The definitive goggles thread

[Vincent M. Dantes Esq.]

Too bad he couldn't lay off the crack and get some work done to his teeth.  They look terrible.

Not that I am one to take sides with Mister Flav in much of any situation. I will say that, in that photo, what you are actually see is not his teeth, but rather a set of gold plated tooth covers, that he is wont to wear on most occasions.

Oh, my sides hurt! A terrific post, to be sure! 

[WisconsinPlatt]

Out of the three sets of "vintage" goggles I got, this ends up being the only one really worth keeping and using.

New lenses (one set clear, one #5 Green Tint from the local welding supply store), new strap (liberated from a thrift store leather purse that will also be chopped up later on), painted the lens holders.  You can't see it in these pictures but the buckle in the back is attached with elastic so I can have the goggles adjusted to fit and just slip them on or off as needed.

I need to get another set of clear lenses as just one set in the holders rattles around.  Also thought of getting some of the bronze colored tint and applying it to a set of clear lenses for funky sunglasses.

[Rael Islington]

*pictures of very lovely bugeyes*

Out of the three sets of "vintage" goggles I got, this ends up being the only one really worth keeping and using.

New lenses (one set clear, one #5 Green Tint from the local welding supply store), new strap (liberated from a thrift store leather purse that will also be chopped up later on), painted the lens holders.  You can't see it in these pictures but the buckle in the back is attached with elastic so I can have the goggles adjusted to fit and just slip them on or off as needed.

I need to get another set of clear lenses as just one set in the holders rattles around.  Also thought of getting some of the bronze colored tint and applying it to a set of clear lenses for funky sunglasses.

These are beautiful. May I ask, what sort of paint was used to color the holders, and were they plastic to begin with?

[Flynn MacCallister]

Mine are a pair of aviator goggles, which are apparently Russian and WWII, found at an army surplus store up at the Central and of George Street, Sydney. There are a few such stores along there, and I do not recall exactly which one I found them in, but I encountered plenty of wonderful sets of pilots' goggles in all of them... mostly priced between about $50 and $120-ish, for any Sydneysiders who may be looking for such items.

I have no camera currently, so I cannot show you my own pair, but they are of the same type as these: http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php/products_id/611 .

I wish to put (removable) tinted lenses into them -- probably via a coloured layer of plastic behind the existing lenses, which I do not think I can remove without damaging the goggles. The existing lenses are curved in one dimension only, and have no angles, as I notice some other aviator goggles' lenses do. Can anyone perchance suggest a course of action to achieve this?

Furthermore, regarding the cheap hardware store welding goggles, of the kind mentioned by TheRedMax, how easy or difficult is it to paint on their particular type of plastic? I have a Plan for them, which should make them far less black (a colour I very rarely wear... How un-victorian of me! ) and considerably more brass, if only they will be happy to be painted.

[WisconsinPlatt]

May I ask, what sort of paint was used to color the holders, and were they plastic to begin with?

Krylon Copper, I believe.  Smaller than typical rattle can (but not as small as hobby spray paints) with shiny metallic cap.

Yep.  Plastic with metal vents on the sides.  And a really nice leather nose piece.  That's what sold me on them.

[Morluna]

[Pretty pretty prettiness]

Out of the three sets of "vintage" goggles I got, this ends up being the only one really worth keeping and using.

New lenses (one set clear, one #5 Green Tint from the local welding supply store), new strap (liberated from a thrift store leather purse that will also be chopped up later on), painted the lens holders.  You can't see it in these pictures but the buckle in the back is attached with elastic so I can have the goggles adjusted to fit and just slip them on or off as needed.

I need to get another set of clear lenses as just one set in the holders rattles around.  Also thought of getting some of the bronze colored tint and applying it to a set of clear lenses for funky sunglasses.

Those are delightful!!!! I love that rich brown color of the leather(?) strap.

[Rael Islington]

May I ask, what sort of paint was used to color the holders, and were they plastic to begin with?

Krylon Copper, I believe.  Smaller than typical rattle can (but not as small as hobby spray paints) with shiny metallic cap.

Yep.  Plastic with metal vents on the sides.  And a really nice leather nose piece.  That's what sold me on them.

Thank you for the information, sir!  Copper is my signature color and I was pondering coloring my own goggles to match my new motorbike, but what I had left ugly streaks, I stripped it and shall try the krylon.

[Kurochi]

I just picked up these goggles last weekend at the local Army/Navy surplus.  I want to replace the straps and eyecup cushion things with leather, any suggestions about how to go about this?  I think I'll try and salvage leather off a purse of some sort and a buckle from the junk laying around, but any specific tips on working with the leather?



Can you belive these were only $10?

[WisconsinPlatt]

1/2p tutorial on Goggle Strap making...

1)  Locate strap material.  For how I did mine, a purse strap worked well.  It was leather, two ply and finished on both sides.

2)  Also round up something to cut the leather with and an awl or some other hole punching device (NOT a Drill press) and brass rivets from local craft store.  Some sort of buckle may be helpful as well as some elastic (about the same width as the strap)

3)  Trim off the ends of the strap and separate the two pieces of leather for about 1 - 1.5 inches from the either end.  You may need more, but you can always separate more if needed.  Then trim the edges of one side to be narrow enough to fit in the strap holder of the goggles.



3) Feed the narrow end through the frame of the goggles and then back under itself.  Make sure that you have enough clearance to punch a hole through all three layers of leather and punch the hole for the rivet.  Place the rivet through and hit the rivet with the hammer. (n.b. - The anvil in this picture is upside down.  Be sure to read and comprehend all the directions before wasting several rivets)







4)  Trim off excess leather on the outside.



5)  For a buckle, the process is similar.  I apologize I have no photos of it, but I attached the buckle with elastic so I could easily slip the goggles on and off my noggin as I actually DO use them as safety goggles at home.

(For those of you playing along at home...the goggle frames in the pictures are not the same ones I posted in my original goggle post.  Hence my warning about not using a drill press to drill the holes in the strap.  'Nuff said.)

[Miss Miranda K.]

 A capitol job on your goggles, sir! A cunningly crafted strap, indeed.
 I just recieved that exact pair, (purchased off ebay). I shall post pictures when I'm finished modifying them. You see, I am planing a design quite contrary to yours. Black and silver tones with a very feminine touch. I believe it shall be a pleasing novelty to see how you can difine the same article in different ways. 
 

[Vincent M. Dantes Esq.]

Fantastic tutorial Mr. Platt! Quite ingenious. I would have gone about it the hard way and mad it all from scratch, but this method will save me considerable time!

[Kabuki]

Excellent, Mr. Platt!  I am quite confident that my wife is unlikely to miss one of her myriad of purses...  I shall set about replicating your feat immediately!

[daeudi_454]

Excellent, Mr. Platt!  I am quite confident that my wife is unlikely to miss one of her myriad of purses...  I shall set about replicating your feat immediately!

 
I would like to take a moment to honor the memory of Kabuke.
We did not know him well, but we know he died well- pursuing his art.

We will welcome his widow, as the homicide was ruled justifiable.

 

[Guyver]

Never noticed this thread before.
Here are my Goggles:
The goggles are made from:
2 plastic cans from frozen O.J.
Parts from a toy lightsaber
Small chunk of split hose used for wrapping electrical wires.
A fold out magnifier
A few small chunks of leather strap for support.
(cuz we all need to have a little leather strap in our day)
The optic fold up to the side of the lens as shown in the third pic.






 

[Tinkergirl]

Yes, I like those a great deal.  Tell me, the magnifier, does it actually have practical purpose, or is it unsuitable for use?

[Guyver]

Yes, I like those a great deal.  Tell me, the magnifier, does it actually have practical purpose, or is it unsuitable for use?

It has a functioning lens but because it is so far from the wearer's eye it is basically for looks. I am working on a SteamPunk version of a Ghostbusters costume and these are to be the Ecto-Goggles.

[kiskolou]

The only problem with a steampunk ghostbuster is people would constantly be calling them to exterminate fantasmagoria.

[Tinkergirl]

Yes, I like those a great deal.  Tell me, the magnifier, does it actually have practical purpose, or is it unsuitable for use?

It has a functioning lens but because it is so far from the wearer's eye it is basically for looks. I am working on a SteamPunk version of a Ghostbusters costume and these are to be the Ecto-Goggles.

"Which personages should you enquire after?"
"Ghostbusters!"
*ahem*

[Proffessor Varne]

"Which personages should you enquire after?"
"Ghostbusters!"
*ahem*

"I most certainly am not afraid of any phantasm!"
"I hear it quite prefers the ladies"

[Herr Döktor]

"Do not allow oneself to be discovered unaccompanied, oh no!"

(Chorus:)

"Professional Apprehenders of Spiritual Entities from Beyond The Veil!"

[Vincent M. Dantes Esq.]

"Which personages should you enquire after?"
"Ghostbusters!"
*ahem*

"I most certainly am not afraid of any phantasm!"
"I hear it quite prefers the ladies"

I have hurt myself from laughing. 

"If the occasion arises that something peculiar emanates from your neighborhood..."

"If there exists an aberration and it does not look the least bit pleasant..."

"If you find yourself devoid of present company, pick up your telegraphic voice transponder, and beseech the operator to connect you forthwith to..."
"Ghostbusters!"

[Tristian Dreyman]

I have a wonderful mental image of a giant, chitty-bang-bang-espue car, laden with gadgetry,  with four gentlemen in steam-powered ghostbuster gear on disembarking... Any of our artists want to draw? 

[Adml. Etherington]

my brain keeps trying to shoehorn these alternate lyrics into the actual theme music, and it sounds like a verbal trainwreck (steam trains, of course...  )

[Guyver]

I love it! I have to save these lyrics to a file to sing when in the SP gear. LOL

[Vincent M. Dantes Esq.]

I have a wonderful mental image of a giant, chitty-bang-bang-espue car, laden with gadgetry,  with four gentlemen in steam-powered ghostbuster gear on disembarking... Any of our artists want to draw? 

Funny you should mention that, there was a live action comedy show in the 70's entitled The Ghost Busters that had it's own cartoon show. There car was a sentient jalopy sort of thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0hCwHTg4mY