Painting license plates

Well, after getting as far as I could on my wife's woodworking project, I decided to paint my Year Of Manufacture Texas Farm Truck plates.  After trying to paint with epoxy and lacquer to allow the "wiping" of one paint off of the other was a complete and total failure, as was sanding the letters with 1000 grit paper, I determined that painting was the only way. 

I visited with a fellow 'bolter who is also a professional sign painter and dabbles in pinstriping.  After his quote of $25/plate, I decided that I would give it a shot, then send them to him if I screwed them up.  Nothing could be done that another coat of paint wouldn't take care of.  So after repainting plate field color a golden yellow, I decided that tonight was going to be when I tried my hand at painting.

Started out on the first plate, on the "truck" part of the plate.  Quickly realized two things - there is a different feel and hold to a pinstriping brush over a regular brush, and that I had not yet achieved the appropriate amount of beer in the holder.  So, I wiped off what I had incorrectly applied, and added another beer to the painter.  After that, things went much more smoothly.  After about 1 1/2 hours of painting, and a very tense neck, they are done.  While they are not "perfect", I'm sure the ones from the prison back then weren't either.  If the ladies at our counties' DMV will accept them for use on the old truck, then I am satisfied. 

Pictures below:

Plates painted the original field color, awaiting letter painting

Painting the letters on the plate while attempting to take a clear picture with my other hand.  Using a #1 Mack Sword Striper pinstriping brush and black 1shot lettering paint.

The finished product.  Sorry they are upside down, but you get the gist. 

And all the wiring components are in.  So very very soon, we will switch gears to wiring.  Again, I think there is a happy medium where the "just the right amount" of beer will be required.