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Printing on the factory mud flaps

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Old 08-06-13 | 11:22 AM
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Printing on the factory mud flaps

Does anyone know how to replicate the MAZDA on the factory mud flaps? It seems to be silver. I don't want to put stickers on because I know that won't last.

Also what about the printing on some of the parts under the hood? relays, charcoal canister, brake booster.

I will post some pics soon to show what I mean.
Old 08-06-13 | 03:34 PM
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The brake booster labels etc can be bought from Black Dragon.

The mud flap printing was probably a hot-stamp foil transfer process; That would be very difficult to try to replicate at home.
Old 08-06-13 | 05:06 PM
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The brake booster label BD carries is only for '79-'80. '81-'85 had it painted on which looks to me like silk screening or something similar. I'll get a picture.

I may try painting the mud flaps with a silver paint.
Old 08-06-13 | 05:25 PM
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DD any pointers about the silkscreening? Where do I get the supplies?
Old 08-06-13 | 05:45 PM
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I'll get you the site I bought my screen blanks from when I get home tonight.

The paint I ended up getting a Michael s' Crafts - - I used thick-consistency acrylic art paint. Couldn't get enamel thick enough to work - has to be thick like soft butter or it runs under the screen.
Old 08-06-13 | 06:26 PM
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I couldn't get a good pic of the canister but here is one of the relays I'm talking about:
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Old 08-07-13 | 09:56 AM
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Got home late - I'll get you that site as first opportunity, sorry.

That relay legend looks to have been rubber-stamped. I think there are kits out there for making your own rubber stamps, might be simpler than silkscreening.
Old 08-07-13 | 03:09 PM
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agreed on the rubber stamping. will be easier to stamp than screen print. the original MAZDA script was in fact a chrome silver color paint. the do make chrome paint but it maybe hard to get the exact script and size. can be done though!! i can take pics of all of the original scripts and labels that you would like that i have on my cars. anything i can do to help, just let me know.
Old 08-07-13 | 03:53 PM
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Which kind of mud flaps look like the original? I don't really care if the say Mazda on em. Just like the look of the old ones.
Old 08-07-13 | 03:54 PM
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That would be great.

I know a guy who does vinyl decals. I was thinking of asking him to do a cut out of the mazda on the mud flaps for a stencil.

I'm going to have the under hood parts yellow zinc plated soon. I was able to pick up all the brackets, bolts, and lines out of a GSL-SE in the junk yard so I would have an extra set that I can swap out later.

I've found a number of companies online that can do custom stamps from a .jpg.
Old 08-07-13 | 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by CyByrd
Which kind of mud flaps look like the original? I don't really care if the say Mazda on em. Just like the look of the old ones.
I don't have a really good pic of them but you can see them in this one:
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Old 08-07-13 | 04:05 PM
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Here is one:
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Old 08-07-13 | 09:21 PM
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Man--that one looks good. Ya know where a person could get similar ones???
Old 08-08-13 | 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by mazdaverx713b
the do make chrome paint but it maybe hard to get the exact script and size.
I have a scalable CAD file of the MAZDA logo I drew up for my air cleaner project - tell me exact vertical and horizontal measurements and I can print 1:1 scale artwork or set it into a PDF.

Making a stencil from that would be easy enough.
Old 08-08-13 | 04:09 PM
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The original mudflaps had a smooth surface, no texture. I think the outside 1/8" was raised like a lip.
Old 08-11-13 | 01:44 PM
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I finally got 5 minutes' time to dredge up the linnk to the place I bought my photoetch silkscreen supplies from:

PhotoEZ Silk Screen Stencils Go Almost Anywhere

More focused on fabric/art/ceramic applications, but the basic process is the same & their materials deliver good value.

Only thing they don't cover is what paints/inks to use on other types of surfaces, but that's open to experimentation. They are printing to absorbent surfaces, and we're not.

Spraypaint/airbrush will NOT work with silkscreens - - the paint has to be very, very thick to avoid wicking under the stencil. Consistency between room-temp butter and toothpaste.

But if I got it to work on bare chrome, a flat rubber/vinyl mudflap should be a lot easier.
Old 08-12-13 | 08:41 AM
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Thanks for that info.
The other parts I need to silk screen are the fog light hard plastic covers.
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Old 08-12-13 | 11:27 AM
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This is good stuff.

More than painting them on I'd prefer OEMs - both for mud flaps and for running light covers.
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