Garage near Ringsend for ridiculously easy job

JaMarcusHustle · 24-05-2014 11:46AM #1

So I need to get a number plate put on the front of my car. I have the plate, the screws - I just don't have a drill with me in Dublin to put the holes in the plate! Rang around a couple of places, most seem to be closed on a Saturday. Even a handyman with a drill!

antodeco · 24-05-2014 11:49AM

Turn the screwdriver into the bumper where the screws are meant to go. Push and turn until you make a little hole. Repeat for other side. Put the screws in a sma bit and turn until they grip. Remove them and then put on the plate. There should be enough of a gripping hole for the screws to go in.

Otherwise, much easier, get 3M tape in a motorfactors and stick the things on! Works fine for me!

corktina · 24-05-2014 12:05PM

he needs to put holes in the plates, not the bumper....

joujoujou · 24-05-2014 12:36PM

What type of plate is it? Plastic or metal?

Plastic - heat up a nail (careful, don't burn your fingers) and make holes.

Metal - put a plate on wood block, use hammer and nail (or screwdriver or something similar) to punch holes out.

Interslice · 24-05-2014 12:50PM

Probably buy the drill and bits for less than you'd pay someone. Got cheap hss bits in woodies for under a fiver before. Some motor factors hardware sell them individually.

Drill for 20 quid.
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/7112946/c_1/1|category_root|Garden%2Band%2BDIY|14418702/c_2/3|19805469|Power%2Btools|14418763/c_3/4|cat_14418763|Cordless%2Bdrills%2Band%2Bscrewdrivers|14418778.htm

colm_mcm · 24-05-2014 12:52PM

Double sided foam tape.

djimi · 24-05-2014 01:53PM

antodeco wrote: »

Otherwise, much easier, get 3M tape in a motorfactors and stick the things on! Works fine for me!

OSI wrote: »

Just buy some sticky back velcro in Halfords or similar stick one side to plate, stick one side to car. Bingo, screwless removable plates.

Would either of these actually work? I can picture a number plate flying back down a motorway at 75mph...

JaMarcusHustle · 24-05-2014 01:57PM

Can't find anywhere local to drill a couple of holes so I'm just going to buy a drill as Interslice suggested.

Problem is, when I buy tools, I always find excuses to use them. I'm going to be drilling holes everywhere now.

HJL · 24-05-2014 01:58PM

JaMarcusHustle wrote: »

I just don't have a drill with me in Dublin to put the holes in the plate!

Will you have access to your drill anytime soon? Or be able to get a loan of one from someone at work etc. on Mon or Tue?

If so I'd just put it on the dash on the inside of the car so is still visible until you get your hands on a drill.

djimi · 24-05-2014 02:38PM

Im sure if you make a small dent in the plate then you should be able to screw the screws through it? From what I can remember of my plates they are made of pretty soft plastic. A nail and a piece of wood would do the job either. Buying a drill for a one off job like this is massively overkill.

vandriver · 24-05-2014 03:40PM

My wife has had front and back licence plates held on with sticky fixers for 5 years now,so I wouldn't worry about them falling off.

daveohdave · 24-05-2014 04:10PM

I always use double-sided foam tape on my cars, looks much neater. Halfords have good strong stuff if you're in a hurry, but it's expensive; you'll find the same on ebay much cheaper.

For god's sake take the dealer surrounds off while you're at it. Why people allow dealers to advertise on their cars for free is beyond me.

mickdw · 24-05-2014 05:02PM

€5 soldering iron, plug it in and push it straight through the plate. Bit smelly but quick and cheap.

djimi · 24-05-2014 05:05PM

daveohdave wrote: »

For god's sake take the dealer surrounds off while you're at it. Why people allow dealers to advertise on their cars for free is beyond me.

Something I have never understood. Id refuse to take a new car, or any car for that matter, if I arrived at a dealer to find their **** stuck all over the car. Ridiculous carry on.

Hal1 · 24-05-2014 05:15PM

Get some VHB gel tape from halfords. I prefer the clean screwless look myself.

mickdw · 24-05-2014 06:58PM

daveohdave wrote: »

For god's sake take the dealer surrounds off while you're at it. Why people allow dealers to advertise on their cars for free is beyond me.

I dont know, I think it just looks kinda correct having the original supplying dealers plates on a car. I wouldnt fancy some back street dealers plate surround though.
My car came new with a rear plate that has an additional tab at the bottom with dealer name. I dont mind it at all.

daveohdave · 24-05-2014 08:12PM

Do the acid test, 5 minute job, all you need is a screwdriver. Take photos, ask other people what they think. I'll be genuinely surprised if people think it looks better with than without.

Don't forget to take the view-blocking sticker out of the back window while your at it. I'm surprised the Boards.ie NIMBYs haven't started a campaign about them yet, won't somebody think of the children...

colm_mcm · 25-05-2014 08:54AM

If they're plastic plates, and you're not using the tape and insist on screws, then use a drill rather than screwing straight through them. I've seen so many plates with big bubbles around the screw holes from this.

Toyotafanboi · 25-05-2014 11:16AM

colm_mcm wrote: »

If they're plastic plates, and you're not using the tape and insist on screws, then use a drill rather than screwing straight through them. I've seen so many plates with big bubbles around the screw holes from this.

we've just come full circle. the thread was started because he doesn't have a drill :pac:

i think those bubbles can still happen if someone puts too much pressure on the drill and separates the vinyl from the perspex. the real way to prevent it would be to flip the plate over and drill from the rear, that way they wont get pushed apart.

daveohdave · 25-05-2014 11:22AM

Filthy!

Garage near Ringsend for ridiculously easy job

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