Re-Painting Original License Plates….

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MichaelPawelek
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Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by MichaelPawelek » Tue Oct 26, 2021 1:38 pm

Years ago Texas allowed YOM plates on vehicles if they were restored and approved. You can still use them under a grandfather clause if they are renewed on time every renewal cycle. Unfortunately adding newer YOM plates are no longer allowed.

Some 30+ years ago I found some plates at a junk shop, cleaned them up and re-painted them by spraying the background first then after drying hand painting the letters and numbers and they came out good enough to be approved. They now look not so great.

On a forum post somewhere I cannot find a person mentioned they spray the letter/number color first, let dry and then spray the background color. After drying they then gently sand the background color off the letters and numbers revealing the correct color below.

Anyone tried this and are the results better than hand painting the letters and numbers? Any advice or hints appreciated! 😊
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Erik Johnson
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by Erik Johnson » Tue Oct 26, 2021 2:12 pm

My dad paints the license plate and then has a very talented professional sign-painter and pin striper do the numbers and lettering.


Nunsio1
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by Nunsio1 » Tue Oct 26, 2021 2:59 pm

Professional auto painter’s that I know have told me… paint the background color first , then put the color of the numbers in a flat pan and lower the plate just touching the face of the numbers and remove it, probably will take a few try’s to get it right.


speedytinc
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by speedytinc » Tue Oct 26, 2021 3:49 pm

Nunsio1 wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 2:59 pm
Professional auto painter’s that I know have told me… paint the background color first , then put the color of the numbers in a flat pan and lower the plate just touching the face of the numbers and remove it, probably will take a few try’s to get it right.
Hard rubber roller works also.

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CudaMan
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by CudaMan » Tue Oct 26, 2021 4:26 pm

Steve Jelf did his Kansas plate using silk screen equipment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jb8IvCaGdc
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by John Codman » Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:19 pm

My home state of Massachusetts does not allow YOM plates to be restored. I have no idea why. I now live in Florida and the powers that be do allow plate restoration, but the restored plate must be submitted for approval prior to being installed on the car. I have had a plate at a restorer named Darryl for about two years. I doubt that I will ever see it again. Be careful.
Just a heads up:


John Codman
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by John Codman » Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:20 pm

My home state of Massachusetts does not allow YOM plates to be restored. I have no idea why. I now live in Florida and the powers that be do allow plate restoration, but the restored plate must be submitted for approval prior to being installed on the car.
Just a heads up: I have had a plate at a restorer named Korrie for about two years. I doubt that I will ever see it again. Be careful.


Professor Fate
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by Professor Fate » Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:45 pm

We have used a very talented guy in Ohio. Usually comes in at about $60 per plate and perfectly painted. Look for Mr. Styles....
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ivaldes1
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by ivaldes1 » Tue Oct 26, 2021 11:35 pm

Steve Jelf was a professional sign painter. His youtube video on restoring a license plate is as good as it gets, the attention to detail and craftsmanship is off the charts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jb8IvCaGdc


Rich Bingham
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by Rich Bingham » Wed Oct 27, 2021 10:35 am

The method Steve used in his video is how the plates were lettered originally. Alas, a screen print setup is probably too much ado for most of us who want to refurbish a couple of plates.
"Get a horse !"


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MichaelPawelek
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by MichaelPawelek » Wed Oct 27, 2021 12:17 pm

Amazon sells these hard rollers but I have no idea if they hold paint well.
https://www.amazon.com/hard-rubber-roll ... ber+roller

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Steve Jelf
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Re: Re-Painting Original License Plates….

Post by Steve Jelf » Wed Oct 27, 2021 1:40 pm

My home state of Massachusetts does not allow YOM plates to be restored.

And other states require that they must be restored. Both are ridiculous. How do they know whether a plate is restored or NOS? They don't.

I wish I could rememeber the name of the plate restorer I've seen at Chickasha. One I do remember is https://www.finishyourplates.com/
The inevitable often happens.
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