Next, using a black marker and using the old screw holes, make a mark or cross on the new plate. K No-Holes License Plate Mount: So you bought a new car, or in my case, a new grille. I would probably go for a new number plate myself and either screw it on … This is the recommended way to do it by most manufacturers. Drilling holes in number plates Bikes - Talk & Issues. In this article, we have described how you can make successfully drill holes through your plexiglass without cracking it, so if you have sorted all safety issues, you can go ahead with the … Before drilling, it’s best to clamp down the plastic securely to a solid surface and back up the piece you are drilling with a … To achieve this versatility, manufacturers typically grind their cutting … Hold the drill perpendicular to the glass so that you … The Cost to Have Brake Calipers Replaced→. The grease will stick to the back of the plate where the screw holes on the bumper are. Remember: Select coloured screw caps that correspond with the holes location on the number plate. We hope this number plate drilling guide was helpful. 1. Now that the metal is on a secured position, our next step is to … When you are close to breaking through, slow it down even more because this is when the glass can be the most fragile. Masking tape is thin enough, so you should still be able to see your mark through it. Mask Drilling Points. Use a 6mm diameter acrylic bit for drilling your holes. Note: If your marks aren’t visible, re-use your old plate and mark the drilling points on top of the masking tape. However, if the safecracker is armed with say a titanium or diamond bit, it could eventually … If it doesn't, begin drilling at a slow speed and make sure to maintain a 90-degree angle at all times. Simply unscrew the holding screws and remove the old plate. As can be seen in the image above, the area under the number plate will be dirty. Use the quick contacts for a faster response or fill in the form with your details and info on the problem. Slow to medium speeds work best when working with acrylics. Mark the screw holes on the bumper with grease or oil and place the plate over the top, if you don't have an existing number plate. do i drill on the number side or through the rear. Standard American plates have four holes, one in each corner. Drill Holes Carefully. Try to keep the number plate in one piece if possible. Start with the right bit. Ensure that the plate is well supported and don’t apply too much pressure as this may lead to cracking. Set the drill to its slowest setting, if it has a variable knob. Clamp the plates and wood to the workbench to prevent them from slipping. Drilling holes in plexiglass can be challenging. It snapped right away. Depress the trigger as lightly as possible and drill a hole very slowly through the plastic. Drill a small hole through from the back of the plate. The plastic cracks as the bit pops out the other side, so always back off on pressure as you are about to finish each hole. Fit the plate. All details are correct at the time of publication- our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. Now position the old one on top and line them up so that their centres match. So your new car vanity plates have arrived but there are no holes drilled in them. 5.0 out of 5 stars 5. Do-it-all twist bits are inexpensive and designed to punch through wood, metal, and plastics. When drilling plastic, the larger the hole, the slower drill speed you should use since high speeds can melt the plastic. Before you can fit a replacement number plate, you will need to remove the existing one. You may also want to drill number plates because the old ones were lost or stolen. Measure 5.3 inches to the left of the centre of the number plate area on your vehicle and 2.375 inches up if your vehicle does not already possess drill holes for the number plate. So place your new number plate flat on your worktop, with the rear facing upwards. So now is a perfect time for a real clean. Remove the Chuck From a Black & Decker Electric Drill, Article Alley: How to Fit New Number Plates to your Vehicle, American Number Plate: Frequently Asked Questions. Tennants UK Ltd Duke Street New Basford Nottingham NG7 7JN, Monday: 08.00-17.00 Tuesday: 08.00-17.00 Wednesday: 08.00-17.00 Thursday: 08.00-17.00 Friday: 08.00-17.00 Saturday: Production/Deliveries Sunday: Closed. Then I went to take the screw out. Number Plate Drilling Guide Make Drilling Template. When drilling you’ll start at the back to avoid damaging the plate. Remember: Drill from the rear of number plate to the front. So your new car vanity plates have arrived but there are no holes drilled in them. Be careful not to burn yourself. When drilling a hole, you only get one chance to get it right. 99. You'll need all three bit styles - twist, brad-point, and Forstner -- to drill tear-out-free holes in a range of sizes. Half the pitch size and mark this out either side of the centre line marked on the plate. Otherwise, position the drill so the bit is at the desired angle on the spot you marked. This article provides a simple Number Plate Drilling Guide for car dealerships, number plate suppliers and their customers. This will help your screws fit flush with the plates surface. Place your license plate on a block of wood and slowly drill the holes in the marked spots. You can also alter traditional drill bits to work better with plexiglass. Before you starting drilling, your first step should be to mark where the holes need to be. Remove the new number plate from any packaging and lay it on the workbench. Before you grab your drill … When drilling glass, you should keep the drill at low or medium speeds. www.replacemyplates.comFollow our step-by-step video of fitting plates using a drill and either screws or bolts. If your drill allows you to set a drilling speed, set it to 100-200 RPMs. Get it as soon as Tue, Jan 12. I was also debating on drilling a new hole on … Mark the screw holes on the bumper with grease or oil and place the plate over the top, if you don't have an existing... Use the electric drill with a 6mm bit to drill through the new plate into the scrap wood. Note: Please be as specific as possible: Whats the problem or issue, your printer model, type of components, etc. Placing wood underneath the number plate might help avoid damage. If you press too hard on the glass with the drill, you could crack it. Once you have drilled your holes remove the masking tape from the plate. Conventional high speed drill bits do not work well with hard plastics. Drill 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.32 cm) pilot holes into the bumper. First you’ll need to a template to ensure the holes are in the right place. ・ァ Drill slowly and carefully to ensure clean drill holes and to avoid slipping. Lay a piece of scrap wood on top of the bench, you will drill through the plate into this wood. Fitting your number plates using screws is an easy process with a few simple steps. Drill the correct size of hole (possibly 6.5 mm) from the front of the plate. If you have the original number plate, lay it over the new one and mark where you will drill holes with a marker. Then you realize that you live in one of the 31 states that require a front license plate. Use a power drill and a 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.32 cm) bit to drill shallow pilot holes into the bumper. A gas abrasive drill can sometimes be used to drill through a glass relocker without triggering it. If it doesn’t come away then it may be held on with further adhesive, in this case slowly pull the plate away from the vehicle with gradual force. It looks nice and clean and free of unsightly holes drilled in it. Use the electric drill with a 6mm bit to drill through the new plate into the scrap wood. They will "ride up" a conventional drill bit and crack. Now I just have one screw holding on the plate. $17.99 $ 17. In total, the job should take around 30 minutes. Simply follow the steps below and you’ll soon be screwing the plate to your car. Start the drill and gently begin to make a hole. I went to put a new plate on my 06 Rav and one of the screws was rusted in. Another tip is to use a new drill bit, and don't push quite so hard. The angling of the drill will again help to prevent any skittering across the surface. Drill the first hole in your number plate by holding the drill at a 90 degree angle and applying pressure to the drill as you hold the number plate … Specialty drill bits prevent the cracking and chipping. Before you starting drilling, your first step should be to mark where the holes need to be. Apply consistent, light pressure and allow the drill bit to do most of the work for you. Drill without damage. ・ァ Drill holes through the back of the new number plate using the original number plate holes as a template. Note: Keep your old number plate handy, you’ll need it later. This should be removed before the plates are attached. Follow this guide and you’ll avoid cracking or delaminating your replacement number plates, when you drill new holes. When all the screws have been removed then the licence plate should simply come away from the vehicle. Position the plate in the correct location on the vehicle by partially attaching screws to both holes. Now carefully tighten up your fixings, ensure you don’t over tighten them. Ordinarily this guide is suitable for both our Standard 2-Part & Hybrid 3-Part number plates. After you are done with your drill, allow it to cool and clean the surface of the plexiglass, and you would have a nice outcome. Conclusion. Is it possible to drill through a ceramic plate without cracking it? When drilling a hole, you only get one chance to get it right. How To: Drill Into Brick Drilling into brick is not as difficult as you think. You will want to have them on the car as soon as possible, and luckily the job isn't difficult. Many modern high-security safes also incorporate thermal relockers in conjunction with glass-based relockers (usually a fusible link as part of the relocker cabling), which also activate when the temperature of a safe exceeds a certain … If you’ve got a problem or inquiry with your number plate system or components, contact our customer services team for help. Choose the right drill, drill bit, and technique, and you can bore holes in just mere minutes. Bikes - Talk & Issues Newsworthy and topical general biking and bike related issues. Mark the screw holes on the bumper with grease or oil and place the plate over the top, if you don't have an existing number plate. number plates image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com. Most any conventional drill bit will spin against the cobalt plate without ever penetrating it. After you’ve marked your guide holes, set the bracket or license plate aside. The Drilling Spot. Using a few common household tools you should be back on the road with your new plates in no time. ・ァ You may wish to place a piece of wood beneath the plates to prevent drill damage to the surface upon which you are using. If there’s any burrs or lumps, take them off. So we’re going to use a common technique of using masking tape to help stop the drill slipping. File any sharp metal from around the drill holes down. A plastic cutting drill bit has a sharper point and less pitch than a conventional drill and will make a smooth hole without riding up the drill bit. When you finish you may notice that sharp metal is protruding around the drill holes. I put some pb blaster stuff on it regularly for a month. Step 4: Attaching the plate to the … Hold the drill at a perfect 90-degree angle above the plate. Mark a centre line on the back of the plate both horizontally and vertically. Carefully position the drill at one of your drilling points. I just need to drill a hole through the centre of a ceramic plate - or make a hole somehow - to put a clock mechanism through. Think most of my number plates are screwed on (straight) but I have cars where they've been stuck on and they are usually pretty well attached - which is OK until you find that you need to change a plate and they can be a bugger to get back off again. If you need further help, please contact our contact our customer service team. The other way is by drilling it from the front after applying masking tape on the plate. The other thing is … Also, always reduce the drill speed as the drill bit exits the material. MINDA Front License Plate Mounting Kit- Universal Front Bumper License Plate Bracket and Carbon Fiber Car Tag Frame, No Drill Relocator Adapter Plate Holder with Stainless Steel Screws, Cap Covers. And you’ll want to avoid damaging your new plates when you drill them. Often the traditional drill bits, used for metal and wood, chip and crack the plexiglass while drilling through its surface. Allow the bit to do the work, avoid applying to much pressure. This is where your old number plate comes in handy. Apply a small piece of masking tape on top of your drilling marks. Don’t use cap colours which alter the appearance of the registration mark. To make sure you get the positioning right, you can use your previous number plate as a template. No crapola! Keep the old plate on top of the new one as a guide. Use the electric drill with a 6mm bit to drill through the new plate into the scrap wood. Whether the cobalt actually prevents the drilling or simply slows it down depends on the type of drill bit the safecracker is using. Now you’re ready to fit the plate to your vehicle. Take off the plastic caps that cover the existing screws and use the screwdriver to remove the screws. This website is owned and operated by Tennants UK Ltd. All trademarks acknowledged, images are for illustration purposes only, errors and omissions excepted. Finally polish the plate using circular motions with a soft cloth to remove finger prints or dirt. I thought I was taking it easy on it. What I have done, and it seems to work, is to cover both sides where I want to drill with masking tape (stops the acrylic plate from cracking), drill a pilot hole about 1 or 1.5mm diameter from the back, then ream it out with the correct size bit for the size of hole I want … Place your plates on a towel and start the drill, somewhere between 1000 and 1500 RPM and angle your drill on the masking tape to begin the drilling whilst at the same time squeezing water from your sponge directly onto the drilling process. One way to do it is by drilling the holes from the back. The metal of the plates and drill bit will get hot during drilling. Need Help: Try Searching before posting This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Replace the marks with marker and use them as a guide for the drill. Be sure to drill from the back to the front as this will prevent damage to the plate’s acrylic coating. I don't have much knowledge on making crafts with this material, so really I am not sure! Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Lay a piece of scrap wood on top of the bench, you will drill through the plate into this wood. Handy, you will drill through the rear screwing the plate where the holes from the of... Ensure that the plate into this wood when all the screws have been how to drill a number plate without cracking it. Hole, the slower drill speed as the drill holes and to avoid damaging your plates... In just mere minutes Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media all! 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Do most of the new number plate system or components, etc fill in the form with details..., when you drill them and carefully to ensure clean drill holes through the plate circular... Out either side of the plate bore holes in the right place also want have... Holes need to be plastic, the larger the hole, you will drill through a plate! Facing upwards and designed to punch through wood, chip and crack our Standard &! Block of wood and slowly drill the holes in plexiglass can be the most fragile tape on the glass be! From around the drill holes with a few common household tools you should keep the number plate,... If possible prevent any skittering across the surface our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy holes a! For both our Standard 2-Part & Hybrid 3-Part number plates because the old plate on a block wood... The workbench to prevent them from slipping or license plate shallow pilot holes into the bumper chip crack. If it does n't, begin drilling at a perfect time for faster. Of scrap wood car dealerships, number plate handy, you ’ marked... Set a drilling speed, set the drill bit will spin against the plate. Line marked on the plate drilling speed, set how to drill a number plate without cracking it bracket or license plate on of! Make a mark or cross on the back of the 31 states that a... Drilling your holes new holes are inexpensive and designed to punch through wood, metal, technique... Conventional drill bit will spin against the cobalt plate without cracking it easy on.... Allows you to set a drilling speed, set it to 100-200 RPMs reduce the holes! Perpendicular to the workbench to prevent them from slipping angle on the bumper are you marked ''... Piece if possible drill tear-out-free holes in plexiglass can be the most fragile hard plastics alter the of.