• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Homemade Speakers Badges

A

alan311

New Member
I am rebuilding 2 pair of Design Acoustics speakers (a set of D-4's and a set of D-6's). Unfortunately I have one badge and four speakers. I scratched my head all night last night over this....and, I do not know if anybody has tried this or not, but I did come up with an idea.

If it works, I will have four badges. Luckily I did have one to start with. Here is what I am in the middle of: I went to the store and bought a package of Sculpey Oven-Bake Clay for about $5 and a tube of Liquid Nails for $2. I made a cast of the badge that I have and just finished baking the "mold".

I am about to try using the Liquid Nails to make a new badge. Of course if you have a bigger budget than I do and you want to do this right, you can get some other stuff for about $20.

If this does not work, does anybody have any ideas what else I could use that would be less than $20? I do have a can of Polyurethane and might try pouring that into the mold if this does not work. I am not sure if either one of these will crack or not. I had a few other ideas.....but I will try these and if somebody has a better idea, all the better. I am open to any and all ideas....up to and including "hey dummy, you are wasting your time. Here (????) is what everybody else does."
 

Attachments

  • IMAG0479 (1800x1015).jpg
    IMAG0479 (1800x1015).jpg
    30.4 KB · Views: 216
  • IMAG0476 (1800x1015).jpg
    IMAG0476 (1800x1015).jpg
    49.8 KB · Views: 120
  • IMAG0477 (1800x1015).jpg
    IMAG0477 (1800x1015).jpg
    61.6 KB · Views: 98
  • IMAG0478 (1800x1015).jpg
    IMAG0478 (1800x1015).jpg
    35.6 KB · Views: 205
Register to hide this ad
Might work.
What are you using for mold release?
I might have used 2 part slow cure (60 minute or longer) epoxy, but the Liquid Nails could be OK.
 
Quick Update

Liquid Nails was not as runny as I remembered....I know I can sand and paint this stuff, but I kind of had to push it into the mold. I guess we will see. However, I can see myself trying the polyurethane already.
 

Attachments

  • Badge (1800x1015).jpg
    Badge (1800x1015).jpg
    51.4 KB · Views: 87
Brilliant! My thought was to talk to the folks who make bowling trophies and see if they could engrave me something inexpensively. Your idea is terrific!
 
Danvee....I used vegetable oil brushed it on with a toothbrush.....I already have some epoxy too....I was going to stay away from it because I did not want to have to push it into the mold...too late...the Liquid Nails required that anyway.
 
Wigwam....terrific and maybe brilliant if it works...It may take a few tries. I have plenty of clay, but I will get it to work one way or another...even if I have to fork out the $20 plus $5 more for the curing solution for liquid urethane (I think that is what it was called.)
 
Not sure where you're located, but try searching for someone in your area that makes foil stamping dies.I work for a custom printing company and we order 3d dies made of magnesium every day.They come on an 8x10 plate and cost the same no matter how many imprints fit on it. You would just have to cut them out.
 
Thanks Oblivion. I am not asking for a quote, but about how much does something like that cost? Would I just bring them the speaker badge and have them put as many as they could on a plate?

When you say cut them out, I am assuming the final product is a thin sheet. Is that correct? Or is it just the metal/foil in between the stamps that is thin?
 
I just realized that I am probably making this way to difficult: I baked a new mold and this stuff is very hard. I can probably just press some of the soft clay in the mold, take it out, bake that....and voilà.....a paintable badge that will look just as good and be just as durable as any hard plastic anyway.

Any thoughts?
 
You might try a paste type metal filled epoxy like Marinetex or J B Weld. You can get Marinetex at boating places and on line and J B Weld at any hardware store or HD or Lowes.

Some use Marinetex to mold machine parts and even fix cracked engine blocks. I have used it to make replacement deteriorating zinc die cast parts for an old Delta 24 inch scroll saw. Worked great and it will hold a thread.

I have thought of making badges from one these two epoxy putties but did not know how to make a mold. Thanks for the info on Sculpey Oven-Bake Clay.

Charlie
 
Last edited:
alan311 said:
I just realized that I am probably making this way to difficult: I baked a new mold and this stuff is very hard. I can probably just press some of the soft clay in the mold, take it out, bake that....and voilà.....a paintable badge that will look just as good and be just as durable as any hard plastic anyway.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Use casting resin. Alumilite, etc available on line. I do it all the time with model parts.

http://www.alumilite.com/Category.cfm?Category=Casting Resins
 
alan311 said:
Thanks Oblivion. I am not asking for a quote, but about how much does something like that cost? Would I just bring them the speaker badge and have them put as many as they could on a plate?

When you say cut them out, I am assuming the final product is a thin sheet. Is that correct? Or is it just the metal/foil in between the stamps that is thin?
Click to expand...


I'm not sure about pricing for stamping dies like that. I think most places charge by the sq inch.I'm not affiliated with any die making companies. We use them everyday for hot stamping lettering and logos on paper and leather products using colored foils. I was referring to the die itself which is made of magnesium and usually come 3d and about a 1/4 inch thick. I asked the guy at work in the art department some questions about ordering them. If this is something you're considering, PM me and I can explain it a little better.
 
There's a member in BT who can help make badges, not sure if they are going to be cast badges though, but certainly could be an option. Search for it there.
 
There's also an ebay seller named sign-shop who has made JBL Professional and Consumer badges along with a lot of others. Not inexpensive but pretty high quality.
 
I know a guy who runs a Philips site. He did this for his Motional Feedback Philips speakers, using molding/casting resin for the repro-badges. Then he just painted those. Now he sells replacement buttons and even gears (some people send him intact gears who are usually found cracked in Philips stuff) to make copies, so he can sell those too. Unfortunately he's Dutch, and so is the site, so his story on it won't be readable by you. But it gives the idea that yes, it is possible!
 
Thanks for all the input and all the information. With all these ideas I am sure this is going to turn out fine.

I just got home from work and pulled the Liquid Nails cast out of the mold. It is not quite set firm yet and definitely not ready for sanding or painting. this was a trial run and I will not be using it as a final product, but if it sets up hard it might be worthy of a second effort.

Right now I put some JB Weld (quick) in the mold and I will see how this comes out. The good news is that I can tell these molds are definitely going to work. The other good news is I told a friend of mine what I was trying to do and she said she has some casting epoxy at home and will try to get it to me before the week is over.

I will post pics and opinions on all my samples once I get something worth truly reporting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom