My lens making thread.

[Zymurgy]

You getting any painting done to pay for all this?

I am fortunately swamped with painting, I am doing this on the weekends and evenings. My cash outlays are done for the short run. Fortunately the resin usage is relatively small compared to these huge molds. I will be able to produce several lens, let's just hope the big one is a successful, and I will sleep easier.

 

[Zymurgy]

Thanks for the air pressure idea to remove the lens. I did not get my original lens out until this morning. My wife directs a musical and got home very late every night this week, so I waited until this morning. It came out quite easily with just me pulling on the lens.

The pour will happen today for "the" lens.

 

[300rag]

...
The pour will happen today for "the" lens.

View attachment 173059

 

[Zymurgy]

I hope his is a good sign, everything seems to be coming together. I was 90% happy with the color I picked. I didn't degass the resin so little bubbles in the slides were throwing off the color.

Last night I did another set of slides. I had a bright red dye I had not used yet. I started with 1/2 bright & 1/2 scarlet with the intensity of darkest slide of the last set.

Nailed it!!

I asked my art teacher wife, which slide out of the set it was? She said the 6th exactly the one I picked.

 

[live4theking]

Way to go.

 

[300rag]

I hope his is a good sign, everything seems to be coming together. I was 90% happy with the color I picked. I didn't degass the resin so little bubbles in the slides were throwing off the color.

Last night I did another set of slides. I had a bright red dye I had not used yet. I started with 1/2 bright & 1/2 scarlet with the intensity of darkest slide of the last set.

Nailed it!!

I asked my art teacher wife, which slide out of the set it was? She said the 6th exactly the one I picked.

View attachment 173074

Didn't take you long to get it trademarked

 

[mr. fix it]

Awesome Possum!

 

[commando1]

BTW, Mike, I forgot to say that you are using a silcone mold release, right?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/16-Oz-He...3696&wl11=online&wl12=135900401&wl13=&veh=sem

 

[Zymurgy]

BTW, Mike, I forgot to say that you are using a silcone mold release, right?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/16-Oz-He...3696&wl11=online&wl12=135900401&wl13=&veh=sem

You only want to use the release on the rubber to rubber, during the mold making process. It will cast a film on the lens so no release is applied where the actual lens is located.

There were so many variables making it difficult to remove the lens. The rubber mold makes a natural suction that really grips the lens. The air worked perfectly.

 

[65Fury440]

Outstanding in every way!
My favorite thread of the year!

 

[Zymurgy]

I might be splitting hairs now, I honestly can't tell any difference in the color, this was my I am 90% happy with the color, now it is 100% Yes!

I still have some bubbles, but I am pretty sure I can get rid of those by heating the mold before hand. I of course have a contaminate right dead center of the lens. I noticed it when I was pouring. Another thing to add to the checklist, blow out all mixing containers.

In other news the wrap around lens is in the pressure pot. Should have something to show by tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Wonderwagon]

It seems as though you have good test shots of the full lens. A further suggestion is mounting it in a reflector and using the correct lamp. This will check for any color shift due to the reflector and color temperature of the 12 volt incandescent lamp. Might also want to do a burn in as well. Cheers, looks good.

 

[MarPar]

 

[5wndwcpe]

Thanks for the air pressure idea to remove the lens. I did not get my original lens out until this morning. My wife directs a musical and got home very late every night this week, so I waited until this morning. It came out quite easily with just me pulling on the lens.

The pour will happen today for "the" lens.

View attachment 173059

Excellent

 

[live4theking]

This is incredible work Mike!

 

[65sporty]

I might be splitting hairs now, I honestly can't tell any difference in the color, this was my I am 90% happy with the color, now it is 100% Yes!

I still have some bubbles, but I am pretty sure I can get rid of those by heating the mold before hand. I of course have a contaminate right dead center of the lens. I noticed it when I was pouring. Another thing to add to the checklist, blow out all mixing containers.

In other news the wrap around lens is in the pressure pot. Should have something to show by tomorrow afternoon.

View attachment 173103

So which is the original and which did you make?

 

[Fratzog]

You are a true perfectionist. Nice work.

 

[Zymurgy]

So which is the original and which did you make?

I actually kind of forget, I think the original is on top

 

[65sporty]

Looks sooooooo good you can't even tell them apart.

 

[73 T&C]

Great work and great thread!