Posts: 84
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Joined: Jul 2007
That stuff isn't paint I am sorry to say. It is a very thin layer of metal across the top of the plastic logos. Early logos were metallic; those will last forever. But, if you aren't going for the like-new look and don't mind if it looks painted, the "silver leaf" paint pen at your local hobby store will be the best compromise in ease of application and look. It will not be reflectively smooth, though.
I have tried nearly everything from aluminum leaf, silver laquer paint, to paint pens.
I even tried electro-plating. (It wasn't cool at all.) (I don't have access to the equipment to try milling, but that could work.)
No die maker would machine a die set to strike new ones from aluminum sheet stock. So I did the only thing I could imagine after that and started casting them in silver. That was moderately successful and I had to justify the entire endeavor as entertainment so I wouldn't have to face the massively embarrassing history of my quest. I am sure I could have bought a spanking new 11c and 15c for what I put into trying to restore my logo.
But it was fun.
I have a few of the poorer 11c logos if you want me to send you a couple photos. I have eight investments of 15c logos with 5 waxes each in the kiln right now and will cast them tomorrow.
Edited: 14 Apr 2011, 7:35 p.m.
Posts: 378
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Joined: Dec 2009
I've been thinking about trying to make some using a waterjet. I am pretty sure it could be done.
Once I had the metal blank it could even be chrome plated.