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coloring glass

I'm trying to put together nine 8"and 12" round lenses. I tried the local glass shop and the local plastics distributer but came up empty handed. I know this is different than most of what you folks are working with but do you have any ideas on how I could color plastic lenses or glass lenses (glass dye?). They will be used as replacement lenses the traffic lights. We're using surplus traffic lights for a night, car race at our local road course race track Are biggest problem is obtaining sufficient yellow and red lenses (must be transparent enough for the light to be seen at night.

Thanks in advance - scott

Reply to
Scott Gallimore
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Find a stained glass shop.

Reply to
vic

The dye that would color plastic is Procion dye. I believe the plastic must be acrylic for it to work. However, I have my doubts as to whether the color would be deep enough to show strongly with a light behind it.

If you can get by with a flat sheet (not convex shaped, as a lens would be), then the suggestion to used colored glass seems like it has more promise. There are also colored acrylics which might work if you're careful about not keeping a high-wattage light on for very long (it could damage the acrylic).

Have you considered using colored light bulbs?

Cheers, Dianne

Reply to
Di-a-rama

For real coloured glass you need to go to a stained glass retailer - ordinary glass merchants wont carry it. You may have problems with the glass cracking if you put it too near to the bulb though

you used to be able to buy paint to colour car lenses in car accessory shops in UK. I dont know if the paints are still available but might be worth a phone call to your nearest shop

Reply to
Elizabeth in UK

use gels like they do for stage lighting. that will allow you to use white lights.

Reply to
Charles Spitzer

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to deal with HUGE choices of acrylics..........most thicknesses and sizes

h

-- snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com In the words of the IMMORTAL USED CAR DEALER: THERE IS AN ASS FOR EVERY SEAT!

Reply to
Howard

There is a glass paint that is transparent and very permanent. They are called Porcelaine 150. These paints although expensive were developed to be painted onto glass. A web search will turn up distributors of this paint.

Scott Gallimore

Reply to
Henry Halem

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