got 3 14's in today "take those pos i know there no good" 2 are turn'n and burn'n r/b and one did have a shot motor, so.... cal-14 is born going clear with red up front amber facing rear.
cal spec model 14
- Thread starter lenny77
- Start date
dmathieu
Lifetime VIP Donor
Use the proper flood pattern bulbs, and you'll have something there. Put it on a bar with a standard rotating 14 on the other end. Gives you 360 degree, and Cal spec.
894
Member
Better option would be a R/A split dome...
-and the proper bulbs like Dan mentioned would be the icing!
-and the proper bulbs like Dan mentioned would be the icing!
dmathieu
Lifetime VIP Donor
dmathieu
Lifetime VIP Donor
Ryan, one of our members used to manufacture split Federal Domes, but no longer does. Not as easy as you might think. His were perfect, but the process was intricate and expensive to set up.
dmathieu
Lifetime VIP Donor
empire5150
Member
894
Member
Those red domes and amber domes are still available. A fast-moving band saw blade with a high-count pitch just over-center gets you 2 split domes! I've had good luck with #3 or #4 acrylic cement to hold it all together. Polish the edges though, to make the mating surfaces flat... These may not be as perfect as the factory units or the units no longer produced, but this IS a frakenbeacon project...
Mars Light
Member
I have a half amber mod. 14 dome. It is the other half from my split dome project. See my avatar.
Skulldigger
Member
You will have to create a jig so that each Dome is precisely in the same position. When cutting something that is round in half a slight difference in position and the edges will not line up because the widths will be different.
Skulldigger
Member
Two things you have to account for. One is the flexibility that will be created as the blade passes through the first half. If the gap created by the blade closes at all as the blade passes through the last section of the lens, then it will be uneven and you will not have a smooth edge to seal. The other is chatter if the lens starts to bounce with the blade as it gets towards the end as well. I make gun boxes and I make them whole then cut the tops off for a good fit. It's the same thing. It takes extra effort to get a perfect cut passing across a blade. You need to design something so the blade passes through the secured object. Not going to be easy.
ryan
Member
When I created my split domes I used a 5d CNC machine. The domes were placed in a fixture that cost almost $300 to make. I also had one for 184 domes. I used programming to cut a 1/16" blade width 1-16" over center. This gave me a big side and small side. You mate a big and small and viola. Sometimes you would get a sneeze or hiccup and a side of the dome was junk. But 75% it worked out for two splits. I had to charge about $100 for each dome just to pay myself back.
coop359
Member
You can always use an amber dome and put a red bulb on the non flash side. Code 3 made tow bars with red par 36 bulbs behind amber dome for brake/turn signal. They showed up ok.
dmathieu
Lifetime VIP Donor
Perfect, why are we making things difficult? Great idea!!!!!!
1 clear fluted, and 1 red fluted!
1 clear fluted, and 1 red fluted!
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894
Member
Or, cut from the top down...less dealing with the radii to potentially goof-up something...
Ryan should just get back into it (hint-hint, nudge-nudge, wink-wink).
One other thought...how's about acquire a 4" and a 5" hole saw. 4" for the red lens, 5" for the donor amber lens. Put the amber piece behind the 4" opening, glue in-place...how cool would THAT be? Just like a CTS cut-out but on a 14 dome! maybe add a cruise light under there that would light-up red? I'm just getting ahead here...
Ryan should just get back into it (hint-hint, nudge-nudge, wink-wink).
One other thought...how's about acquire a 4" and a 5" hole saw. 4" for the red lens, 5" for the donor amber lens. Put the amber piece behind the 4" opening, glue in-place...how cool would THAT be? Just like a CTS cut-out but on a 14 dome! maybe add a cruise light under there that would light-up red? I'm just getting ahead here...
Mars Light
Member
Water jetting works excellent. I have used this process before, but not sure if it can be done with such a tall dome. When something is cut with the jet is usually a flat object.
He also made CTS domes back in the day, which were better than factory quality! I wish I would have had him make more than he did
Mars Light
Member
894
Member
alright so i found a clear 14 dome in the shed so this is how the light will sit until i tackel making a r/a split.. or if someone decides to make some for sale. still sourcing correct color bulbs. but it gives you the general idea
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dmathieu
Lifetime VIP Donor
894
Member
Definitely going to build one of those split domes... gotta couple of cracked/busted units that're useless, otherwise. Maybe I'll even put-together one of these Cal-Spec Model 11's.
dmathieu
Lifetime VIP Donor
dmathieu
Lifetime VIP Donor