Custom Chevrolet Bowtie - Looking For Some Advice

**we87** · 05-31-2006, 06:29 AM

What I want to do is make some custom Chevrolet Bowties for my 2002 Trailblazer that will fit in the front in my grill.

I messed around with printing on some photo paper and using some spray glue, and basically making a over-rated sticker... And that worked just fine. But, it wasnt water proof

So, I am asking the handy people in this forum for some advice: How would I make a piece of paper water proof, while making it in the shape of a Chevrolet emblem, and allowing it to be inter-changable?

My first thought was to laminate a emblem I printed, then getting some snap buttons (kinda like the ones found on childrens jeans) and glue them to the back. But, when I laminated a emblem I made it didnt come out the way I wanted it to. The "seal" of the lamination was to far away from the actual paper, so if I was to cut away the lamination down to the size I needed, it would have broken the seal and thus defeating the whole purpose....

So, aside from buying already made Bowties, any other thoughts on what I could try?

A great many thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.....

**Matrix_24** · 05-31-2006, 09:06 AM

Have a sign shop print it up. Most shops around me will charge you a good ammount of $ for it since it is custom, or you can just buy the vinyl yourself and cut it out (thats what I have done many times). Anything you print will not hold up to water unless you seal it between 2 pieces of plexiglass, but it will fade a lot faster than vinyl.

**RedGTiVR6** · 05-31-2006, 09:19 AM

so all you are wanting is something to just stick to the factory bowtie?

IMO, that's going to look ghetto as hell, unless you end up getting a vinyl sticker and heat shaping it to go over the factory bowtie so it fits without any ragged edges or bubbles.

Else, just sticking paper on there is pretty damn ghetto, laminated or not.

**3g Jester** · 05-31-2006, 09:35 AM

VERY ghetto. even the vinal will look like a sticker on your grille

**we87** · 05-31-2006, 03:57 PM

Thanks for the replies...

While it may sound ghetto or cheap, it doenst look anything like that when its done. I have some pictures of what I did the first time, when I get a hold of the camera Ill post them here.

I dont want anything sticking to the actual bowtie for 1) I dont want to screw with the original just incase I want to go back, it will be easy. And 2) I dont want the custom bowtie to be flush with the grill. I want the bowtie to be "resessed" a little bit and look like its deeper into the grill then a real bowtie would look.....

While Vinyl is a great idea, you cant print colors on vinyl can you? Its just the one color and whatever shape your needing... Right? This wont work for me because I want real detailed designed like for instance, my friends call my White Trailblazer the Storm Trooper

So, I want one bowtie to be a storm trooper head.... And I dont think vinyl could do that... Or am I wrong?

Keep the comments coming, ghetto or not

hehe I guess we will see what the pictures have to offer when I upload them.

**RedGTiVR6** · 05-31-2006, 04:00 PM

yes, you can print colors on vinyl, last I checked anyways, it's how they print many stickers.

I'd love to see pictures so I don't keep on thinking "How f-ing ghetto!" to myself...lol

**scott_fx** · 05-31-2006, 04:17 PM

clearcoat the paper? what i'd do to make it look more professional is get some of that 2part pourable clear resin; called envirotex pour on. and pour it over the cut out. then you'd have to do some cutting and sanding but it should look good when done (remember to clear the back side of it too).

here is a link:
http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop~ocID~...r~vertical.htm

you could get really creative and print on clear acitate to have the 'floating' look to it.

**scott_fx** · 05-31-2006, 04:23 PM

actually, i think i'd make a cast of the original bow tie then print out the storm trooper or whatever on clear acetate. Pour the mold half way up with clear resin and wait for it to dry. then lay in the print out on top of it and top it off with more clear (or tinted or opaque) and you'll have a custom high quality emblem. if you wanted to make it ghetto you could always add some led's and have it glow :-)

**RedGTiVR6** · 05-31-2006, 05:08 PM

hahah

glowing emblems

nice

**we87** · 05-31-2006, 08:38 PM

scott_fx, OoOoOoOo..... You talk in fancy words my man, but I like your style! hehe I will definitly look into that. That sounds like EXACTLY what I was looking for... And if that comes out the way I think it will, it will be a hard plastic type bowtie that will be very similar to the original. Thanks alot for the info man... As for making it "ghetto" with the LED's, me and my friends have already thought of many ways to light it up, but my Uncle actually had a great idea: To stick a LCD screen behind the grill. Then I would have a MOVING bowtie... Imagine falling Green Rain, or music visualizations.... Oh the possibilities

But, I personally think its a bad idea and decided not to go for it.

Red GTi VR6, lol Be prepared to laugh I guess... Here are some pictures of my second attempt at a custom bowtie with some Chrome Tape from Auto Zone.

Comments Welcome