Cutting down number plates

[eidolon]

I was just thinking of cutting the excess off the sides of my front number plate so that it fits on the mount a bit neater, it would literally be about an inch off either end.

Has anyone done this and if so, how? Or do you know anywhere that will make me a custom sized one?

 

[Fr0dders]

the illegal plates companies will gladly sell you a reduced size plate with legal font and spacing

wont be BSAU marked and have sellers postcode etc.. but i shouldnt imagine the fuzz will give you much trouble if it looks legal. Can always swap your legal plates on for MOT.

i cant imagine you'd get a very good finish cutting your existing plate.

 

[semi-pro waster]

Has anyone done this and if so, how?

I haven't done it personally but I'd imagine it is like cutting most plastics, you can do it by using tape across the place you want to cut and a very fine toothed jigsaw blade at a fairly slow speed (too fast and you'll just heat up the plastic and cause it to warp/melt). Take your time and allow it to cool rather than trying to go too fast then you should be fine. Finish off with some fine sandpaper to smooth down the edges (wet and dry paper or emery kind of stuff rather than actual sandpaper).

 

[esK`]

Ive done a bit of perpex cutting with pc's and what ive tended to do is use masking tape and only cut on the downward stroke and wet dry paper where youve just cut and a bit of acetone to clean it right up. Dont know if this is of any use on a number plate though.

 

[Dogbreath]

You can easily get a virtualy perfect finish on the edge of perspex with just hand tools. After cutting, draw file the edge, then use wet and dry paper to to remove all file marks, finishing up with something fine e.g. 1000 or 1200. You can then use metal polish (or a proper plastic polish if you can get it) to get a shiny, transparent edge. If you have a buffing wheel then it's even easier.

 

[eidolon]

Sounds positive. I'll give it a go then, if I screw it up I can always pop to Halfords and buy a replacement.

 

[Muncher]

I've done it on all mine. Score with a stanley knife down the back to stop the blade tearing the backing paper first. Once it's done neatly you can't even tell it has been done.

I suspect you know this but you need to leave 11mm of space all around.

 

[eidolon]

Good tip, never thought about the stanley knife thing.

I wish I could remember where I got the Elise one from, it's as small as legally allowed with the correct font and 11mm gap all round