need help popping lenses out of a Rubies tie pilot helmet

[rickrickrick]

Sorry, folks, I wouldn't beg for help here, but I searched for a long time on the forum without finding any posts that proved useful.

I tried to pop the lenses out of my Rubies tie helmet last night by heating it up - assumed they were in with hot glue. The blasted things would not budge! I'm scared of trying any chemical to dissolve glue that might damage the vinyl.

What have other folks done? The lenses in my Vader Rubies supreme nearly FELL out, they were in so badly, and were clearly hot glued.

:cryHelp!:cry

Many thanks for your input, as always!

Rick

 

[KnightAsylum]

I got mine out by pushing. I used a washcloth stuffed against the inside to try and spread out the pressure, then I just pushed until they popped out. True they could have broke, I was not sure if it would would, but they came out just fine.
I never thought of heating up the glue Apparently I think of the more destructive method first.

 

[wuher da brewer]

A citrus cleaner like Goof Off might make it easier to pop out without harming the vinyl.

 

[defstartrooper]

Don't have a Rubies but the DP classic action i have had the same kind of lenses mounted on the outside i wasn't worried out saving them cos i wanted to mount proper lenses on the inside like they should be so i just chopped em out with a dremel didn't even attempt to keep em in one piece.
I'm destructive too :lol

 

[rickrickrick]

Yeah, I always try to save what I can "just in case" - so I was trying to keep the lenses in one piece.

I pushed until the vinyl started distorting! No luck - they're really in there.

I think ye olde dremel is up next, and I'll be taking 'em off in pieces.

Thanks, all!

Rick the Destructor

 

[rickrickrick]

OK, this was so much worse than I imagined.:eek

I dremeled a slot in the left lens with a cut-off wheel and pryed at it with a screwdriver. The lens shatters to bits, almost like glass, it was so brittle! The glue holding the lens in place is incredibly tenacious, and pulling the rest of broken lens away resulted in a line of shattered plastic rimming the eye hole. So I have to go in with an exacto and pick every little shard of lens out of the remaining glue. Talk about tedious!

The right lens was not such an ordeal. It was obviously not glued as heavily and came off in relatively few pieces.

Then I proceeded to enlarge the eye hole for the very nice lenses I bought from thorssoli. But lord almighty, that vinyl is crappy stuff to dremel away! It's weird and soft and sort of grips at the bit while you're working, so it's easy to gouge more than you want. I had to work ridiculously slowly and carefully. And that vinyl kicks up weird residue - sort of spongy and shreddy and flaky and sticky all at the same time. Can't wait to tackle the hose vents! The most confounding thing of all, however, was how uneven the thickness of the pour on those Rubies helmets is - there were thick and thin spots everywhere. It was difficult to create an even thickness around the eye hole so I could install the lenses.

All in all an annoying learning experience, but it's absolutely amazing how much better the lenses look coming from behind. Almost makes it worth it. Almost.:lol

BTW, another plug for thorssoli - the bubble lenses he made are the clearest to look thru I've ever seen.

Cheers. Thanks to those who contributed opinions/info.

Rick

 

[borgknight]

The glue on those lenses is really high-quality stuff! Amazing how much better that glue works when compared to the quality found in the rest of that helmet....

I ended up actually cracking the eye socket itself when I pulled those things out and had to fill and sand it in. I was not happy.

One word of warning.... Do NOT drop that helmet if it's cold. I had one shatter on me.

 

[rickrickrick]

Well, we all know the Rubies helmets leave a lot to be desired - but it's not a bad first helmet for someone on a budget, yadda ydadda. And it's not quite as massive a project as modding the Rubies Supreme Vader to make it more acceptable (an effort I've also begun).

I haven't actually installed the lenses yet, as I will be doing my best to straighten the ear pieces, and do other things that I don't want the lenses in for. But I put them in with tape just to try them, and wow, the helmet looks so much better I can hardly believe it. Changes the look SO much.

If anyone has any leads on getting replacement lenses for a Rubies Vader, PM me or post or whatever. I'd really appreciate it.

Also, is there a US source for tie helmet decals? I've only been able to find references to a UK seller.

As always, thanks for your input!

Rick