So I bought this old school retrofitted vac-u-form machine on fleabay a while back just because I had the money at the time and I thought it would be cool. Well I didn't really have a use for it and I stuck it in a box in the shop.

SO fast forward to yesterday I decided to change the color of my clock to white as I am in the process of changing all my interior bulbs to white. I checked the write-ups on it and proceeded to tear my clock apart. Then I thought why go half-assed and just use a flat piece of something for a lens when I can just take the existing lens out and make an exact mold of it using my fancy machine for the first time!!!!

The results were nothing short of awesome:


The bare clock in all its glory...ugly and green


The machine came with an assortment of sheets so I tried a few to see what works. Looks like a red transparent sheet will give me the color I desire


shortly after forming


side by side quality control inspection

looks like the transparent sheets they supplied me don't hold their color well if I overheat them...this will do for now but eventually I will buy some more of the red sheets and make a better copy as I can still see a hint of green through the far right side of the clock.



....and the finished clock. wOOt!


This post has been edited by schmooot: Apr 11, 2010 - 11:41 AM

that's a sweet piece of equipment!

too bad it isn't big enough too use it too wrap things in carbon fiber


This post has been edited by terbear4god4life: Apr 3, 2010 - 12:49 AM

It's hard to see from your photo, but what does it actually look like? White?

I think you still need to use a red colour filter gel, get a sample book from some stage lighting supplier.

Ah vac molding. What a great way to make quality plastic parts. I like what you've done with it, that white looks nice.

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it definitely comes out white.



I've got a couple pm's from people wanting me to make some of these for them. I wasn't planning on it but I've ordered some more transparent sheets from fleabay and when they come in I guess I'll make a few for anyone who is interested.

I was about to say, you could make a killing selling these to people in the FS section...

put me down!

WOW!!

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agreed. make me a blue one.

crap I gotta perfect the art first before I start selling them. Time to get to work

let me know when you start selling these, i'm very interested.

having a little trouble finding the sheets...waiting to hear back from a couple companies

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Same here. I'm thinking I'm in for a light blue and a red...no rush though.

Edit: Wouldn't you be able to make them out of lighting gel filters?

This post has been edited by Espo: Apr 5, 2010 - 12:35 AM

That used to be an old old toy vac-n-mold or something like that? There is a guy on ebay selling those same plastics, but he only has an assortment, im sure you might be able to contact him and a lot of one color?

this looks good, im onboard, lmk when they go on sale. would like one to make the clock..... blueish or redish.

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yah I bought his assortment kit when I first bought the machine. I contacted him to see if he can sell me an assortment pack of just a few different transparent colors

Well, good luck then! I look forward to installing one of these!

Very nice work, and the clock looks great! Yeah, you're definitely on to something here, I hope you make a killing on these! I'd also be down for a red one to make my clock white, and a blue one to make my clock blue. I have a blue one now, I just used a hair dryer to melt the plastic and form it, but yours is WAY WAY nicer and more OEM looking. Great job!

How do I make my clock red! Like legit red not faded pooh color haha

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I'll check the colors when I get a chance and see what combinations I can come up with

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Ok cool. If it's going to work and be very clear not hazy I'd be like a clock god haha