R6T7

Trying to find a process for repainting the yellow letters on a black plate Calif license plate - I've tried using a sponge roller and a low nap roller with no success - anyone have a process that works?

Bob

Tom/99

Spray the yellow on the plate. Letter color
Spray the black over the yellow. Background color
Use a rag around your finger, and rub the letters out with compound.
Here's a pair of 65 Texas plated I did;

magicv8

If you will drive around with it, make sure your state doesn't prohibit painting plates - like NY does.

R6T7

I can't find anything in the CA vehicle code that would preclude restoration of an existing registered license plate, provided it "was not altered from it's original markings" - does the NY law preclude restoration of a plate, if it is restored to it's original colors and finishes?

R6T7

TOM/99 - Clever idea - what types/brands of paint did you use - oil or water based? Do you rub off the second coat while it's still somewhat tacky or did you let it dry?

Grey Ghost

That is a great job ! I'm also interested in the black paint you used and what yellow paint bobbeh will wind up using.

R6T7

I'm thinking that yellow engine enamel might work for the lettering - let it dry - maybe even bake it before shooting the black top coat. That might make it easier to remove the black paint from the letters.
The yellow engine enamel is reasonably close to the yellow lettering on CA plates - although it's hard to tell after 41 years what the original color was.

Ron Miller

I restored a motorcycle plate a couple of years ago, spray painted the base color first. Then, for the numbers and other raised letters, I did much as the original plate was done, I suspect. I made a pad of 3-4 layers of an old "T" shirt stretched over a small 1x4 board, topped off with a layer of old panty hose (keeps the fibers/hairs down from the cotton "T" shirt. Apply paint to the pad being careful to fully saturate but not overly soak it with paint. Then, carefully "pad" the raised letters on your license plate, done properly they'll come out looking just as they were originally applied.

Sorry I don't have a picture readily available, but it really looks quite nice.

midnight1957

I was at a car show some time back and a guy was selling plastic plates that he made on the spot. He had blank plates from all states. He would custom make anything you wanted on a plate. I watched him for a while.
After he made the custom plate, the letters were the same color as the back ground. Then he would take what looked like a small hard ( looked like wood) roller similar to a paint roller only about 2 inches wide. He them would put some paint on a paper and roll it out thin, them go over the letters, because he rolled it out thin first there were no runs. He went over them several times and they looked perfect.
I asked him where he got his roller, he said it was not called a roller but a brayer (check spelling) and said that you can get them from a hobby store or a craft store.
I have an old chest type Coke box with the embossed letters and I am going to restore it using this method.
Hope this will help a little.
Thanks and Have a Blessed day,
Wade

I'm Batman

Some states mandate that YOM plates be original and unrestored. Stupid, if you ask me, but each state makes its own rules.

Tom/99

I use acrylic lacquer for both colors. I wait a couple days between colors. After the second color is applied, I give it a week to dry before rubbing the text out.

richbopp

I read somewhere, and I am still looking, that the plates in CA need to have reflective paint. Not sure if that applies to newer or all, but the DMV has a pamphlet on all the plates etc.

Little cool here in the desert, but still "No bad days"

Rich

Plasticman

Yep, Florida has this rule, and you MUST send your plate in for it to be certified and registered to your vehicle.

I got lucky, and found a 62 Florida plate that looked brand new off Ebay for a very reasonable price.

Plasticman

olds120

I use a new blackboard eraser. dip it in the paint, clean off the excess and place it on the numbers and letters. If you dont press too hard it will only make contact with the high spots and does a good job

R6T7

You are right, but these plates are original black plates with yellow letters which are not reflective -

Ron Miller

Sounds like another good method of reproducing the original "look" to the plate.

Grey Ghost

I asked at the tag office here in GA this Sept. They said, "Just find an original and put it on. Keep the current one in the car with you." 1965 GA are white/blue letters. My car is from NC and 1965 were black/yellow letters. I love black plates and have been tempted to paint my '65 GA plate. What cop is going to know the original colors anyway....?

MAGRED02

I have restored several plates. I live in NY and they don't allow it, but they passed ok. On black plates with yellow letters I spray the plate satin black first. Then I trim down a foam brush to letter width size and use a close yellow (schoolbus yellow works for me) and carefully paint the face of the letters and wipe any runs. then I go around the raised boarder the same way. the enamel smooths out as it drys. After it/they dry I spray the plate(s) with satin clear to dull them down. I have never been stopped by the police because of the painted plates. Most of the plates are older than the cops anyway.
Good Luck

I'm Batman

A friendly tip with YOM plates - make sure the numbers are clear before spending too much time/money restoring your plates (if you're allowed to restore, that is). I have a MO 1930 truck plate for my dad's AA...but the number is currently assigned to a motorcycle. No luck so far convincing the DMV that a motorcycle with a small, modern aluminum plate will not be mistaken for an ancient truck with a large steel plate that says "30."

0Virginia Vettes

I have bought such a roller. It is a hard rubber roller called a "Brayer" It is product # 70 made by Hunt Manufacturing Co. in Statesville NC It is 1 1/2" wide and has a roller handle with a hard roller that is rolled through paint that we spread out on magazine pages or phone book pages. It looks like a wall paper edge roller that is made from wood instead of rubber.This is a perfect tool to do the edges around center consoles, dash indicators, grill edges, any where you want to stay out of the wipe/tape business and need a small crisp edge. We have done Coke machines and 7-UP cooler boxes with perfect results.
When you are done you wipe off the roller with a rag/thinner and it is ready for the next job. We do not sell them but you can contact the mfg.
Dick
Virginia Vettes