Broken Lite Shade Fix

[wagsrp]

The long circular glass-like shades on the bedroom and bathroom lites were cracked in our 1961 Safari and needed replacement. We couldn't find them anywhere. However we found a material that can be used to make almost identical replacements and that work equally as well.

We bought an acrylic flourescent ceiling panel from Home Depot, cut out a right sized piece using a skill knife, and while heating it evenly with a heat gun (wearing gloves), bent it into the right semi-circular form and shape.

(there's a picture of the old lamp shade in our photo album. We'll post a picture of the new shade as soon as we take one)

[wagsrp]

Someone asked about the material used to make the shades.

We used two x four foot (approx) acrylic office type flourescent lite panels purchased from Home Depot. I just happened to be passing by them one day looking for something in the lighting department and said to myself, I'll bet shades could be made out of them for the Safari. We'd been looking all around and posting inquires on the net, but to no avail.

By the way, the panels come in different patterns so you can choose one you like. Also there are panels made of acrylic and panels made of sterlite. Sterlite breaks too easily when bent into shape. Use the acrylic ones.

Measured pieces can be cut from them using a skill knife.

When shaping the cut out pieces into a semi-circular form heat must be applied, otherwise the piece will shatter. Trust me. A heat gun works well. With one person holding, bending and shaping the other applies the heat. The piece gets hot so wear gloves.

We broke a few pieces in the bending process, but the 2x4' sheet gives you about 5 attempts to make a good one before you have to buy another sheet.

The sheets are cheap ....about $6

Note that it will bend a little when installing it into the lamp fixture, so it's shape doesn't have to be exact.