How to make your own ghetto JDM emblem

[k__dam]

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

[jdm free]

wow. nice work

[k__dam]

Forgot to add that the custom overlays cost me $30 USD. The dimensions i used and the information i supplied to custom order from graffixpresiions were;

Item Name:
FrontandRearOverlays

Quantity:
2

Colors:
Red w\ Chrome H and ring

Size (W x H):
3.4" x 2.8" (length x width)
4.75" x 4" (length x width)

[vtec.lu]

for thirty bucks plus...and the hours of work...

you should have just bought real jdm emblems...

looks bad IMO...you said it, G-H-E-T-T-O...

props for trying tho...

[k__dam]

^im a weekend diy warrior. You may be right, but for the money i spent, and how it turned out i would def do this again

[obert]

Great job, I thinks it looks good.

[vtec.lu]

definitely a good try...shi, it's better than i could do...

just, for the money invested...you were almost close in price to the real deal...coulda saved some time(not money)...

but yeah...how would you know unless you tryed? like i said... props for the diy...

not trying to bash ya...

[k__dam]

Originally Posted by vtec.lu

definitely a good try...shi, it's better than i could do...

just, for the money invested...you were almost close in price to the real deal...coulda saved some time(not money)...

but yeah...how would you know unless you tryed? like i said... props for the diy...

from what i heard, arent they $80+ USD for the front and rear emblems?? Im in canada, put in shipping charges/customs/duties/conversion it'll cost me about double what i've spent.

Here i spent $30 USD on overlays, $1.30 CDN on plexiglass, a few beers and had a good time doing it. I think you are misunderstanding me, the money spent are not just on the front overlay, it was for both front and rear.

[avho]

Fellow diy weekend warrior here. Nice job. For a 1st pass it looks pretty nice. I love doing little things like this. It's a fun way to spend some time on the weekend being creative, making your ride a little bit unique, and drinking some brew. Can't pass up on opportunities to use the dremel!!! I'll have to give this a try.

[k__dam]

^ yah i definitely could have buffed it for a more smooth look. but to be honest, it probably wont make much of a difference. And i need a better method to make it concave

I mean, maybe this can inspire someone else with a better method

[streetlunatic08]

looks good...

[k__dam]

1 piece of 8x10 plexiglass should be enough to make the front and rear badges. I bought 3 of them because i like to be cautious

[k__dam]

I should add this emblem i made was for the r18 coupe

[wilsontieu]

This is a good idea, it turned out pretty nicely

[k__dam]

im the worst decal installer, i was trying to apply the rear overlay and it bubbled like crazy again. i had to peel it off and re-apply which means it doesnt have the smooth finish it should.

[k__dam]

tired to take a better shot, was done quickly though



Rear emblem in process, you can see the wrinkles

[radicalDREAMZ]

looks pretty good, props for you man

[[hwy]Hagen]

Nice..!

[slow4drsi]

That's nice Man, but those Imperfection is going to give me Nightmares and probably bother me so much that I would rip My own work and crush it. I mean the real emblem is less than $100.00 front and rear. I know still a lot of money but I’m just weird that way, That's the 1st thing other People will see a Big red H..

When I bought My Steering Emblem and It's not sticking right. I couldn't sleep, went outside @ 2:00 am just to glue it.

[killinthemwithcleanness]

nice.

might try this.