datsunfreak Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 So, cool horn buttons can be kind of expensive. Something with a logo you like can easily be $15-20, and something custom is usually more like $30-40. So what to do? Well, you're a cheap bastard Datsun owner, so just make your own! 😁 I started with a RDT button because you can get them on ebay for about $5, and they have an important feature you will see shortly... Use a sharp knife or tiny screwdriver to pop the logo out, but make sure you save it... Now use that logo to trace out the size/shape you need from something else. For this experiment, I just printed out some sakuras on plain paper... Now very carefully cut that out and use some simple glue (like Elmer's white glue) to stick it down to the button... Now here's a pro tip I learned the hard way, resin will soak into paper and make it look splotchy and gross. 😁 So if you use printed paper like I did, you have to coat it with something first. I used this because I had some handy, it dries quickly, and dries very hard and clear. Now you need to find a very level spot in your house (garage floor usually works well), and two identical height things to prop it up on (I used two spray paint lids) to keep it perfectly level for at least 12 hours. Once you do that, get some good clear resin (I used this because it has a UV coating built in), mix it per the directions, and carefully pour it into the button. If you want the cool rounded over effect common on most aftermarket horn buttons, you have to pour in a tiny bit too much. Hence the need to have it perfectly level. What I did was pour just enough in to get it to roll out to the edges on it's own, then a few drops extra. This kept it all inside the lip mentioned in step #1. Be sure to pour it in very slowly, a little bit at a time, because most clear resins take 12-24 hours to get hard so you have plenty of time to add more if you need it. If you put in too much, you're screwed, 😂 One more tip is if you use something that doesn't let resin soak into it, like a sticker/decal, you won't have to coat it or glue it down, which will save you a few steps. 😁 6 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2019 Made a few more since then and they seem to get a little better each time. Here is the latest... http://datsun510.com/index.php?/gallery/image/44986-img_20191106_183938_573jpg 3 Quote Link to comment
Duncan Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 My plain horn button is needing something custom added to it... Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 1 hour ago, Duncan said: My plain horn button is needing something custom added to it... Make it happen! 😁 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 Wow this is cool! Thanks for sharing. Cool idea 1 Quote Link to comment
Duncan Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 12 hours ago, datsunfreak said: Make it happen! 😁 Maybe I'll use that picture of Mr Big holding his L20b.... 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 5 hours ago, Duncan said: Maybe I'll use that picture of Mr Big holding his L20b.... Definitely make that happen. 😁 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 Also, another tip, if this is your first time working with two-part epoxy resin, you will get bubbles in it from mixing it. After it's poured into the button, you can use a bbq lighter and just wave the flame over the top and the bubbles will all pop instantly. 2 Quote Link to comment
Dawa Posted April 25, 2020 Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 awesome, man, thanks. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted April 26, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2020 1 hour ago, Dawa said: awesome, man, thanks. If you try it, please post up the results. 😁👍 Quote Link to comment
EDM620 Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 I like that, gives me ideas on what to do with my build as I'm intending on de-branding it as much as possible 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 FYI, I also used this technique to customize my center caps on my daily... Round 1... Round 2, changed to red and removed one B... 1 Quote Link to comment
Duncan Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 (edited) BBS: Bunch of Bullshit? 🙂 Sorry. Always the consumate wise ass... They DO look nice. I like the blue background that matches the car vs the red. Edited November 23, 2022 by Duncan Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2022 22 hours ago, Duncan said: BBS: Bunch of Bullshit? 🙂 They DO look nice. I like the blue background that matches the car vs the red Not sure if you can see it, but the ones on the car just say BS. 😁 These are replicas of the BBS LM (hence the BS). On the LMs the center caps are black for the road version and red for the racing version. That's why I went with the red in the end. i liked the blue also, but the other factor was that I think I am going to take the wheels off and paint the centers gold, and the red looked better against the gold. 1 Quote Link to comment
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