License plate restoration
 

My brother-in-law wanted a set of vintage plates for his 1930 Tudor. Old Virginia plates as a matched set are difficult to find and pricey when found. Anyway he found a set. Cracked here and there, and a couple of extra holes where nailed up in a barn somewhere, I imagine. They had a mild case of rust pitting, but enough color left to accurately repaint them. He brought them to me and I started by cleaning them up. I wire brushed and sandblasted them a little, then welded up the cracks and extra holes. After grinding the welded areas I skimmed them both with body filler. A good sanding, about 3 coats of lacquer primer. I scuff padded both with red pads then shot the backs with black, taking care to cover the outside edges completely. Once the backs dried WELL, I taped all the holes from the backside to prevent blow- thru overspray. I ran a piece of tape around the outer edges facing up, then laid the plates on cardboard and taped that line of tape down from the front to prevent overspray around the edges. Clear as mud....Then I shot the fronts with black. I was fortunate that Rustoleum makes an orange color that's a dead ringer for the original color. I actually masked all the letters and numbers off, I've developed a tremor in my rt arm since I retired and free- handing a paint line ain't gonna happen no more. lol I shot the orange on and pulled the tape while wet. Enamel leaves a clean line like stripe tape if the masking tape is pulled before the paint dries. Be careful! Jon was happy with them. Gary ***A license plate WARNING*** Virginia and many other states allow registering your vintage car with original year plates, BUT check the numbers with DMV because this set of plate numbers were reissued on on a modern Va tag, The modern tag takes priority so these tags can't be actually driven on.....

Re: License plate restoration
 

Great job! I’ve got a set of 29 Virginia plates that need the same treatment. Those are orange with black numbers. Can you post the name or number of the orange Rustoleum? And do I understand that you used masking tape for all the letters and numbers? That is quite a task!

Re: License plate restoration
 

Hiya Fairview, carry your tag to Lowes, the orange is in spray-bombs or quart cans. 2 different oranges are available, one yellowish and one more red. The redder one I used. The materials I had left I gave to the brother in law. Gary

Re: License plate restoration
 

The masking tape I cut along the edge of the roll with a razor knife, from 1/16th wide to go around the tiny curves and widening the tape as I moved out to more open areas. Gary

Re: License plate restoration
 

I restored dozens, no, hundreds of antique license plates. I never used spray-bombs and tape! I did them all by hand. The first ones are difficult but once you get a steady hand it's an easy job.

Re: License plate restoration
 

I, too, have tremors in my hands. But I was given a 1930 Pennsylvania plate that needed a lot of TLC, welding, etc, just like you describe. This plate can be seen in my profile. It's not restorer grade, but it's a good ten footer.
Terry

Re: License plate restoration
 

Unfortunately at 67 years old I have lost the steady hands. Patience, masking tape, age and cunning can overcome many adversaries....

Re: License plate restoration
 

Same problem as Tinman080. My shaky hands are 82 years old. The rest of me is catching up real fast. Like the roll of toilet paper, "the closer to the end you get the faster it goes. Jack

Re: License plate restoration
 

Tinman080
Very nice license plate. Was looking at your profile and would like to see more pictures in the future of the Ranger speedster.......you are very innovated. Thanks for the post.

Re: License plate restoration
 

Here ya go

Re: License plate restoration
 

You guys make me jealous. I don't have those skills (yet). I sent my YOM plate out to get restored before the DMV would accept it.

I am very happy with the work done on my plate by Brian Mabry of Finish Your Plates.
No, I'm not affiliated with him in any way, other than I paid him to refinish my plate.

Re: License plate restoration
 

tinman080,
Beautiful job on those plates. This is a very timely thread. After months of looking for a 1929 Colorado plate that wasn't a kings ransom, my plate arrived Saturday. Aside from needing paint, its in very good shape. I have Horseless Carriage plates on the car and don't know if the DMV will get their boxers in a bunch if I would display a YOM plate as well.

Re: License plate restoration
 

Slammin a quick visit to DMV will tell you....lol... maybe! Afordman31 I'm itching to get going. I had a heart attack December 12th. I'm hoping to be up to speed soon so I can get rolling. Thanks for all the kind responses. Gary:)

Re: License plate restoration
 

tinman080,

With plates like those that have been reissued, I would think the DMD could send a letter (at your cost) to make an offer of purchase (by you) for the reissued plates to the new owner. Once you have the plate's, offer them to the DMV and see if they will reissue the numbers back to the original plates?

The worst thing they could do, ... Is say no, ... the default answer if you don't ask.

I've gotten away with a whole lot of thing's just by asking more than one person. Last time about a year ago, ... $800.00 off of past registration fee's for a 1990 f-150 and registered it non-opp.

Regards
Bill

Re: License plate restoration
 

BillCNC, the plates are my brother-in-laws and I'm not involved in the number fiasco. The DMV'S position is the number is the number, the year does not matter. I guess he will do what he wants. Thanks for the good advice.

Re: License plate restoration
 

Ted couldn't use his 1930 plates, the same number was on a Motorcycle, somewhere???
Bill W.

Re: License plate restoration
 

Years ago you could buy very thin tape under the name of chartpak. Used tons of it in drafting. Thanks for reminding me. Better than masking tape I believe, and no. Cutting.

Re: License plate restoration
 

I could have used 3M fineline, in fact I used tons of it in my body shop career; but I like using a single edge razor blade on 3M crepe style masking tape. I know what results I will get. Using a spray bomb on a license plate is perfectly fine if the preparation is adequate and the quality of the paint is top notch. Painting a car with fingernail paint is absolutely fine if the prep is good, the paint is good and that's what the owner wants. The black car is 2 coats of acrylic enamel single stage over lacquer primer on 3/4'' plywood. The green car is 3 coats of acrylic enamel single stage over lacquer primer over 3/4'' plywood. No clear coat. Both kept inside, don't need it. Good results can be had with ''cheap'' products if care is used. Thanks, Gary:D

Re: License plate restoration
 

Here's a quick and dirty method I've used on stuff with raised letters/numbers like license plates. Spray the piece with a couple fairly heavy coats of the letter/number color. Then spray it with a light coat of the background color - just enough to cover the first color. Finally, sand the background color off the raised areas. Maybe not "fine point" results but still nice and a lot easier than masking.

Re displaying YOM plates, my car had dual tail lights - I had current plate on left and YOM on right. Never had a problem - your state's mileage may vary.

Re: License plate restoration
 

I found a nice pair of original CA plates for my '30 Tudor. Only problem is that number is being used on a modern plate on a Harley.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...psb3yclq3e.jpg