Straightening an aluminum license plate?
08-02-2006, 02:24 PM
#1
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Blaine, MN
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Straightening an aluminum license plate... Hi all, recently I got hit from the front very minor, the only damage was done to my critical habitat aluminum license plate that we can optionally buy for our cars up here in MN. It's pretty bent up... Can you guys recommend to me the best way to straighten it out smooth again? Thanks a lot! I really like this plate and what it coincidentally says on it, so I don't want o get a new one.
08-02-2006, 03:04 PM
#2
TECH Senior Member
See if the state will issue you a new one, and recycle it - or beat on it with a critical habitat approved hammer. Seriously, take it off the car and see if you can get it back into shape. Might not be possible if the numbers/letters are damaged.
08-02-2006, 03:33 PM
#4
Teching In
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Super easy. Most warpage can be fixed just by flexing it with your hands, then laying it on a flat surface to check for trueness. If your numbers are crunched, use a small hammer and a flathead screwdriver to tap out from behind.
08-02-2006, 03:43 PM
#5
Take it off your car. Get a block of wood. Something about the size of the plate is all you need. Rubber mallet, strike the plate where the big bends are from both sides till the general shap if flat. For where the raised letters or numbers are you should get a drift punch or a piece or wood that is about the same thickness as the letters 1/4 or so. And tape out the letters from the back and around the letter in the front. Just take your time and you should be happy with the way it turns out.
08-02-2006, 03:55 PM
#6
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Blaine, MN
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the responses guys. This plate actually doesn't have any raised letters or anything, it's all printed on. I'll have to try out the rubber mallet you suggested ICRAZY6 as I don't think I can bend this one straight with my hands...
08-02-2006, 05:08 PM
#7
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Step 1. Lay Plate on floor, ashphalt/concrete a plus.
Step 2. Get matched plank of wood or a dictionary works just as well.
Step 3. Place wood/dic on plate.
Step 4. Get a rubber mallet.
Step 5. Hammer from one side to the other and flip the plate like a pancake and repeat.
I have done this 3 times already. Works quite well.
And no the accidents were not my fault.
Step 2. Get matched plank of wood or a dictionary works just as well.
Step 3. Place wood/dic on plate.
Step 4. Get a rubber mallet.
Step 5. Hammer from one side to the other and flip the plate like a pancake and repeat.
I have done this 3 times already. Works quite well.
And no the accidents were not my fault. 