Cleaning up VIN stamping

[Matt S]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right section but nevermind... I'm about to paint over the panel which has the VIN stamping on my car, but obviously the number needs to be visible when it's finished. Its been stamped with a dot peening machine (loads of little round stamps to make the characters). What is the best way to strip of the existing e-coat that is filling the dimples in? I want to make sure all the holes are as deep as possible - will a regular paint stripper work? Secondly, any ideas for what i can do to pronounce the dimples a bit more? I have a very fine drill set and a tiny tiny drill (0.5mm) could possibly work, but i suspect not - any thoughts?

Cheers,

Matt

 

[octo0072000]

don't paint it just mask it off and leave it as it is you could put some waxoil on it when you have done painting

 

[Matt S]

That's what i had panned to do, but a bodyshop ran some sort of stripping disc over the top, so it is now just bare metal, and the slight ridges around each dot have been slightly rubbed down I need to do something to it!

 

[steveo3002]

wire wheel in a dremel ? paint stripper ?

 

[Rocketman]

Yeah I agree. Lightly wire wheel/paint stripper and just paint over not too thick. DON'T try to re-indent it as that will look very dodgy and if it gets picked up it's been played with you will be a far worse position than a hard to read vin number.

It's a problem with car restoration these stamps can more or less disappear completely over a few restorations - cars 50+ years old can sometimes be very hard to genuinely identity if they have had several restos on them.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

wire wheel in a dremel ?.....

Beat me to it.

 

[Matt S]

Thanks guys, i've picked up a tin of nitromors and will give that a go along with some fine wire wheel dremelling. I will also have a go with my tiny drill bits in th dremel... i'll see how i get on!

 

[clift_d]

You could also transfer the VIN number to a attach a new plate and attach it to the car next to the original numbers - these guys (amongst others) sell the blank plates and stamps to do the job.

 

[Rocketman]

Remounting, replacing and moving vin plates automatically cast suspicions over a cars authenticity and therefore should be avoided at all costs.

 

[clift_d]

Have you checked that the VIN number isn't stamped somewhere else - some vehicles have a copy of the number by the windscreen for example?

 

[the snooper]

I would just leave it alone, flat it prime lightly and paint, if vosa ever need to check it, it will be fine, if it looks suspect due to trying to make it stand out they will want to know why

 

[Matt S]

Thanks for the responses guys! To answer a previous question, the number is in 2 places - this stamping is on the flitch panel, under a cutout in the driver's side wing, and there is a rivetted on plate on the slam panel. These are the only 2.

I had a thought... if i were to use a cocktail stick to dab tiny bits of black paint into each dimple so it's clearly legible, do you think that would be ok? I got the idea from my old job where we used to rub white wax over engravings of our company name and then when you rub off the wax stays in the indentations. This way i could do a very fine coat of cream paint to replicate the factory e-coat colour, dab a tiny amount of black paint in so it's clearly legible, and then cover with a nice thick coat of lacquer to protect it.

I'm probably overthinking this, but nevermind, always good to run your thoughts by other people

Matt

 

[Pete.]

I think that you are over-thinking it. Anyone who knows where to look for the VIN will find it no matter how faint it is. Making it stand out by artificial means just casts a doubt over it's authenticity.

 

[clift_d]

Thanks for the responses guys! To answer a previous question, the number is in 2 places - this stamping is on the flitch panel, under a cutout in the driver's side wing, and there is a rivetted on plate on the slam panel.

Then I'd probably leave the first one pretty much as it is. Give it a clean over with some solvent to remove as much as you can from the dimples but do nothing mechanical and paint lightly to protect as previously suggested. The VIN plate should cover you for everything, and if not then leave it to others to try and decipher the faint stamping.