drilling holes in number plates

[Chris]

Hi

just got a couple of new plates made up, need to drill 2 holes in each so i
can use the bolts etc.. off the old plates rather than sticking the new ones
on

any special technique to drilling holes in number plates so they dont split
or crack? , or will a leccy drill work ok

ta

Chris

[Mungo "three sheds" Toadfoot]

Post by Chris
Hi
just got a couple of new plates made up, need to drill 2 holes in
each so i can use the bolts etc.. off the old plates rather than
sticking the new ones on
any special technique to drilling holes in number plates so they dont
split or crack? , or will a leccy drill work ok

A normal bit for steel will do it fine. Not too fast or the plastic might
melt a bit.

Si

[Alan Steele - Steeles of Worthing]

Use a normal drill bit but drill from the rear so you do not separate the
backing

[Mungo "three sheds" Toadfoot]

Post by Alan Steele - Steeles of Worthing
Use a normal drill bit but drill from the rear so you do not separate
the backing

Good idea!

Add that to my post :o)

Si

[Conor]

In article <***@uni-berlin.de>, Mungo "three sheds" Toadfoot
says...

Post by Mungo "three sheds" Toadfoot

Post by Alan Steele - Steeles of Worthing
Use a normal drill bit but drill from the rear so you do not separate
the backing

Good idea!
Add that to my post :o)

And also rest the plate on a block of wood so that it doesn't bend and
you don't end up drilling through the thing you rest it on.

[Nick Drew]

Post by Mungo "three sheds" Toadfoot

Post by Chris
Hi
just got a couple of new plates made up, need to drill 2 holes in
each so i can use the bolts etc.. off the old plates rather than
sticking the new ones on
any special technique to drilling holes in number plates so they dont
split or crack? , or will a leccy drill work ok

A normal bit for steel will do it fine. Not too fast or the plastic might
melt a bit.

[trying to recall my Craft classes aged 12]

I *think* you might want to put a piece of offcut wood underneath it.
Something you can drill into, as this would take the pressure off the
plastic surrounding the hole as you drill it (if you see what I mean). Gives
more support-> less likely to crack.

HTH
Nick

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by Chris
any special technique to drilling holes in number plates so they dont
split or crack? , or will a leccy drill work ok

Best if you have a drill which will run very slowly to avoid melting.
About 500 rpm is fine.

But start with a small drill and working up to the right size will help
minimise any problem. And obviously, sharp drills. A blunt one will cause
overheating.

[Chris]

so, slow drill
drill from rear
and use a block of wood to support it

thanks for all replies!

[Carl Farrington]

Post by Chris
so, slow drill
drill from rear
and use a block of wood to support it
thanks for all replies!

Not necessarily from the rear. My new plates have the print on the front and
are non transparent if you see what I mean. So for mine it was drill from
the front.

[Gareth A.]

On Mon, 12 Jul 2004 16:46:55 +0100, "Carl Farrington"

Post by Carl Farrington

Post by Chris
so, slow drill
drill from rear
and use a block of wood to support it
thanks for all replies!

Not necessarily from the rear. My new plates have the print on the front and
are non transparent if you see what I mean. So for mine it was drill from
the front.

Are they marked BSAU145d? I thought they had to be acrylic faced to
comply.

Gareth

[Keith Lawrence]

so, slow drill drill from rear
and use a block of wood to support it
thanks for all replies!

You should always drill FROM tthe "good" side, if you are going to get
splinters/breakthrough you want it on the back. As others have said a
sloowww drill, start small, gently enlarge - unless you have a drill press
you can use. The battery drils are about best, they run slow.

More Hints : Put some masking tape over the area where the holes are to be.
Put the old plate on top, mark through the old holes onto the tape. The
holes are now in the right place, the masking tape gives the drill bit
something to 'bite' (start small, use slow speed) to make the initial hole.

HTH

Keith L

[Mungo "three sheds" Toadfoot]

Post by Keith Lawrence

so, slow drill drill from rear
and use a block of wood to support it
thanks for all replies!

You should always drill FROM tthe "good" side, if you are going to
get splinters/breakthrough you want it on the back. As others have
said a sloowww drill, start small, gently enlarge - unless you have a
drill press you can use. The battery drils are about best, they run
slow.
More Hints : Put some masking tape over the area where the holes are
to be. Put the old plate on top, mark through the old holes onto the
tape. The holes are now in the right place, the masking tape gives
the drill bit something to 'bite' (start small, use slow speed) to
make the initial hole.

Blimey! And to think, when I was an apprentice the mechanics used to say
"Make some 'oles in that plate and bolt it on, Si.". You need a degree for
everything these days! ;o)

Si

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by Mungo "three sheds" Toadfoot
Blimey! And to think, when I was an apprentice the mechanics used to say
"Make some 'oles in that plate and bolt it on, Si.". You need a degree
for everything these days! ;o)

Judging by the mess many main dealers make of fitting plates, the same
still applies.

You'd think they'd have or make a jig to do the job given the number of
times a busy one would have to do it.

[FatSod]

Post by Dave Plowman (News)

Post by Mungo "three sheds" Toadfoot
Blimey! And to think, when I was an apprentice the mechanics used to say
"Make some 'oles in that plate and bolt it on, Si.". You need a degree
for everything these days! ;o)

Judging by the mess many main dealers make of fitting plates, the same
still applies.
You'd think they'd have or make a jig to do the job given the number of
times a busy one would have to do it.
--
*If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried *
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

The only jig you need is the old number plate.

1... Put one plate on top of the other, and hold together
with masking tape.

2.... Place the plate on scrap peice of wood with the hole
you are about to drill, placed at the right hand side of the
scrap wood.

3.... Make sure you have some immovable object at the
left hand side to prevent the number plate from spinning
around the drill should it grab the plastic.

4.... Using the original hole on the old plate as drill through
the new plate.

5..... Repeat steps 2 to 4

6..... Fix number plate to car using original screws. Oh
my god, youv'e chewed them up taking the old the plates
off. Gulp !

7... Post another message to find out where you can get
new screws.

-
Fatsod

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by FatSod

Post by Dave Plowman (News)
You'd think they'd have or make a jig to do the job given the number
of times a busy one would have to do it.

The only jig you need is the old number plate.

If it was put on squint in the first place as I suggested happens a lot,
then you'll end up with a perfect copy...

[Pete M]

In news:***@uni-berlin.de,
Chris <***@bournemouth.ac.uk> decided to enlighten our sheltered
souls with a rant as follows

Post by Chris
Hi
just got a couple of new plates made up, need to drill 2 holes in
each so i can use the bolts etc.. off the old plates rather than
sticking the new ones on
any special technique to drilling holes in number plates so they dont
split or crack? , or will a leccy drill work ok
ta

I use a soldering iron...

[Ian Johnston]

On Mon, 12 Jul 2004 09:56:31 UTC, "Chris"
<***@bournemouth.ac.uk> wrote:

: any special technique to drilling holes in number plates so they dont split

You can get special perspex drills. From memory, they are a bit like
brass drills: central pilot "spike" and then cutters sloping the wrong
way so they cut the outside of the hole first.

Ian


--

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by Ian Johnston
You can get special perspex drills. From memory, they are a bit like
brass drills: central pilot "spike" and then cutters sloping the wrong
way so they cut the outside of the hole first.

Easiest near type is a wood twist drill - the sheds sell them, but usually
in sets of limited sizes and quality.

However, you can drill Perspex ok with normal drills if they're sharp and
you take care.

Anyone ever notice how many new cars have the plates badly fitted? I think
they leave it to the tea boy...