Dome Light Frosted Lens

[Qwiglee]

The replacement dome lights for my Cuda are just clear lens instead of frosted white like the original. Does anyone have any suggestions for how I might fix that?
I tried using glass etching cream but it had no effect. I think the glass is too durable like Pyrex so it won't etch with chemicals.
In the picture you can see the difference between original and replacement.

 

[Professor Fate]

Can you swap the original lens into the new bezel?

 

[matthon]

Are they frosted or just burnt?

Seriously asking, if mine were clear I might be able to see something in the interior, although the leds are a big improvement.

 

[Qwiglee]

Can you swap the original lens into the new bezel?

Sorry I don't have a photo of the reverse but there are 3 large metal tabs that hold the lens in place, I would need to bend at least 2 of them to remove the glass but I am not confident they wouldn't break off when I try to bend them.

 

[DartManPlum340]

The replacement dome lights for my Cuda are just clear lens instead of frosted white like the original. Does anyone have any suggestions for how I might fix that?
I tried using glass etching cream but it had no effect. I think the glass is too durable like Pyrex so it won't etch with chemicals.
In the picture you can see the difference between original and replacement.
View attachment 1716465051

Sandblast the inside? Or maybe a coat of the approriate color spray paint?

 

[Qwiglee]

Are they frosted or just burnt?

Seriously asking, if mine were clear I might be able to see something in the interior, although the leds are a big improvement.

The old lenses have a uniform white coating over the entire inside surface. It is not just haze from being old.
I don't like the way the clear lenses look with the light on or off. You can actually see the bulb clearly inside and it was never meant to be seen. It is not pretty.

 

[matthon]

The old tabs will probably break, the new ones probably not.
Or, is it the other way around?

 

[Qwiglee]

Sandblast the inside? Or maybe a coat of the approriate color spray paint?

Sandblast or some kind of scuffing might be the way to go. I would worry about any paint because the bulb is hot incandescent and its almost touching the glass.

 

[Demonx2]

A light mist of white/silver/gray paint and an led bulb should get you what you want.

 

[Qwiglee]

Here's what it looks like with the light off.

I tried bending a tab on the old one and it snapped easily so that's not an option.

 

[j_anderson]

Maybe some glass film cut to shape?

Link on amazon

 

[RAT ROD AL]

Freebie,

 

[4spdragtop]

Put an led in, ditch the incandescent.

 

[tjpatte]

LED and some satin clear coat sprayed on the inside?

 

[matthon]

Leds, pull old lenses out, put in new chrome.
If new tabs break, superglue does wonders.