Like many who had their engine cover Infiniti logo go missing, I soon found that exact fit replacements are not available separately from the entire cover.

So, with my mind set to diligently keep an eye out for one (eBay, Craigslist, etc.) it occurred to me one evening a bit back "You damned fool,you have a 3D printer--make one!". So I did:

I quickly found a 3D model on the web and after scaling it to fit it only took an hour or so to print it out:



I could not find any "chrome" rattle-can paint that didn't look like duct tape, so I painted it with Duplicolor high gloss black lacquer; not quite as flashy as chrome but it looks a lot better than having it missing.

That looks great - now I'm wanting a 3D printer! I've had the same problem as you in finding a chrome paint that looks decent. I've been trying to fix a chrome part within my wife's car and it looks worse that it did with just the wear. Looking like it was duct taped is a good description.

Great idea! Could you share your modified STL file?

Here's the .stl file, it makes a logo 105 x 55 x 4 mm; you may want to tweak the size to meet your desired fit...

Thanks. Are those the dimensions you printed at?

emm3seven wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 2:32 pm

Thanks. Are those the dimensions you printed at?

Yes, it left 0.5 to 1 mm around the perimeter of the logo--could maybe have been a bit tighter fit but i wanted to make sure it sat flatly into the recess to maximize adhesion (used steel-filled 5 minute J-B Weld).

kmiles wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 11:37 am

That looks great - now I'm wanting a 3D printer! I've had the same problem as you in finding a chrome paint that looks decent. I've been trying to fix a chrome part within my wife's car and it looks worse that it did with just the wear. Looking like it was duct taped is a good description.

I have an Elegoo Mas resin based printer--pleased with it overall, but there is a definite "learning curve". The logo was "printed" using black SainSmart General Purpose resin.

Very nice! Aside from the color, it's hard to tell that it's even a 3D print out.

Do you think that same process could be adapted for something like a tow cap cover? The one for my aero bumper went missing a while back and I've been looking for a way to replace it without getting a whole new bumper.

awashi43 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 7:19 pm

Very nice! Aside from the color, it's hard to tell that it's even a 3D print out.

Do you think that same process could be adapted for something like a tow cap cover? The one for my aero bumper went missing a while back and I've been looking for a way to replace it without getting a whole new bumper.

Sure, though it helps to have the original as a model. I would make it fit the hole but hang out a bit too far, then sand it to look nice...

cliffyk wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 7:38 pm

awashi43 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 7:19 pm

Very nice! Aside from the color, it's hard to tell that it's even a 3D print out.

Do you think that same process could be adapted for something like a tow cap cover? The one for my aero bumper went missing a while back and I've been looking for a way to replace it without getting a whole new bumper.

Sure, though it helps to have the original as a model. I would make it fit the hole but hang out a bit too far, then sand it to look nice...

Thanks for the info. Sent you a DM regarding another question I have.

That came out very nice!

THIS is super cool. Nice work Cliffy!

Awesome work! Gotta love technology!

Ilya wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 07, 2020 8:42 am

Awesome work! Gotta love technology!

It is quite an age we live in, isn't it!

Our water system has a number of 1" PVC ball valves, used only when servicing the filters once a year.

They are the typical "happy-homeowner grade" el-cheapos from Home Depot, et al:



Needless to say they get stuck in their ways after sitting for a year, this year I broke off one of the blades and cracked the handle's hub on the main valve while using a Crescent wrench to convince it to close.

So, after shutting down the well and draining the whole damned system to replace that valve I borrowed from the design of those dome shaped plastic oil filter wrenches and made a spanner socket to fit the ball valves:



It is driven with a 3/4" socket:


Didn't spend anytime on the final finish so it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but I made it fast to do a specific job--which it does quite nicely.

As I said, "Quite an age we live in!"

lol, AMAZING!