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Icon208
I Con
Aug 17, 2005 9:53 AM
Thanks to Ben (O-TasMic), I now have a perfect set of black iridium Eye Jacket lenses.
Thanks to me, age 11, or so, I have a somewhat rough pair of matte black EJs, sans lenses.
Since there are no O styles available in white that fit me (aside from Minutes, which I'm not a huge fan of), I decided to make my own.

I don't have a digital camera, so no before shots, but I'll borrow one to post pictures of the finished product.

The EJ frame I'm working with is (I believe) first-gen: no metal icons, just the raised flat O finished in silver. The silver has mostly gone, as has most of the stretch logo across the nosebridge.
Here's my progress so far. Note that the original lenses had already been removed when I found my EJs.

1) Detached earstems from main frame (orbitals and nosebridge) using the "sharp twist and pray" method. Removed earsocks from earstems.
2) Cleaned frame thoroughly.. soaked in hot water and detergent for half an hour to remove surface dirt. Planned on cleaning surfaces to be painted using rubbing alcohol; plan foiled by lack of rubbing alcohol to hand. Decided a single-shot bottle of Skyy Vodka found in the kitchen cupboard would do; wiped frame carefully using paper towels and said vodka. Hard-to-reach spots cleaned using cotton swab dipped in vodka.

Wiped excess alcohol away with dry towel; allowed frame to air-dry. Finished the rest of the vodka.
3) Set earstems and main frame on newspaper to paint. I used flat white spray enamel.
Since the frame is nylon, which doesn't hold paint (generally, O-matter frames are dyed rather than painted), just spraying the paint on would not work too well. Instead, I first applied a light dust-coat (a few quick strokes, applying just enough paint to lightly cover the frame without it dripping).
4) Waited for dust-coat to dry; drank some more vodka.
5) Applied the first full coat; waited for it to dry, then flipped the pieces over and went back to step 3.
6) More vodka.
7) It's dark now and the roommates won't let me paint inside, so I'm off to play some poker. The second coat will be applied tomorrow morning.

Observations from day 1:
-It's really freakin' hard to get enamel paint to stick to nylon. Some spots have formed little paint-crusts; much sanding will probably be required when the paint job is done.
-The paint is completely dry but the damn glasses smell like a freshly-painted room. Not sure I'll be able to keem them on my nose for long without gagging if the smell doesn't wear off.
-The finish doesn't look quite like I'd hoped. It looks more like latex than enamel. I'm thinking I may have to apply some sort of fixative when the painting and sanding are done and settle for a gloss finish rather than the satin finish I wanted. This may have the added benefit of altering, if not negating, the smell.
-Not really worried about messing this up; if it doesn't work out, I'll dump the frame in a bucket of paint thinner and it should come out looking like it did when I started. Matte Black EJs wouldn't suck too bad.
-Skyy Vodka is pretty good. Unfortunately, I'm out of tonic now.

Check back tomorrow for instalment 2!

Actually, tomorrow I'm celebrating my birthday, so if I don't get this thang finished in the morning you might have to wait until the weekend. I know you're all holding your breath.
splatter
jake young
Aug 17, 2005 2:00 PM
First my compliments on the use of the use of ethanol.

What kind of paint are you using? What about that Krylon plastic fusion paint, or auto body paint?

And Happy Birthday Neil
O-TasMiC
Ben Jorgensen
Aug 17, 2005 6:21 PM
Sounds awsome, and Glad I could help with the lenses. I thought about getting the White Gascans, but I think I will hold out until I can find some Grape/Grey Gascans. I also think that EJs would look awsome in either flat white or polished white, sounds like it will be a great project
Icon208
I Con
Aug 17, 2005 7:37 PM
I was going to use Fusion but it only comes in a whacking great big can and it would have been impossible to use the "dust-coat" method.
Icon208
I Con
Aug 17, 2005 10:50 PM
The Project has failed. :(

The big thing I was worried about was inserting the lenses without removing paint from the orbitals- and it can't be done.

I'm off to buy some cigarettes and paint thinner to see if I can restore the frame.

Next week: dyeing a BTO half jacket frame instead!

Not white, though. I don't think you can dye things white. Maybe I can get an unfinished frame from the factory...
O-TasMiC
Ben Jorgensen
Aug 18, 2005 1:35 AM
KOOL Menthol 100's in a hard pack are on sale, 2 for the price of one
rolyatnerrad
Darren Taylor
Aug 18, 2005 4:11 AM
my polished aluminium straight jackets are sprayed on top of the black o matter frame, so it must be possible, try sanding the frame with a real fine flatting paper, then coating, then sanding then coating two or three times, model paint in an airbrush would give a finer spray, and would stick better, maybe heat would cure the paint, the glasses should be able to stand up to 40 - 50 degrees surely, thats handwash temp, or just sand em all over with real gritty paper and leave them raw o matter with big grooves and chunks missing, proper mad science!
Icon208
I Con
Aug 18, 2005 9:47 AM
FMJ finished aren't painted on, per se, they're electrostatically applied.

IOW, the coat applies itself in perfectly even layers- impossible to do with a spray can.

Plus, FMJ finishes do chip and flake.

I used fine-grit sandpaper on the frame before I started. I'm not using coarse-grit sandpaper, because then if it still doesn't work I'll have the ugliest pair of zebraish Eye Jackets in the world.
rolyatnerrad
Darren Taylor
Aug 18, 2005 10:53 PM
Hehehe, well how about this i did just now, the straight jackets were my first pair of oakleys, and now theyre my first custom pair.

I sanded the whole frame with coarse paper, and the o matter has shredded and looks like fur!! they sorta look like a gunmetal type color.

raw o matter/fire lens...



the metal icons now have a brushed appearance, not sure how well it can be seen...
eddyc
Eddy C
Aug 18, 2005 11:29 PM
Furry O-Matter. I like it.
rolyatnerrad
Darren Taylor
Aug 19, 2005 2:02 AM
i just noticed too, that the icons seem to be made of copper, they must be pressed then chrome plated, i wonder if now, they will oxidise and turn green? hmmm, emerald lenses next....and some green socks
TheVault
Eric Arsenault
Aug 19, 2005 2:12 AM
Nice Darren ! Ilike the look a lot ! I just hope none little particules get in your eyes...

I like projects like that, maybe I should do one...
american image
science wrapped in art dealer
Aug 19, 2005 5:02 PM
sorry , but i do not like it very much, to scrappy for me , i like nice and shiny
 
 
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