Topic: Refurbishing of sidecover emblems

[MrZxp]

I have managed to acquire three sidecover emblems for my F. I intend to refurbish all three, attach two to the bike and keep the third as a spare.

As can be seen from the attached pic, the top one is in reasonable condition, the second is a little tattier (and unfortunately missing one "lug" on the back to attach to the sidecover) and the third is way worse than the others although it (along with the first) still has its "lugs'.

My question is, has/does anybody know how to refurbish these? I figured maybe gold plastic model paint might work? Considering the rarity of original items I'd like to try a method which will work first time and not require removal because of a shoddy finish etc, which could damage them...

Look forward to any and all suggestions.   

Cheers, Phil

[scondon]

 Model paint is what I used, but only on the black part. Not sure of what would be good for the shiny gold finish that wouldn't end up looking like, well....paint. Hopefully someone's tackled this before.

[Grumpol]

If you can find a signwriter that does gold leaf, like the roll boards in council chambers etc, they should be able to do gold leaf that would match nicely, and you will have the wank factor added 

[kghost]

I'll tell you how I do mine.....

Air Brush.

[MrZxp]

Thanks for the replies.

The black parts seem to be fine on all three - just the gold needs replacing...

kghost - some more detail would be nice! 

Some seriously fiddly masking would be required wouldn't there?

Cheers, Phil

[kghost]

Paint the whole thing gold....then airbrush the black....any overspray will wipe off the gold as the letters are raised.

[Geeto67]

I just went and bought brand new ones from DSS. I think it cost me $15 per emblem last year.

There are plenty fo reflective vynils than can be used over the existing finish without issue (maybe a little sanding).

The emblems are metal and not plastic so they actually may be replated.

[MrZxp]

Paint the whole thing gold....then airbrush the black....any overspray will wipe off the gold as the letters are raised.

Inspired! Hadn't thought of doing it that way... were you able to get a suitably bright reflective gold paint...?
In fact, on closer inspection I can see on the edges of one of them where there is a scratch that it is gold beneath... which is logical as the back is gold coloured plastic...

The emblems are metal and not plastic so they actually may be replated.

Really? They look plastic...

I just went and bought brand new ones from DSS. I think it cost me $15 per emblem last year.

See, this is what is great about this forum.... I had no idea DSS would have these... gonna go check... thanks!

Cheers, Phil

[MrZxp]

Over NZ$100 for a pair of genuine emblems from DSS....  delivered...

 

[kghost]

Somewhere about 77 honda went plastic...not sure about the 750's....but my 77 Goldwing emblems that I thought were metal were not. Don't ask me how I found out....

[mrbreeze]

75 K's are plastic but the tank badges are metal.

[Johnny5]

On my 77 CB750K, one emblem is plastic, the other is metal.

 

[Geeto67]

The repop emblems I got from DSS are metal, at least they are heavy enough to be metal and them make a metal on metal sound when I tap them on my filing cabinet. The originals could be plastic, I have only one original emblem and it is on a side cover and I have no intention of removing it.

Even if it is plastic there are "chromers" for plastic as a lot of 1960s-70s cars and bikes used this process. I think that a lot of honda's emblems are this "gold chrome" plastic. You can find people to re-chrome plastic, I had this done on my GTO's dash, but it is not cheap.

To be honest, I think the gold on black looks kinda cheesey. I was considering repainting the gold in one of my sets to a nice bright red or orange (and keep the black the same or maybe do a charcoal).

[KingCustomCycles.com]

The repop emblems I got from DSS are metal, at least they are heavy enough to be metal and them make a metal on metal sound when I tap them on my filing cabinet. The originals could be plastic, I have only one original emblem and it is on a side cover and I have no intention of removing it.

Even if it is plastic there are "chromers" for plastic as a lot of 1960s-70s cars and bikes used this process. I think that a lot of honda's emblems are this "gold chrome" plastic. You can find people to re-chrome plastic, I had this done on my GTO's dash, but it is not cheap.

To be honest, I think the gold on black looks kinda cheesey. I was considering repainting the gold in one of my sets to a nice bright red or orange (and keep the black the same or maybe do a charcoal).

Oh dear, and bright red or orange aren't "tacky" 

[Geeto67]

Oh dear, and bright red or orange aren't "tacky" 

Gold chrome reminds me of all those 70's and 80's "show" cars and bikes that got out of hand. It brings back memories of gold plated carbs and chain link steering wheels. I suppose anything can be considered "tacky" given enough effort but really that gold plating stuff and gold chrome was some godawful #$%*. Honda really tried to keep their bikes looking like customs of the era and some of that stuff is just flat gaudy, the chrome decals they used on 450 nighthawks spring to mind instantly.

Red lettering on a black background is slightly more understated than gold chrome lettering on a black background, espically when the bike is silver with black and red stripes - in my case it will match the tank lettering:

[Jakoba]

I just went and bought brand new ones from DSS. I think it cost me $15 per emblem last year.

There are plenty fo reflective vynils than can be used over the existing finish without issue (maybe a little sanding).

The emblems are metal and not plastic so they actually may be replated.

I'm in the market for emblems for my 78 750k (tank and side covers).
What and where is the DSS you speak of?

Cheers

[Geeto67]

I just went and bought brand new ones from DSS. I think it cost me $15 per emblem last year.

There are plenty fo reflective vynils than can be used over the existing finish without issue (maybe a little sanding).

The emblems are metal and not plastic so they actually may be replated.

I'm in the market for emblems for my 78 750k (tank and side covers).
What and where is the DSS you speak of?

Cheers

David Silver Spares. In England. Honda had them listed stateside but all the places I called and e-mailed were out of stock, DSS had them instock.

[BobbyR]

I have refurbished my tank emblems. The gilding was in good shape, but the paint had been eaten by brake fluid I suspect. I simply stripped all of the paint off the emblems. Like yours the edges of the lettering is raised. I simply went over the parts I did not want the paint to stick to with a crayon used for Easter eggs. I then sprayed the entire emblem with a low gloss black enamel since I wanted it clean, but age appropriate. I took a rag with a bit of denatured alcohol and carefully wiped off the surface. Looks original. In your case you can get gold leafing sets from Art Supply houses. I have provided a link to one here in the States so you can get an idea of what they are and what they cost.
http://www.acmoore.com/search.aspx

[Jakoba]

Thanks Geeto67,
                I have heard of Mr Spares before I just never heard it referred to as DSS. DUH !

I'll check his site out.

Thanks again

[MrZxp]

Thanks for the link BobbyR....

I'm thinking this might be the type of paint required...?

[BobbyR]

Thanks for the link BobbyR....

I'm thinking this might be the type of paint required...?

It is not paint, it is a thin sheet of metal foil that ahheres to the surface.