mazda3 emblem
#1
11-10-2007 | 10:29 PM
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mazda3 emblem
I'd like the "3" in the Mazda 3 emblem to be burgandy red (glossy looking) or true red, with the side edge to be electric blue. I am imagining it'd be really nice on my sunlight silver trunk lid. Anybody know how to make it?
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MEDICAL MARIJUANA
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MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Last edited by wineye; 09-15-2011 at 06:15 PM.
#2
11-10-2007 | 10:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Manor, TX (Outside of Austin)
RE: mazda3 emblem
Alot of patience, bluepainters tape and time, my friend. Then, plan on redoing that at least once a year as the sun will bleach out the red first, then the blue.
I'm thinking of letting my rear badges, the only ones left,go back to chrome just 'cause I'm getting tired of redoing them all the time, though this last paint job lasted much longer than the first two did. I like the look, but it's a PITA.
#3
11-11-2007 | 01:10 AM
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RE: mazda3 emblem
Virgin, I think there must be something in common among us mazda 3 owners......thanks for your quick note. I just did a quick experiment, using reflective tape, cut to shape, just to see what it looks like. First did it on the MPV, V is bit easy, the "3" is hard since there's no straight lines......anyway, here are the pix, I patched the two groves in the letter Z as well, not sure if I like it though. (just hope to have something unique on the car, so I can identify it in the parking lot)...........Oh, virgin, what kind of paint did you use?
[IMG]local://upfiles/13140/A5C8B06803E54493A06F0B38E22240EA.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/13140/065986FB517A4BF99189989167A9B8F5.jpg[/IMG]
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VOLCANO VAPORIZER
[IMG]local://upfiles/13140/A5C8B06803E54493A06F0B38E22240EA.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/13140/065986FB517A4BF99189989167A9B8F5.jpg[/IMG]
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VOLCANO VAPORIZER
Last edited by wineye; 09-15-2011 at 06:15 PM.
#4
11-11-2007 | 07:20 AM
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RE: mazda3 emblem
The trick to painting is preparation. Many people will either just paint over the shiney silver on the emblem or scuff it up with sandpaper and then paint it. The best way to prepare the surface is to completely remove the metal plating. This can be done by soaking the emblem in bleach for several days. It takes time (and will turn the bleach black) but you'll end up with a piece of white plastic ready for painting. Primer it, and then with some careful taping you should be able to get the two tone look you're looking for. Give it a couple coats of clear coat to help prevent fading.
#5
11-11-2007 | 11:16 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
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RE: mazda3 emblem
ORIGINAL: wineye
Virgin, I think there must be something in common among us mazda 3 owners......thanks for your quick note. I just did a quick experiment, using reflective tape, cut to shape, just to see what it looks like. First did it on the MPV, V is bit easy, the "3" is hard since there's no straight lines......anyway, here are the pix, I patched the two groves in the letter Z as well, not sure if I like it though. (just hope to have something unique on the car, so I can identify it in the parking lot)...........Oh, virgin, what kind of paint did you use?
Virgin, I think there must be something in common among us mazda 3 owners......thanks for your quick note. I just did a quick experiment, using reflective tape, cut to shape, just to see what it looks like. First did it on the MPV, V is bit easy, the "3" is hard since there's no straight lines......anyway, here are the pix, I patched the two groves in the letter Z as well, not sure if I like it though. (just hope to have something unique on the car, so I can identify it in the parking lot)...........Oh, virgin, what kind of paint did you use?
ORIGINAL: icspots
The trick to painting is preparation. Many people will either just paint over the shiney silver on the emblem or scuff it up with sandpaper and then paint it. The best way to prepare the surface is to completely remove the metal plating. This can be done by soaking the emblem in bleach for several days. It takes time (and will turn the bleach black) but you'll end up with a piece of white plastic ready for painting. Primer it, and then with some careful taping you should be able to get the two tone look you're looking for. Give it a couple coats of clear coat to help prevent fading.
The trick to painting is preparation. Many people will either just paint over the shiney silver on the emblem or scuff it up with sandpaper and then paint it. The best way to prepare the surface is to completely remove the metal plating. This can be done by soaking the emblem in bleach for several days. It takes time (and will turn the bleach black) but you'll end up with a piece of white plastic ready for painting. Primer it, and then with some careful taping you should be able to get the two tone look you're looking for. Give it a couple coats of clear coat to help prevent fading.
#6
11-11-2007 | 11:40 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,666
From: Manor, TX (Outside of Austin)
RE: mazda3 emblem
AARRRRGGGG!!! Twice I've written a reply and twice this site has kicked me off, losing the work that went into it.
In the mean time, icspots (Mr. Spots to the likes of you and me) has replied w/some good advice.
That may just be the best way to go, but you'll still have to deal w/fade.
To try AGAIN to answer your question more directly: Evolution of the process has shown me thatI needed some better protection to make them last a bit longer... and I am coating the chrome plating so if I want to go back to that I could just strip off the paint.
1. Adhesion promoting primer. Clear, 3 coats as specified in the instructions. It dulls the finish though it's not permanent. It will strip off w/lacquer thinner.
2. Dupli-Color Metal Cast, red. Not very strong on it's own. I apply 4-6 coats to get the dark maroon/burgundy look I am after. I will bake them (200* for 15-20 mins.) several times during this process.
3. Furniture grade gloss polyurethane w/UV resistance.3 coats, and it takes forever to dry completely even after baking.
Because I really like the look I too have looked for alternatives that are more permanent solution:
1. Anodizing: Some say it can't be done to chromed plastic while others seemed disinterested in trying.
2. Powder coating: The baking process would kill them (400*) and you'd still have to deal w/fade out, though would probably last longer than the way I'm doing it now.
3. Tape: Hard to do on all those curves and crevasse's. Fading could still be a major problem.
If you have any other ideas, I'd be willing to listen to them.
#7
11-11-2007 | 01:59 PM
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RE: mazda3 emblem
Here's the post from rdagget at www.mazda3forums.com re: painting badges.
Ok I tried the painting the emblems black ... the first time I sanded and roughed up the chrome like finish.... Looked good for a day came home saw a little nick, ran my finger across it to see the damage and the paint came off quiet easy .... damn :?
I did a lot of web searches and found out that Mazda and most car manufactures use a 2 step electro plating base copper and the chrome like finish is electro plated aluminum. After finding this info out I did a search for chemicals that would strip the 2 different platings but not melt the abs plastic. After many hours and emailing many different chrome refinishers and chemical manufactures a search found that caustic soda will strip the plating .... hmmmm caustic sodas ..... will Pepsi work? OK OK it wasn't funny ..... most of the chemicals were not easy to get my hands on so I email 1 more place and they stated to try BLEACH. after reading the label it states that it will promote corrosion. I tries it and this is my results ........
We all know what the chrome emblems look like ... so here it goes.
this is what bleach will do to the finish .... it takes a long time (the 3 took 2.5 days). you will notice that the chrome turns black .... either use your fingers or an old brush to rub it away and soak in bleach again until you can not get any more copper/chrome off.
If you want to get all the black off soak the emblem in a 50/50 mix of ammonia/hydrogen peroxide ***WARNING ****DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA ... THE CHEMICAL REACTION WILL PRODUCE A GAS THAT WILL BURN YOUR LUNGS AND CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE DEATH***WARNING*** THIS MEANS WASH THE PARTS VERY GOOD, THEN 1 MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE. ***Disclaimer***www.mazda3forums.com and myself are not held responsible for the unsafe mixing and or handling of any of these chemicals. This write up is from information I used in my personal experience. Use at your own risk. I am in no was telling you to mix these. This is only a suggestion. ***Disclaimer***
The small amounts of copper left you can take an exacto knife #11 and slowly scrap it off and then sand the ABS in prep for paint.
After Bleach bath you can see how much chrome is gone and see the remaining copper
Here is the front emblem after bleach bath ... aprox 4 days / couple hour ammonia/peroxide bath and lightly scraping off remaining copper and sanded
And here is the finished product .... used black Krylon Fusion spray paint. 1 light\baked flash (in oven, i think fiance was going to kill me) 2nd light\baked, 3rd wet baked. Baking make sure it is an even finish
It's a long thread with plenty of pictures so feel free to take a look. http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=61104.0
Hope you all like and hope it helps someone as I couldnt find a DIY write up on this ....it does take a while just remember the goal ..... sweet looking and durable emblems.
I did a lot of web searches and found out that Mazda and most car manufactures use a 2 step electro plating base copper and the chrome like finish is electro plated aluminum. After finding this info out I did a search for chemicals that would strip the 2 different platings but not melt the abs plastic. After many hours and emailing many different chrome refinishers and chemical manufactures a search found that caustic soda will strip the plating .... hmmmm caustic sodas ..... will Pepsi work? OK OK it wasn't funny ..... most of the chemicals were not easy to get my hands on so I email 1 more place and they stated to try BLEACH. after reading the label it states that it will promote corrosion. I tries it and this is my results ........
We all know what the chrome emblems look like ... so here it goes.
this is what bleach will do to the finish .... it takes a long time (the 3 took 2.5 days). you will notice that the chrome turns black .... either use your fingers or an old brush to rub it away and soak in bleach again until you can not get any more copper/chrome off.
If you want to get all the black off soak the emblem in a 50/50 mix of ammonia/hydrogen peroxide ***WARNING ****DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA ... THE CHEMICAL REACTION WILL PRODUCE A GAS THAT WILL BURN YOUR LUNGS AND CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE DEATH***WARNING*** THIS MEANS WASH THE PARTS VERY GOOD, THEN 1 MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE. ***Disclaimer***www.mazda3forums.com and myself are not held responsible for the unsafe mixing and or handling of any of these chemicals. This write up is from information I used in my personal experience. Use at your own risk. I am in no was telling you to mix these. This is only a suggestion. ***Disclaimer***
The small amounts of copper left you can take an exacto knife #11 and slowly scrap it off and then sand the ABS in prep for paint.
After Bleach bath you can see how much chrome is gone and see the remaining copper
Here is the front emblem after bleach bath ... aprox 4 days / couple hour ammonia/peroxide bath and lightly scraping off remaining copper and sanded
And here is the finished product .... used black Krylon Fusion spray paint. 1 light\baked flash (in oven, i think fiance was going to kill me) 2nd light\baked, 3rd wet baked. Baking make sure it is an even finish
It's a long thread with plenty of pictures so feel free to take a look. http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=61104.0
Hope you all like and hope it helps someone as I couldnt find a DIY write up on this ....it does take a while just remember the goal ..... sweet looking and durable emblems.
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