How to make your own ghetto JDM emblem
Materials
- Custom ordered GrafiXpressions JDM overlay (front and rear)
- Plexiglass
- Clamp/Vice grip
- Dremel with cutting wheel, sanding bit, buffer bit
- Glue stick
- Safety glasses
- Utility knife
- 3m double sided tape
This diy was inspired by others who always wondered what other alternatives there are out there for the diy’er (and the ones who think spending $80+ on emblems are expensive). And also by this locked thread;
Full JDM Emblem made by GRFXP Request!!
Cutting/sanding/buffing plexiglass
1: I photocopied the front/rear overlays so I can cut them out and glue them onto the plexiglass as a template. Plexiglass was about $1.30 for a 8x10 piece from Lowes.
2: I used a 3” swivel vice clamp to hold the plexiglass in place, then dremel out the shape.
3: Sand the remaining piece into shape. At this point I took the piece out of the clamp and used my hands/flat base of the swivel vice clamp to help me sand.
4: I took off the paper template, and then applied the overlay. And this is where I f*cked up! I wasn’t being careful and many bubbles were formed. After several hours the bubbles did not go away so I had to use a hairdryer to peal it off, and re-apply. It looks bad imo but useable. I will be purchasing another front overlay in the future though.
5: Using a utility knife, I traced out the remaining protective plastic from the overlay. I did this because instead of using painters tape, I used the existing protective plastic piece over the overlay for protection. Then I sanded a bit more, the remaining extra plexiglass plastic around the emblem.
6: My weak attempt at making it concaved. I used the sanding bit for this part.
7: Using buffing bit to make the edges smooth. (I forgot to do this part, but im adding it in anyways. Mine wasn’t rough at all, but it could’ve been better).
8: I let the emblem cure overnight (being cautious).
9: Remove your grille. I used 3m double sided tape and stuck the ghetto jdm emblem on.
10: Re-install your grille, and you’re done! I’ll get better pictures when the rain stops.
Final thoughts
This project took me a good 3-4 hours, depending your skills/comfort level of working with a dremel, applying the overlay (correctly) and taking your grille on/off. It really does look good, but I can’t compare them to the real JDM emblems because I’ve never seen one in person. The flash of the camera sorta distorts the wrinkles that are on the overlays (my fault), as mentioned I will be ordering the front one again in the future and re-apply.
I’ll be making one for the rear also, so stay tuned for pics!
Edit:
Pictures of finished rear emblem and one more snap shot of the front
Front emblem
Rear emblem
After driving in the rain, i decided to snap more photos in the garage.
These two front emblem photos were taken with flash on, which makes the car/emblem looks orange
Without flash;
Rear emblem
