Hybrid crest: 2 months :(

I don't want this to be a rag on Greg, because THIS IS NOT HIS FAULT. However, i strongly advise against installing the hybrid crest.

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After about two weeks of sun, i noticed one of the white "checkers" on the flag had come off. No big deal, i figured i'd fill it back in later with some model paint or something. Another week, and another white checker. Another week...you get the idea. Then i noticed that ALL the white paint was coming off. Okay... So i guess i'll replace ALL the white paint, right?

Then last weekend, i pulled the car into the shade to give it a bath. I guess i didn't let the emblem cool off enough before hitting it with water, but, still... You can see the result.

Shame, i really liked the thing, and i got lots of compliments on it. Hopefully the old emblem will bolt back on (remember the part about drilling out the header panel?).

Maybe the hybrid emblem is better suited for interior use? It's a beautiful piece, and Greg put a lot of hard work into it--it just appears that the manufacturer is using crappy paints or something. :sigh:

that sucks, they were nice

Soda blast it and repaint?

I painted my wheel crest with nail polish and clear coated over top.

That lasted 2 years untill I went with a full wheel repaint.

Chris,

I contacted the manufacturer about another crest with the same problem in June, and haven't gotten any results. These were supposedly enameled, but from what I have seen with the two failures, the plating is the problem. Nothing sticks to chrome plating (from my experience, anyway), and the white enameled sections are releasing from the plating. Hindsight is 20/20...They should not have been plated.

No big deal, Greg.
I'll hang on to it and maybe one of these days i'll blast it down and have it powdercoated/repainted or something.

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Fliermike--there are other ways to handle this. GTFO---->

Fliermike, did you read what put on the tread him? I feel your pain, but, ever want anything, wait till he on his feet for sure and he will handle his business. btw im not on either side, both have stories and both have problem, get over it, it life,. move on!

.....

I understand that you want what is owed you, but if you decide to call him out in every thread he posts in, this board is going to come to a standstill, every thread will devolve into demands for compensation.

Me -- no.
And on top of what Eric said, i'm going to get really pissed if you call him out in every thread, because i'm just here for the fun of it. I'm sure there are other ways you can deal with getting your money back or getting your parts that don't involve other people's threads.

...

Thanks!
I really do understand where you're coming from, but there's nothing *I* or the rest of us here can do. I hope you get it all settled...

We're all aware of it, you've made your point. There's nothing that any of us can do. You're just making this site miserable. Is that what you want?

That may be a little bit harsh. I can understand the anger when you're out parts and hard earned money, only to see the person responsible posting on the site while they ignore every attempt of communication you've made to them personally.

Honestly it's a crappy situation and I hope that it gets resolved by either monetary refunds, return of parts and/or delivering of parts that were ordered/paid for and promised.

There we go, i like this solution (Greg's Customer Service area).

I grew up in Birmingham, UK which was once the center for Automobile and Jewelery manufacturing.
The Cloissone process of enamelling metal was used for jewellery and car badges.

My Father worked for one of these badge companies and he taught me that they usually enamelled the base metal then chrome plated the badge after the enamel process.
The chrome could not adhere to the enamel because it was an insulator.

My 2 cents worth.

Has anyone figured out a solution to this problem yet? I would really like to run the badge, but I do worry about the wear. Is there a way to coat it with clear epoxy or the likes and have it stay together?

Anybody had any experience of clear powder coating. Would this help "lock in" the enamel?

Is clear powdercoat truly clear?

If the paint isn't adhering to the base metal, then nothing added on top of that paint will do any good.... I've got one of these badges to; I plan on using it in the interior somewhere.

Yes the fused enamel powder is not gripping the plated base metal, I was considering encapsulation to enclose the whole thing hoping that clear powder coat may work. Another option may be to dip/cover the whole thing in clear acrylic.

Hey Mike, so is the one that I'm selling the same run as the pic Porch posted? Mine looks like a better quality one with exposed chrome plated outlines.

How about vacuum forming a layer of clear plastic over it?

Rob, I believe there was only one batch, but I could be wrong.
Can't find mine to compare, but I would like to find some way of covering it with a clear
skin. I'm going to search the encapsulating companies.