Want to make fog light covers - ideas please

[ma4t]

I want to make fog light covers, hoping that flattening out the bumper will decrease drag.

Has anybody made fog light covers? Here is a pic of how they look.


The pic was taken this winter after the wifey slid off the road. Ignore the dent. It eventually popped back out and the scratches are virtually invisible with wax.

I use the fog lights a lot because we have fog here. So removing them or getting a bumper sans fog lights isn't really in the works. Not to mention budget considerations.

M

[SL8Brick]

I'm thinking that clear lexan would be the most logical choice for material to maintain the light function. You'd have to cut it to shape, finish the edges, the possibly mount it with small aluminum "L"-shaped brackets which could be easily screwed into the bumper/lexan cover. I've seen aftermarket headlamp covers made in a similar fashion.

[minic6]

Originally Posted by SL8Brick

I'm thinking that clear lexan would be the most logical choice for material to maintain the light function. You'd have to cut it to shape, finish the edges, the possibly mount it with small aluminum "L"-shaped brackets which could be easily screwed into the bumper/lexan cover. I've seen aftermarket headlamp covers made in a similar fashion.

This is a practical idea and is used quite often. If you need to curve the lexan use a heat source to bend it. Another way would be make a positive mold out of plaster then form it to the mold when hot.

[ma4t]

Originally Posted by minic6

This is a practical idea and is used quite often. If you need to curve the lexan use a heat source to bend it. Another way would be make a positive mold out of plaster then form it to the mold when hot.

Sweet. Thanks for the tip.

Also, where is a good place to get lexan? Home Depot? Hobby shop? Online? Auto zone?

Really, I am that clueless.

M

[SL8Brick]

Home Depot will have plexiglass for sure, but I'm not sure about lexan. I'd try the hobby shop.
Another thing to consider, you might want to choose the thinest lexan possible(maybe 1/8th") to minimize light loss from your foglamps.

[Bill in Houston]

Home Depot or Lowes should also have lexan. For light covers, I would use thin lexan to reduce light loss. I like the idea of making a plaster mold. It seems like it would need to be really smooth (to avoid transferring a texture to the lexan), but that should not be too much of a problem.

Hmm... I could make something like this for my empty fog light holes. A nice clear cover would look pretty good. I might try to hold it in place with a tiny bead of silicone caulk rather than metal brackets.

[kitcar]

Use plexiglas. See my video for instructions on how to bend, drill plastic glass.

Video thread

[ffvben]

Lund makes headlight covers, not sure if they make fog/driving light covers. the plexiglass i just used for my porch says its shatterproof and will not yellow from the UV sun rays. i got the glass at Lowe's

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by ffvben

Lund makes headlight covers, not sure if they make fog/driving light covers. the plexiglass i just used for my porch says its shatterproof and will not yellow from the UV sun rays. i got the glass at Lowe's

oooh, what kind of porch? A Boxster? a 911?

[GasSavers_Ryland]

I think lexan is a brand name, polycarbonate is the commen name, home improvement stores should have it, so should industreal suply compenies.
if you want something that will last a long long time I would think about regular temered glass, it's going to be harder to deal with for cutting to shape, but a bit of silicon will hold it in forever, and it will stay clear and less scrached.