Cleaning up old License Plates

[RTR]

What should I do with these as far as decor ? I’m thinking just hang on the wall and not alter them. They were my great grandmothers. What can I do (if anything) to clean the rust off and help bring out some of the color ? I’m afraid that wire brushing them will damage and pull paint off. Some are pretty flaky.

 

[Ray,IN]

IMO there is nothing you can do to increase the value(real or perceived) except wash gently with auto soap N water, which hopefully will restore some shine while washing off dirt.

 

[RTR]

I rubbed on some solution I made of 1/2 mineral spirits , 1/2 boiled lineeed oil and a few sprays of pb blaster. Figured the light oil would help them and bring color out better but the real rusty ones don’t do anything cause they’re flaky. Wondering if maybe a steel wool wash would help or hurt.

 

[showcrop]

Anything like that I apply phosphoric acid. You can't get any more gentle. It removes the loose rust and converts what is left to inert iron phosphate, which is the same proterctive coating which is on your impact wrench sockets. After a good rinsing and drying you can then apply some light oil.

 

[THinAl.]

Jefferson, Blount, and Coosa County tags.

 

[GermantownGreen]

What should I do with these as far as decor ? I’m thinking just hang on the wall and not alter them. They were my great grandmothers. What can I do (if anything) to clean the rust off and help bring out some of the color ? I’m afraid that wire brushing them will damage and pull paint off. Some are pretty flaky. View attachment 121048

Watched Ross the Oliver Guy, and Chris Losey , That Oliver Guy, both use a Rust oleium spray bottle rust remover product. It was night and day different on painted or unpainted metals on their videos on YouTube . My choice for your project. GG Wes

 

[RTR]

Anything like that I apply phosphoric acid. You can't get any more gentle. It removes the loose rust and converts what is left to inert iron phosphate, which is the same proterctive coating which is on your impact wrench sockets. After a good rinsing and drying you can then apply some light oil.

brush on some phosphoric acid? Do I then just rinse off, or do I need to neutralize the acid with baking soda? By looking at them and rubbing on one, the flaky rust/paint just came right off; so I am worried it'll just take them to bare metal.

 

[scootergmc]

I'd test out some diluted Super Clean on the nicer ones, and for the rusty ones I would try the Rust Oleum product as mentioned above or maybe the PB Blaster metal rescue products. I haven't used either of the latter products though. Super clean cleans a lot of stuff, but it can damage some finishes if you don't dilute it.

 

[jwal10]

Just warm water, gentle brush, I used a soft dish washing brush, dry and light coat or 2 of boiled linseed oil. I used a garden sprayer. What I also did to old roofing before using as wainscote in my cabin. I don't mind the rust, just not flaking rust. I wanted to preserve some of the color. Been 5 years and see no flaking. I have also done old rat rods, I just rubbed it on with a rag after washing and let dry before applying....James

 

[RTR]

Jefferson, Blount, and Coosa County tags.

yep. I've got to try and figure out why my great grandmother had Blount county tags. They did own a river house in coosa county

 

[RTR]

Just warm water, gentle brush, I used a soft dish washing brush, dry and light coat or 2 of boiled linseed oil. I used a garden sprayer. What I also did to old roofing before using as wainscote in my cabin. I don't mind the rust, just not flaking rust. I wanted to preserve some of the color. Been 5 years and see no flaking. I have also done old rat rods, I just rubbed it on with a rag after washing and let dry before applying....James

yeah I only tried rubbing linseed oil mixture with a rag and got marginal results, did nothing but make a mess with the rusty flaky ones.

 

[jwal10]

Yes, do not use a rag, smears....James

 

[kencombs]

Evaporust. place plate in a shallow glass dish and cover with evaporust. Then wash and apply the linseed oil.
The stuff can be reused until it loses it effectiveness.

Lots of places have Evaporust, Harbor Freight being one that is priced right.

 

[Hobo,NC]

What should I do with these as far as decor ? I’m thinking just hang on the wall and not alter them. They were my great grandmothers. What can I do (if anything) to clean the rust off and help bring out some of the color ? I’m afraid that wire brushing them will damage and pull paint off. Some are pretty flaky. View attachment 121048

If you wanna keep the patina brush Penetrol on them. For the real bad rusty ones I would sandblast and paint.

Flood Penetrol Exterior Paint conditioner​

 

[MM-TX]

For the really rusty ones you can spray clear urethane couple of coats and they will look about the same as oil but feel better longer.

 

[showcrop]

brush on some phosphoric acid? Do I then just rinse off, or do I need to neutralize the acid with baking soda? By looking at them and rubbing on one, the flaky rust/paint just came right off; so I am worried it'll just take them to bare metal.

You rinse it fairly aggressively. Small parts I toss them into a five gal bucket of water after 15 minutes of working time. No need to neutralize, but you want to use plenty of water. If you have paint flakingh off because it is attached to rust instead of steel it was already gone. Phosphoric acid is the same active ingredient in SEM Rustmort and Ospho. You can get it at a dairy supply or restaurant supply. you can see the rust turning black as it works.

 

[wh]

yep. I've got to try and figure out why my great grandmother had Blount county tags. They did own a river house in coosa county

The 8 p is a tag for pick up truck. A few years all pickup tags were 8p

 

[wh]

The 8 p is a tag for pick up truck. A few years all pickup tags were 8p

Not blount county.

 

[RTR]

Thinking about it, I just might have to bead blast them and repaint (the really rusty and flaky ones) because there doesn't appear to be any paint left to salvage. Might try to blast and paint a couple and see how it turns out. Will have to be careful with the blasting as to not let the metal heat up too much.

 

[THinAl.]

Not blount county.

I stand corrected. The 8P was for a truck.