) then they could use that for a mold . . .
I have also thought about having him make me a complete set out of delrin, but making sets to sell would be cost prohibitive.
10-10-2002, 05:14 PM
#60
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One of my brothers best friends is also works with metals, mostly aluminum. He too said he could whip one up if needed. I have that covered.. question is if the ABS plastic will work and not melt from the heat generated from the catalyst resin. It should be ok.
