Anyone have experience restoring classic license plates?

I have a set of unused '68 Texas plates for my '68 Camaro. Unfortunately they were stored in a non-climate controlled warehouse for 30+ years and are lightly rusted in spots.

I know how to strip, get rid of the rust, prime and paint the plates, but how do the alpha/ numeric characters get painted without messing up the background?

I thought of maybe painting a sheet of foil with the character color and laying the plates face down on the foil.

How do they do this at the Big House? Use a paint roller or are they individually hand painted?

I want to make them look as original and sharp as possible.

Help!

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See my '68 RS/ZZ4 at http://www.100megsfree.com/choptop/camaro.html

there are a few companies that restore them. I've seen some that look great,I think it was about $40. For that price why waste your time? http://www.darrylsplates.com/

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68 camaro,hugger orange ,white stripes.327 4 speed. http://members.spree.com/entertainment/ochrisl/

[This message has been edited by ochrisl (edited 07-12-2001).]

Wow! Thanks for the info! I think you are right...for about $50 why not?!

I read an article on how to do it a long time ago. They painted the numbers color on first on the entire plate, then did the other color. After that they compounded the top color off the numbers until the number color came through. Neat huh?

Kevin

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69' SS-350 Convert, M20, 3.55 posi. Totally Disassembled & in boxes (I'm working on it!)
69'(Hugger Orange -originally, Burgundy now) Z-21 Convert 327/PG, Driver (http://www.fototime.com/3C870D9037E51DE/standard.jpg)

I have a better solution. Just watch E-bay. I just purchased a pair of 68 Texas "Hemisfair" plates for $25 + $4 shipping. The plates are mint un-issued with the paper from the prision in between them. They are out there almost everyday.

Better than spending $50 each to restore a pair. Good luck!

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Dave Richard
68RS/SS Convertible (http://y42.photos.yahoo.com/bc/comdiscodave/lst?.dir=/My+Photo+Album)
L48 (350/295 Powerglide)

DO YOU KNOW ANY FELONS???
CHANCES ARE THEY COULD GIVE YOU SOME NEEDED INSIGHT IN THE MANUFACTURING, STAMPING, AND PAINTING OF LICENSE PLATES.
SORRY..I COULDN'T RESIST.
I AGREE ON THE E-BAY REPLY BUT BEEEE CAREFUL.