Machine I D tag restoration?

[monkers]

Kind of a dumb question probably, but how do people "restore" the finish on their equipment I D tags? Im certain there are methods, I just dont know about them and would like to. The tag on my Johnson Model B was somewhat battered, so I (Im ducking for cover now) filled in the black areas with black sharpie, it doesnt look as bad as it sounds, especially from 25 feet away. It has raised letters that I cleaned up with fine grit paper first, then filled in the black area the best I could.....crude, yes......
So, is the normal method screen printing or something, or scanning it on a computer somehow??

[Mayhem]

A picture would help.

Most of the ones I have are screen printed and there is not much I can do other than clean the grime off, scrape off the paint from where the previous owners have painted 'around them' and generally try to make them look pretty.

I had a set of Aluminium M/T rocker covers on an old 350 that had fins along the length and raised lettering. I masked them up and painted them black. Then I rubbed them back with wet and dry paper until all the paint on the raised areas were gone. They looked nice once polished and this is how I would do a name plate that has raised lettering. In fact, the access door on the column of my mill has the name raised and I will take the same approach when I paint that.

I think Bill recently did the same on his mill but I could be wrong. As I said, a picture of what you have will help.

[Highpower]

(02-05-2013, 09:25 AM)Mayhem Wrote: I had a set of Aluminium M/T rocker covers on an old 350 that had fins along the length and raised lettering.

Wow, that takes me back...
Mickey had his name all over everything.

[sasquatch]

Mickey Thompson was quite a character from reports i have read, His biography would make a very interesting read!!

Now,,,,,,,,,,, I too have wondered about how people are restoring tags on machines, i did see somewere an ad for someone who was making new ones somehow.

Anyone up to date on this?

[monkers]

heres the tag after I sharpied it ......it was gouged up before I got it

[stevec]

Isn't it a pain how the most important info is illegible.

[monkers]

Yes it is lol......

[sasquatch]

Monkers your'e tag looks pretty good.

Sad that so many of these tags are usually beat up, but to be expected i suppose being most seem to be aluminum.
I did find this:

http://www.etching-metal.com/nameplate.htm

[monkers]

Thanks sasquatch, Ill check out that link

[krv3000]

hi well i will post a pic before and after this is haw i do it on brass ones any way i scrub the brass plate with a scratch brush i will post a pic of that to once all the crap is off i then polish the lettering then i give it a wash in soapy water then i spray the pant on if the lettering is well pronounced all you need to do is glue sum wet and dry sand paper to a hard and flat Peace of wood then rub over the lettering and buff up if on the other hand the lettering is well worn i use a scalpel to remove the pant from the lettering a bit time consuming but will look good when dun this is the before pic of the bit I'm working on at the moment