Topic: Badge Restoration - Is there an easy way to do this?

[CB_Jeff]

These badges are off my '78 CB750F project bike and I am curious if there is an easy way to freshen up these badges that doesn't involve modeling paint, a magnifying glass, painting with a toothpick... and my wife having a few chuckles at my expense.  Getting around the Honda lettering looks reasonable, however the smaller Super Sport lettering looks like it will be pain.



Other options include:
 - Painting everything black, or:
 - Sanding the gold off the letters down to the metal below, then painting it black and then sanding the paint off the top of the letters resulting silver lettering

Any tips would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[Johnny5]

I had luck stripping all the paint, then repainting it all black, then lightly sanding the black off the letters.

[pjlogue]

I did what Johnny5 did with stripping/painting everything and then wet sanding the letters.  I used a cheap (but it worked excellently) micro gravity feed sprayer I got off flea bay.  I think it was ~$20.  I used aircraft stripper to blister the paint and then vapor blasted the residue off.  Acetone to degrease.  I used the fuel proof modelers gloss black paint and did the whole badge.  My badges had white inside the lettering. I taped over the entire face of the badge with painters taps then carefully, using a fresh X-acto knife, trimmed out the centers of the letters.  Did a recoat of gloss white modeling paint.  When paint was still tacky I removed the tape.  After several days I used 400 wet dry sand paper to sand off the letter faces.  I progressed down to 800 grit and said good enough.  Did a wash in detergent (sanding grit/aluminum was attracted to the paint) and rinsed with distilled water.  Final coat was Diamond Coat clear. 

It was a bit of work but it looks as good as new. 

-P.

[madmtnmotors]

I mask the lettering, trimming with an exacto knife:



Masking is a PITA but sure makes painting easier:




The K badges are easier. I have done a set of 78 CB750F badges like the ones you have. The tiny letters are definitely a pain.


This is the best picture I could find of the Super Sport badges I have done:




This guy does beautiful replicas:

http://www.badgereplicas.com.au/badges_honda.htm

[DH]

Do you guys ever thin your paint, and do you think it would level and flow any better when filling things in? Or is that a bad idea?
Just curious, I know nothing about painting.

[b52bombardier1]

Yes, I thin my paint with lacquer thinner.  It lays flatter with zero brush strokes remaining.  It takes an extra coat or two to get good coverage with the thinner paint but it looks better.  Testors white enamel modeling paint works well for these plates. Any other color should also work, as required.

  I think of the lacquer thinner as similar to reducer for paint in a paint gun.

Rick

[madmtnmotors]

After masking I just spray mine. After removing the tape I like to follow up with clear, especially the Spraymax 2K.

[Scott S]

 I've done just about all these methods. The last time, I took them to a local pin striper.

[nvr2old]

I've always found it easier to spray the whole emblem black, let it set for a few minutes to get tacky and then use a rag tightly wrapped around your index finger.  Dip it into lacquer thinner (not dripping wet) and just wipe off the letters.  Simple.

[przjohn]

Get the badges from Badge Replicas in Australia, you won't be dissappointed.

[GritCity750]

I bead blasted mine, painted black, and then CAREFULLY sanded the cured black paint off with 400g paper. A good clear coat and they're done. I think the satin aluminum on black looks real nice and a little more modern than the gold.

[CB_Jeff]

Gritcity, your silver and black supersport badge looks clean.  Also, I hadn't considered taking the badges to a pinstriper, that is a good idea.  I am going to try the paint, let it get tacky and wipe with a rag with thinner method and will report back with results.

[nvr2old]

Gritcity, your silver and black supersport badge looks clean.  Also, I hadn't considered taking the badges to a pinstriper, that is a good idea.  I am going to try the paint, let it get tacky and wipe with a rag with thinner method and will report back with results.

I think you'll be happy with the results with this method.  You'll have to move the rag around on your finger tip several times to get all the paint off, but it works very well.

[wowbagger]

I powder coated mine. Media blasted, shot them with chrome powder and baked it, then shot it with gloss black, wiped off the letters and baked it a 2nd time. The first two photos show my points cover but it was the same process: