anyone restore their LR number plate?

[WI-ROTTIE]

Mine is a bit faded and doesn't look all that great. I assume I could drill out the rivets and respray the whole think black and then lightly sand it to remove the paint from the high spots to expose the bare metal on the lettering and edges. I assume you would then want to clear coat the whole thing? Anyway, I assume its easy but not sure if anyone else has done it and had any tips or suggestions.

Pete

[lrnasd90]

I took mine off and acid washed it, look brand new when I was done. No need for repainting or anything, plus it really brighten up the exposed metal.

[bjf]

acid washed? where and how?

[lrnasd90]

In my back yard, with Aluminium Brightener acid...not sure which acid that is, but the same kind that people buy to clean their aluminium wheels.

[bjf]

How would that fix the black paint?

[lrnasd90]

I don't know maybe it eats up all the oxidation off the paint. Obviously if the paint is coming off or damaged then you would have to do something else. After I did it to mine there was a night and day difference between before and after. It may not work for everyone, but it takes like 30 minutes to find out. I drilled out the rivets, took the plate off, coated it down with the acid, waited 15 minutes and hosed it off with the garden hose. Then I riveted it back on. I guess you could do it without removing it, but I did not want to chance the acid on my truck.

[bjf]

got nothing better to do. will try today

[bjf]

is the black a satin finish?

[JimC]

gloss

[bjf]

would have never guessed that

[btate]

I took mine off and polished the silver areas with flitz metal polish and alumabright.

Stay off the black and rinse well when done. I little more gloss than new, but I was happy with the results