Weather Proof Number plates

[Ron Sleeman]

I am looking for any information with respect to etching weather proof number plates with my Epilog Mini 40 Watt. I have been looking at the Romak Texture but what I read up on it, is that it fades after a couple of years. I have also looked at stainless steel with Cermark sprayed on it and was wanting opinions as to what people think is best. All information would be greatly appreciated.
Ron Sleeman

[Mike Null]

SS and Cermark work very well and there are UV stable laminated plastics from Rowmark and IPI that will work quite well outside.

[Joe Pelonio]

I have had good luck with Rowmark Lasermax holding up outdoors.

[Ron Sleeman]

Thank you for the reply. I think I will go with the Romark. Ron Sleeman

[Wes Mitchell]

Durablack is another option. It's a black aluminum (lasers to a silver/white) that passes all sorts of military grade testing.

[Joe Hillmann]

In the past I called Johnson plastics for a recommendation of what to use for outdoor signs and they recommended durrablack as the best possible solution and rowmark lasermax as the next best. The issue with durrablack is you can't cut it with the laser and it only comes in black with a white core.

When I had looked into using durrablack Johnson Plastic could cut it to size for me for a surprisingly low cost.


If you have a yag or fiber then engraving on stainless would be the way to go. I don't have experience with cermak so I can't make suggestions there.

[Rodne Gold]

What do you mean by a "number plate" and whats the application and where is it going?
Acrylic survives weather well.

[Mark Sipes]

I'm a bettin' were talking House Numbers

[Kev Williams]

Rowmark Ultramatte (not laserable) and Lasermax is great for the great outdoors. Chemical resistant too. Just for my own piece of mind I put piece of white/black/white Ultramatte in a small can of gasoline, and another in a can of diesel fuel, for a whole weekend just to see what would happen.

Nothing happened. And I know of work trucks I've made controls labels for that are over 15 years old and the labels look like new.

Rowmark TEXTURE, I'm not sure but I think it comes in an indoor and an outdoor version?

[Wes Mitchell]

Rowmark Textures come in just the one version, and it is UV Stable.

[Bill Cunningham]

Krylon makes a U.V. protective clear spray. I have used it on test piece of Alumamark, and it still looks just as good after a year in the sun on my shed roof as it did when it came out of the laser. The test piece has one side coated, and the other side left unprotected. The unprotected side is almost bleached entirely away, while the protected side is still solid black

[Ron Sleeman]

Hello Rodne: to your answer, I am putting them on my docks . So the boaters know what stall to put there boat in. The weather is hot for about 5 months. So I do not want them to crack or change colours .

[Rodne Gold]

I would use clear 3 or 5mm acrylic spray painted black on one side , reverse engrave thru the black and then paint the letters white. They will last well and not be expensive to do. You can put a bit of self adhesive sign vinyl over the back to further protect if needed.

[Keith Outten]

Krylon makes a U.V. protective clear spray. I have used it on test piece of Alumamark, and it still looks just as good after a year in the sun on my shed roof as it did when it came out of the laser. The test piece has one side coated, and the other side left unprotected. The unprotected side is almost bleached entirely away, while the protected side is still solid black

Bill,

Thanks for the information about the Krylon UV protectant. I'm gonna give it a try ASAP.
.

[Bill Cunningham]

Bill,

Thanks for the information about the Krylon UV protectant. I'm gonna give it a try ASAP.
.

Ya I was pleased with the results.. I was going to scan it a while back, and post a picture. But, it's been sitting on my desk, and everything else has taken a Christmas priority. I've even had to turn away a few jobs this year because I was just too darn busy.. Hope everyone else is in the same position.. HoHoHo:)

[Darryl Hazen]

A couple of years ago I ran an exposure test on Rowmark . These chips were exposed to an entire year of harsh Utah weather. The only one that degraded was the gold. It appeared to only have a thin coat of the gold with a silver substrate.

277015

[Bill Cunningham]

A couple of years ago I ran an exposure test on Rowmark . These chips were exposed to an entire year of harsh Utah weather. The only one that degraded was the gold. It appeared to only have a thin coat of the gold with a silver substrate.

277015

I'm surprized the brushed silver lasted .. Non of the metallics are outdoor rated..