I would love to have a perfect grill for the mold, but as DAvid said, getting one would be a challenge, and then theres the whole liability thing. My gril is close to perfect from the front, its teh studds on the back that have had soem glue work done to them. Since I will most likely destroy the paint on the grill when I mold it, I am going to re-do the fiberglass work on teh back side of teh grill to make it more respectable. It also has to be tappered correctly for the release. -Jon
Go Jon Go!!!!!!!! Goodluck on your venture. Maybe after this you can do a 70 GS grill?:Brow: But seriously, dont listen to the negative crap, do your thing man. Keep us updated! -Josh
Update...... Ok, I just got back form the shop that is helping me with this venture, and I took him my grill, and we went through all the chemicals etc to re-make this thing. His is a long time caster, and said I should be able to get an easy 100 grills out of this mold. I bought enough of the material to cast a couple small parts etc while I get used to the material. I will post my results. If anyone needs a particular part of the grill molded, like mesh etc, let me know. I am just practicing prior to making the mold. I have decided to make this mold stronger than the original also. THe studds will be extra thick, and so will that lower section that fits under the bumper. My make it feable like the original. I do have one question I woudl like someone to answer, is there a patent law I shoudl be aware of? o No: Dont want to get in trouble here. Will keep you updated... -Jon
I started out to be a patent and trademark counsel because I had both an engineering and law degree which is a requirement to take the patent bar. I found it too boring for my taste 30 years ago. I am not your attorney nor would I consider myself up to date. With that disclaimer in mind: A design patent expires after 14 years. Conceivably Buick would have a cause of action for trade dress infringment if the design has acquired a secondary meaning. That is something other than just being able to be identified as a Buick grille. (Say something like the old shape of a glass coke bottle as a sign of purity and containing good tasting Coke a Cola.) Even if Buick could show secondary meaning there is the defense of abandonment---which is in play if it can be shown that this grille design has not been used by Buick for 3 years or more and there is no intent shown by Buick to resume its use. Having said all that if a GM wanted to take a even a longshot crack at someone over the remaking of any part along these lines there is nothing to stop them except their own sense of reason about their chances for prevailing. In order to give myself some additional protection I would find a place on the item to put your company name and disclaim any affiliation with GM or Buick. I would not use any GM logo or reference especially a part number.
Wow Jim, thanks thats what I needed to hear. :beer I am very anxious to use this stuff. You should have seen the detailed stuff this guy had remade. Way more complex than the GS grill. If this works out, I could concevably re-design and manufacture just about any part. Wow! :eek2:
Put me in line for one when they are ready.And you might consider making them out of a more flexible plastic if you are trying to improve the orginal design.This would make them less prone to breakage.Wish I knew more about plastics to may be of help with some advice but I don't.
We did go over several different plastics from very brittle to vitually indestructable. I guess it will all matter what people want to pay for them, and how they turn out. Obviously the price varys accordingly depending on which plastic you use. I played around with the mold material this evening. Fun stuff! It takes about 16 hours to cure, so I wont pour the resin material for a couple days, but I molded a mounting stud, and the GS grill emblem just for kicks. I will post how they turned out. Thanks for all the interest. I am really having fun learning all this stuff about molding parts. I am even thinking about molding fiberglass GS hood scoops for all thos Skylark Hoods out there.... Think of the possibilities! -Jon
Jon - I really appreciate your enthusiasm and dedication in wanting to explore this avenue, along with investing your time and materials. Although it has been suggested you're working against odds, I remain optimistic that you will be able to turn out a product that others can use. Count me in for at least one!. Thanks, Erik '71 Buick GS 455 Convertible
Hey Erik, I too wondered abotu the feasibility of the project, but after playing with this new material, I have NO DOUBT that this grill will come to fruition. I have never worked with this type of material, and it is great stuff. Amazing release! I have drawn out the plans for making this mold, but as I mentioned before I have some construction work to do to the grill to make it. Not alot, of work, but I am a perfectionist, and if I am doing this, I am going to do it right. I have to tell you though, these materials ar enot cheap, so I am really hoping the board supports me once the grill is done. I am really having fun on this project. I thought abotu soemthing last night though..... where are we gonna get all these grill studs? Anyone remake them? I am going to re-make soem of the mesh this weekend as a test before I pour the mold. Heres som pictures of me playing with the material. I remade the GS Emblem for kicks, and below it you will see the stud that I re-molded to repair the GS grill. These parts are straight out of the mold, no clean up. Notice, the mold picked up all the flaws in the emblem. Gotta make this grill perfect before molding it. -Jon
Well, THE grill is almost to a point where a mold can be poured. I have a really good feeling abotu the success of it. Do you have any idea how hard it was to take sadpaper, razorblades, and course files to this nicely painted GS grill? It was a difficult thing to do, but if the mold is gonna be a success, the grill has to be smooth. After I do a couple other mods, and some fabrication work to improve the new grills structure, I shoudl be able to pour the mold. Should be in a state of curing by next week. After pouring the mold, I cant make a grill for 3-5 days. Although the stuff is strong, it takes days for it to fully cure. Improvements that I have made to the grill, is increasing the thickness of the material on the lower section that goes under the bumper, and adding more support to the top row of the grill. All the other rows have a square section that extens the whole width of the grill. The top bar supports are only half the width of the bar, and becomes very week. The grill on ebay right now is missing its top row. Its a good example as to why I am doing this. Also, th emounting studs on the sides of the grill will most likely be a solid mount for strength reasons. Its coming along.... -Jon
How are you gonna fill the mold? Jon, Just wondering what help you have been given about venting the mold? Do you have a pressure tank large enough to evacuate all of the air out of the part as it is curing? How are you going to fill the part? A 2 part mix injected with tips? Are you worried about all of the voids or air holes needing to be "filled" after the part comes out of the tool? That is a large, large mold! Very very hard to fill with all of the different 90* angle changes and elevation changes. I'm sure you are getting some help from a molding expert. But I was just wanting to ask some questions. Troy
Hey Troy, I am not going that High tech here, The air out of the mold wont be an issue, as this material is brushed on, and then poured. Its also very thin, and takes for ever to set up, so I have whitnessed that most of the air floats to the top, and escapes the mold, so any air in the mold will be behind the facing of the grill. I really do have it all worked out, and yes, I have been working with a mold expert, as when this works, he gets a lot of business. All the anlges and corners have been addressed. It just now a matter of getting the grill to the point where it can be molded. The only changes from the original grill will be from the back side, and will only be areas where there was once an absence of material, will now be solid(and stronger). From the front, you wont be able to tell its a repro. -Jon
Well we are hoping it works out for you and us. let us know how it goes, i would be interested in one as well... I wouldn't worry about the studs...be easier to make it with just the area located, can alwaya drill and screw in studs later... later Tim
If he's using the same resin I was looking into with a similar project to this a couple of years ago the resin is about the consistancy of whole milk or maybe cream. It flows and pours pretty durn well. Hope he can make this work and earn a few bucks!!! regards
Hi guys, Just had a heart attack. Dropped the grill from the work bench.... ou: Cracked it, and had to do soem resin work to it, but were back in business, and it actually looks better than before. I will try be a little more careful from now on...... I am going back and forth between projects. Welding patch panels, and foming pieces for the grill, so it can release from the mold correctly. Just takes time for stuff to dry. The tricky part is using materials that will shape correctly, but can be removed from the original grill. I have one to two more areas to build, and then in the mold box it goes. I should be pouring the mold next weekend, or early in the following week. It looks very promising. I am thinking abotu making the grill out of soemthing less brittle than the factory stuff. I want it to give a little to be more forgiving to an minor error, or shrinkage in the part. I will probably for kicks, even make a rubber grill. :grin: Keeping busy here.... -Jon
Grill Pic Ok, here is a picture of the gril in all its glory. I will be building the mold box this evening. Should pour nicely. THE mounting studs might get a littel tricky, but I may have to make them ahead of time, and set them in the plastic as I pour the mold. WIP on that part. However, the front of the grill should be virtually flawless. You and see all the work here, but a lot of the offset areas on teh backside fo the grill were filled with foam, and anything else I could find that would give me a flush release surface. Very anxious to pour the first mold. p -Jon
