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[bibeejh]

Hey guys, I have a question for you. Does anyone here have any idea how to do, what I am assuming is, embossing. the picture is a Carolina Skiff center console seat. What I am questioning is the CS design on the back rest as well as the "pleating" design on the seat that is not a pleat but a series of lines embossed across the fabric to give a pleated look. I should add that I'm not sure if embossing is the proper word as the definition doesn't fit.

[BigRig]

@bibeejh ,


I cannot tell it is not close enough but almost looks like embroidery. If so search for an embrodery shop near you and go from there.

[bibeejh]

No it isn't embroidered. It's almost like it's stamped. I'm not likely to embroider any marine stuff due to the holes.

[Cody]

I believe embossing is the right term. I know chechaflo has a video online about embossing but it’s in leather. I’d assume heat would need to be involved with vinyl?

[bibeejh]

I've seen that video. Good stuff. But I agree, I believe heat would be required and even then I'd be worried about discoloration. And side question, would I need to be worried about copyright issues if I made the CS?

[Cody]

I asked this same question to a screen printer when I had a customer wanted skidoo put back on the size of a jet ski seat and they said they wouldn’t do it as the name is copy right. But they also said now that we told you this, one won’t hurt and did it anyways lol. So from their advise I think tech yes you can’t do it, but like they said one won’t hurt. Matter of morals and the customers wants I guess.

[bibeejh]

I would agree. And I guess depending on the company, they would probably understand if it's a repair and you aren't advertising gear with their logo. Besides I'm sure they have bigger fish to fry.

[Bondo497]

@bibeejh
I made a die stamp out of JB Weld and an original emblem, I'll post the pics. I'm experimenting right now but cold pressing is not getting it. I haven't heated the vinyl yet but when I figure out how I can easily line up the stamp and die I will either heat the emblem or the vinyl and see what works best.

[Bondo497]

You can see I double pressed the vinyl and got it misaligned.

[bibeejh]

Nice effort. I'm really not familiar enough with the tendencies of vinyl to recommend anything but I'm interested to see what comes of your experimentation

[BigRig]

@Bondo497 ,

You have a new customer

[hapyrdr]

I think the heat will not hurt because as we talked about earlier in the vacuum molding they got the vinyl pretty hot in the oven before vacuuming. What I see as a problem is using two dies as you have made with jb weld that has no clearance between features for the vinyl to form into

[Bondo497]

@hapyrdr I think your right. After my post I went back and took a propane torch to the piece I pressed staying about 8 inches away from the backside and it never changed color but the cloth backing did scorch. So vinyl, Naugahyde anyway, can take the heat.

[John]

Great Question!
Well once you explain to the customer how much time and money it will cost to emboss that they will probably be fine with having no logo there. I don't have much experience in this but you would need to have dies made or attempt to make them your self. Both would be expensive. Alternative options you could do is have it embroidered. This would probably cost $60 - $100. Lots of boat companies embroider their logos including mastercraft. You could also have some one cut you out a negative of the logo on a vinyl sticker cutter, use it as a stencil to paint the logo on with sem vinyl paint. That works pretty well and is really cost effective.

As far as copyright issues go... Some people worry about that but I don't understand why. Your trying to bring back the integrity of the boat interior witch represents the brad in a positive way. I have done this many times on mastercraft boats for the dealers. My thought is that if any company did care about you doing this and actually had the time to peruse trimmers using their logo to refurbish their boats... Then their priorities are pretty messed up and probably wont be in businesses much longer anyways. I'm not a lawyer but personally I don't worry about it and have done it many times.

@Bondo497 That's an awesome idea. Id love to know how that ends up working out when you test it more.