License Plate restoration takes some patience especially if it is badly rusted like the one illustrated here. The back side was in good condition showing the background color of the plate. This particular plate used a maroon background and white lettering.  The first job is to remove all rust. I started with a wire wheel in a drill press. The plate was completly buffed down. Next I soaked the plate in rust/paint remover. After sitting for about an hour I rinsed off the plate and wire buffed it again. Next, I rinsed it with carb cleaner then wiped it dry and heated the plate with a propane torch to evaporate all remaining solvents. 

The plate was badly pitted from the rust. To help eliminate the pitting  put a layer of Marine Epoxy on the top side of the plate and let it dry for 24 hours.   Epoxy does an excellent job filling in the pits. You can put several layers on if needed. Now prime entire plate. After primer has cured,  shoot the back of the plate with the background color and verify the closeness of the color to the original.

    When the plate is complely dry, you are ready to prepair the lettering for painting with the white.

Mask off the entire top side of the plate, pressing the tape down into the contours of all the lettering. Next, using an Exacto Knife carefully cut the masking tape around each number. Remove the masking tape over the number and press the remaining edges down firmly. Double check your cutting and correct any cutting errors. Now spray the numbers with a silver metallic paint to block the base color from bleeding through. Finally, shoot the numbers with your white paint. let the paint flash then carefully remove all the masking tape.

You will find it rewarding to see your "new" old plate hanging on you T Bucket, I promise!