how do you remove old paint from these stamped in numbers without damaging them? I am prepping hull for paint and need to remove old built up paint that is covering them.

Post a picture please. Are they molded in the hull or etched in, or on a plate?

Depending on what technology was used will give you different options going forward.

My stamped HIN"s became barely visable with many layers of primer & paint over the years. Key would be to soften the paint up (easyoff) and then carve out out the build up with a small scoop chisel.........very tedious and easier said then done.......In my case, I made a template (placed paper over numbers and ran a lead pencil over it) took the template to a printer and he matched the block lettering to a perfect type set.........I ground out the old HIN, filled that in with Hull & deck putty and pressed in the duplicate numbers.

they are molded into the hull.

For an OEM look do what scippy posted.

If you go with a new tag remember it is suppose to tamper proof (not removable) so you can't screw it on.

i would soda blast it and see how that works..should do minimal damage to the gel..

not all of them capt.

on my '77' pantera they are stamped in the glass with a "numbers and letters" set. crude, i know, but that's how they did it.

i'm in the process of a restore and i'm being very mindful of not filling in the stampings.

here's a pic:

paint on some stripper and scrape surface, then use edge of putty knife or small screwdriver to scrape out of letter indentations.

Some small custom builders are still using free hand engraving technics like yours. The only regulation is it is not to beable to be removed. There is also suppose to be the same HIN placed in a hidden part of the boat structure for varification purposes.

Actually a couple of old tooth brushes work really well for this. Just make sure you wear safety glasses when you do it because itll spatter all over the place when brushing. Keep hitting it with new shots of stripper, youll eventually get it all out.