Restoring California black plates ideas.

[62 driver]

Any tip on the best way to restore black plates?  How have you done it? What is the yellow color? Did you roll the yellow lettering? Any ideas would be helpfully.  Thanks Dave

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Dave,
There are "people" that do it. The yellow is hard to get right. Check with local rod & custom guys. Be advised that Kalifornia has put the squeeze on many plate issues. Wink!
Bob

[Ken Perry]

The professional restorations of Ca,black plates I have seen were perfect show quality! One guy I knew sent a set off ,the front one was bent bad and riped,they came back perfect! I would start by looking in Hemings Motor News under plate resoration. Ken Perry

[R Schroeder]

One of the best.

http://www.restoreatag.com/?gclid=COzfu7O9_rUCFetFMgodCQgASw

Ebay also has many that are original.
I picked 1963 , because that was the last year , but I'm sure there are many others cheaper.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R5&_nkw=california+license+plates+1963&_sacat=0&_from=R40


Roy

[62 driver]

I really want to do it myself.  It the accomplishment of doing it that I enjoy. I am enjoying going to adult auto body night school at 60 years old for that very reason.
Dave

[R Schroeder]

Check out You-tube . I saw some guys on there doing it.
Roy

[J. Gomez]

Dave I restore mine and I was happy they way the turned out. The yellow paint I used was the old caterpillar yellow formula from a rattle and shake can. It matched the original color on the plates. I purchase the can from TSM (tractor supply) not sure if you have them in the Cali area.

If you do a Google search there are multiple postings on other forum from folks that had done plate restoration themselves, and as Roy mention there are YouTube video clips also.

Good luck..!

[62 driver]

J Gomez, I have looked at YouTube.  Did you do the black first? Did you use hardner?  How did you put the yellow on the raised letters?  By brush, roller or tape?  Did you do California plates?
Thanks Dave

[J. Gomez]

Dave,

I first stripped the old paint and smooth a few rough areas, apply primer and then used a black semi gloss rattle automobile paint can, nothing fancy. It all depends on how meticulous you would want to be in painting the plates; I’d decided the simpler way not going to the extreme.

The raised letters and numbers I taped around the edges and sand them before applying the yellow in several light layers. Since the paint is glossy I used wet sand paper to doll the gloss a bit.

I recalled reading on one of the forums (not sure which one) someone suggested applying the paint to a glass pane and then lay the plates over so the raised numbers and letters would get a smooth even layers of paint. There was a name for that technique just can’t remember what’s called.

My plates are from Texas and if I remember the Cali plates have the same yellow color on the letters and number.

[62 driver]

J. Gomez,  thanks for the information. The glass idea sound good to me. I have striped the plate so I will make a dry run with left over water base house paint. The word California would be to hard to tape off for me. I tried that already.
Dave