Who here makes their own head badges???

[Luke]

I'm looking for someone with the ability to cut, stamp, machine, carve, or chew me a head badge.

I have a design, but my CNC guy said it was too much for him to try to program while at work.

Any suggestions? I just need a handful.

PMme if anyone wants to make a few bucks on the side.

Thanks,
Luke

[echelon_john]

Look for local laser/waterjet cutters. Some will supply the material (usually 20g a +/- stainless), some will let you buy and supply. Provide an Illustrator outline file and Robert's your mother's brother.

You can then curve them to your preferred head tube diameter yourself using the beautiful hardwood tubing blocks you made for yourself (you did, right?) and braze 'em on.

[veryredbike]

Ferrous chloride etching is pretty straightforward for 2 level stuff on copper. Curmudgeon Bicycles: We Need Those Stinkin' Badges, Part 1

Once they're polished up, they look gorgeous.

[Kumo Cycles]

I visit the local waterjet cutters. have them done in 1.5mm stainless sheet then bend them with a hydraulic press and a die that I turned down out of steel. Then they are brazed onto the headtube and polished.
Easy and quick!

[e-RICHIE]

I'm looking for someone with the ability to cut, stamp, machine, carve, or chew me a head badge.

I have a design, but my CNC guy said it was too much for him to try to program while at work.

Any suggestions? I just need a handful.

I used to make my own for about 2-3 years -
Constructeur!! - a set on Flickr
and then I decided it wasn't worth the effort OR added any value, so I commissioned emachineshop.com -
Constructeur! - a set on Flickr
The second set shows the first versions and I have since changed the part and the bending method too.

[prolix21]

I stumbled across this place recently - Headbadges ‹ Tangerine Treehouse
Depending how complex your badge is, might be an option if you're short on local options.

If you're just looking to do a single level shape a jewelers saw would do the trick. Easy to use and you could make it out of some flat nickel stock or copper.

[pruckelshaus]

I found this to be fascinating, and it doesn't look that involved, given the results: Suzy's Blog: A brass headbadge

[-HvA-]

Copper and some jewelry tools can be a fun and easy solution (jb weld it on there). Besides emachineshop check out ponoko.com

I've also seen some headbadges on etsy.com - you could always commission someone there too.

Finally you could paint it on, there's a lot of free fonts and graphics available or you could make your own and it's fun to learn how to use vinyl masks for that type of thing. Any local sign shop should have a cutter available.

[GrayJay]

Long and detailed forum thread on acid-etched badges over at MTBR;
Acid Etching Custom Head Badges - Mtbr Forums

[shand]

We have ours made for us by a guy here in the UK who makes detailed scale models. Really reasonably priced and excellent quality. Cast pewter and enamel painted.


Custom PathRacer by shandcycles, on Flickr

shand-headtube-badge.jpg

his website: Home Page - A. G. Moorhouse Scale model design & production (not the greatest website!)

Steven

[roburrito]

A jeweler friend made mine. I designed it in photoshop, she used an impact printer to "etch" the design onto the copper, and then she used a jeweler's saw to cut out the pattern. She can do castings as well, its just more expensive and time consuming.

[e-RICHIE]

Hey that's cool atmo - post some stuff on FNL huh.

[zetroc]

That's really cool. What's your plan for attaching it?

[roburrito]

Epoxy... I'm a little iffy about doing that method. I restored a Lotus and epoxied on the restored headbadge and it randomly fell off after 6 months of riding. Luckily the person riding behind me noticed. It looks like it was the paint that pulled off and not the epoxy. So I sanded down to bare metal and used JB weld. But this one has the cut-out so I needed to keep the paint behind. We'll see how it goes. I like head badges I've seen that used small screws. If it falls off I'll drill and tap some holes.

Taking glamour shots of the frame today.

[Timmski]

Have you tried Jen Green? Revolution Cycle Jewelry

[Guillaume]

I use a stainless part laser cutted then a vinyl mask and some beadblasting

headbadge.jpg
Flat

bruno%u00252520l%2520011.jpg
Curved and attched with two 4-40 stainless machine screw

[Andrew R Stewart]

For many years I used a length of 12G copper wire painted over, sometimes with a contrasting color. Then a desire for shinny came over me and I hand cut a "S" from SS tubing. Was organic looking when done and polished but took forever. Now i have a batch of EMachine.com sourced water cut ones. The first used was finished after brazing. The next one is in the polishing process now, before curving to fit and brazing. Maybe the after polishing will go faster this way. Andy.

[Luke]

I have the knowledge now, thanks to a few of the VS members...

Honus thanks so much for the PM and for your generosity.
I'm making my own badge, follow along in the Bike 0001 thread OR
if this thing turns out... maybe FNL material?

Luke

[Rich Beaudoin]

I made this quickly from ss and copper plate
CIMG1893.jpgCIMG1927.JPG

[devlin]

Would it work to use a high quality epoxy bond rather than brazing the head badge on. Thinking ahead to if and when I get to this stage I like the idea of not introducing anymore heat to the metal. Especially will inexperienced hands.