Sticky numberplates
Discussion
quote:
SGirl
How you getting on with getting the number plate off?
Just interested as I suggested the hair dryer route.
Hope it worked in the end.
Paul
Failing miserably so far... I'm heading in the general direction of "shove the new one over the top and get the front end resprayed ASAP". The front end does need some TLC anyway, it's a bit tatty IMO.
The hairdryer didn't seem to work. Or rather, it did to an extent - but the plate refused to peel off nicely, it just lifts off in teensy bits. The whole thing is taking hours. It's something to do with the adhesive.
Are you going to the Bucks meet late next week? If so I'll show you what I've done - although it'll almost certainly be a shove-the-new-one-over-the-top job at that time.
Oh, and please remind me - I owe you a beer next time I see you for suggesting the hairdryer! Without that I wouldn't have had a hope of even getting as far as I did.
Sorry it hasn't been a resounding success. I'm sure you've tried it, but if you can just get a corner lifted, just enough to hold in some pliers, you can then concentrate the heat between the plate and the bodywork without melting your hands. Keep playing the heat and pull evenly and it should gradually release - honest. Mind you if it's been put on with superglue I'd go the front end respray route!
I won't be going to the Bucks meeting and I couldn't possibly accept a beer until mission accomplished!
Good luck - Paul
I won't be going to the Bucks meeting and I couldn't possibly accept a beer until mission accomplished!
Good luck - Paul
I can't even get a corner lifted. It just breaks off and won't let go enough for me to get the pliers on it. Once the plate bits are off, though, the adhesive comes off fairly easily with white spirit. So if I could just work out how to get the white spirit underneath the plate... Tom Cruise, where are you when we need you?
I'm still exceedingly tempted by the respray, though. The front of the car isn't pristine and I want it to look nice. (The gold badges are on order as we speak!) And when it is resprayed, no more sticky numberplates for me - nope, I'd rather have a fan override and a slightly hotter engine than all this trouble again.
The beer will keep until the next Middx gathering, though! The theory was spot on, it's only the plate itself that's stopping your hairdryer method from working.
I'm still exceedingly tempted by the respray, though. The front of the car isn't pristine and I want it to look nice. (The gold badges are on order as we speak!) And when it is resprayed, no more sticky numberplates for me - nope, I'd rather have a fan override and a slightly hotter engine than all this trouble again.
The beer will keep until the next Middx gathering, though!
The theory was spot on, it's only the plate itself that's stopping your hairdryer method from working. The adhesive pad that's typically used for number plates does not weaken with heating - in fact probably the opposite. It's down to applying the maximum separation force that the intrinsic strength in the number plate will allow. Wear some strong gloves when doing this since the fractured plate has extremely sharp edges. If you are careful and apply the pressure gradually, the adhesive pad (not the glue) will split and then you can apply the white spirit to the debris.
Have recent experience of the same problem - at one point I assumed it was going to be impossible and also thought of slapping the new over the old but now glad I perservered.
Hutch
Have recent experience of the same problem - at one point I assumed it was going to be impossible and also thought of slapping the new over the old but now glad I perservered.
Hutch
Not trying to be a party pooper but the heat theory??
Dont u think the plate would have neer enough been cooked on with all the heat dissapation from the engine.
Another source of ideas may be in JAG or Classic car forum, weather there are some i dunno but if there are i am sure some of them must of come across this sort of problem before.
All the best
BB
Dont u think the plate would have neer enough been cooked on with all the heat dissapation from the engine.
Another source of ideas may be in JAG or Classic car forum, weather there are some i dunno but if there are i am sure some of them must of come across this sort of problem before.
All the best
BB
I wish it was just an adhesive pad or two, I could cope with that (nothing against breaking a plate if it's a means to an end!). But the entire plate is stuck on - it's one of those flexible sticky reflective jobs.
Hence the problem - the plate has been on the car for years and so it seems to have lost any flexibility it once had - apart from underneath the letters, oddly enough. But I still can't lift enough of the plate to get a grip on it. The seal between the car and the plate is 100% effective, there's absolutely no way I can even lift any of the plate without applying heat first.
Hence the problem - the plate has been on the car for years and so it seems to have lost any flexibility it once had - apart from underneath the letters, oddly enough. But I still can't lift enough of the plate to get a grip on it. The seal between the car and the plate is 100% effective, there's absolutely no way I can even lift any of the plate without applying heat first.
quote:
Not trying to be a party pooper but the heat theory??
Dont u think the plate would have neer enough been cooked on with all the heat dissapation from the engine.
Mm, I wondered about this...
quote:
Another source of ideas may be in JAG or Classic car forum, weather there are some i dunno but if there are i am sure some of them must of come across this sort of problem before.
Smart thinking BB! I'll have a look and report back on any findings!
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