The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Reproducing an emblem

Folks, my delema is ihave a 41 gmc Coe and I have no hood emblem. I was thinking of reproducing one out of stainless steel. No issues with the cutting shaping, I would like to do something nice with the general motors truck lettering. First thought was to get water jet cut right through the emblem. Does anyone know of a process to have it cut in but not all the way through the emblem then I could paint in the lettering. Thoughts? Example picture of the emblem attached

If you could borrow one from someone, you could 3D print a couple of them to paint or plate and/or use as a mold to cast a new one.

Homer, your topic sounds interesting and perhaps some folks have done something similar for other emblems that fall into the "unobtainium" category. Your question might get better traction and responses in the Paint and Body Shop so its been moved there for further input and conversation.

2 ways to do this. Neither one am I able to do.
1st is scan and have it routed out of a block of aluminum.
2nd is to make a mold and cast from molted aluminum.

Will any of Whizzerick's license plate topper explanation help with this? This was the day before 3-D printers.

Peggy, whatever happened to Whizzerick"s equipment? It would sure be good to use it again.

Not sure Wayne. Last we heard from Rick on the site was June 2016. Several folks were looking for him. He was in the process of moving. I see his website is still up for his "garage" ... lots of bikes and other cool stuff.

I sometimes got Rick confused with Mark Smith (our moderator in Tool Chest and Panels & Burbs), since HE is Bunch o' Bikes. Seems we have a good number of "bike" fellows.

We contacted him about the time Poppa Joe's son was working on a topper. He said he's doing fine and very busy. I'd have to hunt down the email which would be a doozie in this place.

Maybe lost in the move, or never unpacked. Some folks don't get around to that.

That looks simple enough that you could machine it. Is it flat on the back or is there a bend?

It is bent to fit the hood. But if you were talking about machining the lettering in with a cnc I could bend it after the machining.

There are 3D scanning systems that I would think could also generate the program to CNC the part.
Also it should allow adding features like what you mention.
If a person invested a bit in all the equipment to do this sort of thing, I suppose others would be happy to use your services.
There are some very small affordable CNC type machines nowadays.
Oh no reason to bend after machining, that is what CNC is all about. What happens when it is finished there would be small thin areas to just wiggle a bit and break off,
the tooling bars or pads.

Homer52 what sort of CNC machine do you have?

I don't have any of that equipment, I would have to hire it done. Dave

I have this chevy emblem I could use but it's a Gmc and it doesn't feel right even though it cost plenty to get this one re hromed.

I wonder if you post in the Swap Meet that you are looking for someone who could do this for you. Maybe under Misc Stovebolt Stuff. The Other Online Services *maybe* but that has been mostly folks finding stuff -- "See some cool, interesting or useful Stovebolt-related stuff listed elsewhere online?"

Worth a shot.

I would suggest fabricating it yourself then having a heavy stencil made for the lettering outline, sandblast and then paint the letters.

Cheap CNC mills won’t cut stainless steel worth even trying…small tools and soft materials are needed for any success. The catch is the software to tell your machine what to do reaches 5 figures so this becomes cost prohibitive quickly. There was a time I could play with software for proficiency and machine what I designed on my own time but the software and equipment were free to me. I modelled a GMC side cover once but never got around to cutting one.

Wow Curtis, that's some beautiful work. I had a chance to look at your YT video ... everything about your 1300 is b-u-t-ful.

Thanks all for the ideas.Dave

Thank you Peggy!

Curt is right...I have one of the better of the imported CNC machines and the basic limitations are not going to allow you to do something like that. If you could find an emblem to use for a mold (sand cast, plaster cast or even silicone) you could reproduce the emblem in anything from 2 part epoxy to copper alloy and if you used copper alloy it could be plated in nickel and then in chrome. None of the metal casting and plating will be cheap work. Making it out of fiberglass would be the least expensive and not all that difficult (meaning you could do this yourself). Fiberglass can be chrome plated but I've never done it.