[Shiny]

I have this marker lens assembly that's in good shape except for some primer and a bite out of the top edge.

Do you know of a solvent that will remove the primer without eating the lens? My AI search recommended "Motsenbocker's Paint & Varnish Remover" but I'm hoping to avoid spending a bunch for not much... IPA, orange Goo Gone, and paint thinner did not touch it. I have a couple grease & wax removers and some reducers. I suspect acetone might eat the lens, as would lacquer thinner. Any ideas?

I am going to try repairing the chip with UV-cured acrylic resin.

Has anyone ever done this and if so, what dye did you use?



This resin is reasonably priced and is acrylic, not epoxy, which I think will match the original material and be less likely to darken over time:

https://www.totalboat.com/products/u...43161635520736

I am considering this dye (will probably get both amber and orange):

https://douglasandsturgess.com/produ...ce=chatgpt.com

With the popularity of UV-cured 3D printers, I assume there are lots of materials available that might work, but I'm not sure how to tap into that world.

Anyone have experience or suggestions on finding budget materials?

If I fail, I know there is at least one "left" lens listed on PY for sale. I do need a "right" if anyone wants to sell one...

Mike

[Held for Ransom]

I had to go out and look at mine. My LH is broken worse than yours.
My RH had all kinds of sludge inside. I had to boil off the lens to clean.
Has cracks/scratches, though.

[Shiny]

HFR, send a pm if you're open to selling your right lens.

Thanks

I am still toying with repair of the left, waiting on some resin and dye. I had ChatGPT measure the color, compare with an old SAE amber, and guess at dye colors and proportions to match. Worse thing I learned so far is UV-cured acrylic may continue to "cure" in the sun and get brittle, but since it's not mechanically loaded, I'm willing to give it a try just because. And if I can come close on the color, I can always use a thermally-cured acrylic or urethane. Epoxies have a rep of degrading/darkening so I'm trying to stick with acrylic.

[Held for Ransom]

I love what Eric does...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jAlCAmROD8

[Shiny]

Me too!

[Shiny]

I finally gave this a try. I should do it over but I won't.

I was a little too eager and got sloppy but it's good enough.

Here's the chip after I sanded it and cleaned it:



I used a UV-cured acrylic resin and some dye. I added too much orange but the color is at least in the same family. I just used packing tape for the mold so it was less than great. I also managed to trap some bubbles, which is even less than less than great. But the resin stuck and I was able to polish it.

Close enough...





If I decide it matters, I think I could grind it out and start over. Not a difficult process.

Mike

[mrennie]

That looks pretty darn good!

[Held for Ransom]

Good job.