custom grill
#16
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 844
Likes: 0
From: Chilliwack, BC, Canada
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
#18
Seasoned Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Year: 1993
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: i6
#19
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 1
From: Britt, MN
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
gotta find someone with a computer controlled plasma cutter to get the letters. actually if you could come up with a design, they would probably be able to make you a full custom grill out of any material you like. That would be sweet on some aluminum diamond plate!
#21
You asked, I provide. I went with the teeth look as well. Just aluminum sheet metal, cut with tin snips, it's pretty rugged. Primed and painted with 500 degree F engine block gloss. 12 inch neon I got for free behind it and hooked up to a rocker switch. Took 4 1/2 hours for it all.
First pic is grille being fit, second is day, and 3rd is night. Enjoy!
First pic is grille being fit, second is day, and 3rd is night. Enjoy!
#30
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
Instead of accessing a computer controlled plasma cutter, why not just get a piece of sheet aluminum (or steel, which would keep sticks and branches from poking big holes in everything...and isn't that kinda the point of a grille anyway?), measure it to fit just inside the stock plastic grille frame, trim the vertical bars off of the stock grille so you have a border that makes it look more professional (though I still like the homebrew look), then simply mark in sharpie your vertical and horizontal meridian lines, draw a box for your letters (check out calligraphy books for letter placement ideas...trust me, I'm a calligrapher too, and it makes a HUGE difference if your letters are proportioned and spaced correctly for the font you're using), then just use a drill press or hand drill (brad tip pref so it doesn't skip, with tape squares to keep the holes clean) and punch out the letters in 2 or 3 dot rows (think bullet holes or the old pin-style printers). That way, you have the logo, but in a very clean, professional way without the hassle of plasma or saw cutting. I mean, pretty much anyone reading this can use a drill...then just clean up with acetone, and polish it! I'll post a pic of a fab diagram later.
Keep in mind, just an idea, haven't built it, though I might.
Another solution would be to mark out the holes as above, then on the front facing side, deeply score an asterisk (6 point) star *, then drill a SMALL (and i mean the smallest bit you have) hole EXACTLY in the center of each score-star, turn it over (on 2-3" support blocks, especially between the letters, or just make a small 2x4 box) and using a 1/2 or 3/4" punch (hell, even a grinder sharpened rebar would work I guess), and punch through using a BFH so you can do it in one clean hit. The end result would be bullet hole looking holes in the Jeep logo. Hopefully... I'll have to try it first on some scrap but it should work. Then you could repeat the process in some "random" places elsewhere on the grill to tie it all in. I personally wouldn't paint it but leave it bare, maybe a clear coat of something to keep it from rusting if you use steel.
Oh and btw, the closest font I found if you want to print it out then mark it on your metal is Arial. Just make sure to square off the ends of the letters 'E' and 'J' and make the loop of the 'P' uniform instead of tapering at the top and bottom. I am sooooo doing this, I can't wait to put up some fabbing photos.
Keep in mind, just an idea, haven't built it, though I might.
Another solution would be to mark out the holes as above, then on the front facing side, deeply score an asterisk (6 point) star *, then drill a SMALL (and i mean the smallest bit you have) hole EXACTLY in the center of each score-star, turn it over (on 2-3" support blocks, especially between the letters, or just make a small 2x4 box) and using a 1/2 or 3/4" punch (hell, even a grinder sharpened rebar would work I guess), and punch through using a BFH so you can do it in one clean hit. The end result would be bullet hole looking holes in the Jeep logo. Hopefully... I'll have to try it first on some scrap but it should work. Then you could repeat the process in some "random" places elsewhere on the grill to tie it all in. I personally wouldn't paint it but leave it bare, maybe a clear coat of something to keep it from rusting if you use steel.
Oh and btw, the closest font I found if you want to print it out then mark it on your metal is Arial. Just make sure to square off the ends of the letters 'E' and 'J' and make the loop of the 'P' uniform instead of tapering at the top and bottom. I am sooooo doing this, I can't wait to put up some fabbing photos.
Last edited by Zreiser; 04-23-2010 at 09:43 PM. Reason: new (maybe better) idea
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