3D chrome moulded script lettering

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:31 pm

ello!

OK am wanting to get a nice name plate to affix to my lovely van, showing its name - it's kind of special as it's named after a good friend of ours.

I had in mind a kind of joined-up script just spelling out the name - joined-up though, not composed of individual letters. I also want it to be 3D, not just laser-cut out of flat chromed sheet.

Anyone know where I can get this done? I want it to look pretty smart. Presumably I will need to get a special mould made which can be cast in brass/bronze and then chromed? I want to it last a long long time.

I have a friend who could probably work with me to produce a maquette and cast it up in brass or bronze - how would I go about gettig it top-quality chromed?

Any advice from you knowledgeable lot?

Any input very welcome

juliet xxxxx

Post by **Matt** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:22 pm

Would solid stainless be better, it can be polished up to nearly the same shine, without the risk of it flaking off or rubbing throungh?

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:08 pm

cheers matt, my what a lovely convertible.

is it easy to get stainless cast up?

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:27 pm

Why not have the name plate laser cut in 2-3mm steel then just file a bevelled edge where required. Stainless will be expensive to cast and extreamly difficult to work, if bits need filing. I asked a friend of mine a while back about making a special K series badge and some dash switches. He recommended silver as its quite a cheap material to cast and easy to work,i.e shaping or polishing. I have good access to laser cutting if you need to go this route.

Post by **bigginger** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:53 pm

*SMUG* That's what I said....

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:22 pm

Post by **bigginger** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:33 pm

In the real world, when we were at the rally

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:39 pm

I see !!. (wink) smilies not working again!!!!

Post by **Cam** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:43 pm

Why are your smilies not working???? If you are having a problem then try using the code:

Code: Select all

:D  or  :wink:  or  :(

To get:

or

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:46 pm

:d :wink

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:48 pm

Nope that does't work

Now the little blighters are working again, so here's the full set ????

Post by **Matt** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:49 pm

use capital d and add : to the end of :wink .......

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:53 pm

Blimey modern stuff!! ehh!

Post by **Cam** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:55 pm

Jonathon, copy it exactly as I wrote it! What is it with you and modifying things!!

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:57 pm

I just can't help it, its the Gemini in me!! Going to bed now, its getting late.

Post by **Cam** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:20 am

Ah that would explain it then! It would also explain my love of untampered original things being a Virgo!

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:09 am

Cam wrote:Jonathon, copy it exactly as I wrote it! What is it with you and modifying things!!

ROFLOLOL

thanks Matt for the link to a seller who might be able to do this for me

I'm going to be really fussy about this so it's going to need to be made by someone who doesn't mind working with me on it! I do have a friend who casts things in brass, and I might then be able to get the result chromed I guess? Stainless is a v good suggestion due to chrome's porosity etc though - but I agree it must be a blimmin pain to work with.

I'm keen to have the letters rounded or pointed in section rather than flat, ie a kind of 3D effect. So getting the badge cut out of a sheet of metal might not quite get the right end result even with a lot of filing? cos the sheet would need to be quite thick to start with?

Thanks for the mention of your access to laser-cutting jonathon

and for the suggestion of silver - would silver be incredibly expensive though?

what do you think?

juliet xxxxxxxxxx

Post by **Matt** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:35 am

Cut it out of 4-5mm section and bevel the edges?

Post by **jonathon** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:28 pm

WP, silver is pretty cheap at the moment, and it was suggested as an alternative to aluminium for the badge application.
Good luck with the project, have you thought of resin or vacuum formed badges. also v cheap options

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:41 pm

jonathon wrote: WP, silver is pretty cheap at the moment

oooh interesting - i see

jonathon wrote: it was suggested as an alternative to aluminium for the badge application.

yeah - aluminium does go powdery after a while doesn't it. Although a drawback of silver for my application might be its relative softness. And the need for polishing to stop the tarnishing! My usual method of polishing silver is to heat it in a saucepan with some crumpled tinfoil (thanks, Kim and Aggie

) but I guess it wouldn't be very practical to use that method with a badge attached to the rear of me van

jonathon wrote:have you thought of resin or vacuum formed badges. also v cheap options

hmmmm. you jest, perchance?

Although I know they would be sensible, cheap options - but not quite the sort of look I'm going for

j xxxxxxxxxxxx