Custom font bumper numbers

[Gwen_McD]

I spent some time researching the same idea for our bumpers - a custom font in heat-transfer vinyl, and found the best price was at Stahl's (nice people) http://www.stahls.com/heat-transfer-material for a custom cut design in their Gorilla Grip II. If you send them vectored art it minimizes the set-up fee. We found a local T-shirt shop willing to do the heat transfer for 8 sets of numbers for $20. A bit more all together than ready-made numbers, but not by much. Gorilla Grip II can be ordered by the sheet - about $12 worth will do - contact Stahl's to see what kind of cutters work.

For us, the issue came down to the idea that the team members are supposed to do the work, and iron-ons haven't fared too well. So we are going with painted on numbers. We've had trouble in the past with paint chipping and rubbing off, but after some research into painting canvas, we're hoping for good results from the following procedure: Cut stencils of our custom font. Use one coat of spray contact cement gone tacky on back of stencil to hold stencil to fabric. Seal the edges of the stencil numbers with ModPodge matte to minimize bleeding. Use a high density pigment acrylic paint (like artists' tube paint), 2-3 coats with a stiff-bristle artists brush, seal with 2 coats of ModPodge matte. The tests have been promising.

[Dale]

We have ours silkscreened at a local T-Shirt company. You can't beat the quality and you can have colored numbers. We'll never go back! Here's last years' robot.

It costs us around $80 per year once the screen is done. You just do the screen once (around $40.). Some teams have been able to find a vendor who will donate the service.

[MrBasse]

I get all of my vinyl from coastal business supply. Siser Easy Weed is great stuff and comes in a lot of different lengths. 5 yards is enough to last you several years. 1 yard is more than enough for eight sets of numbers. We do 15" wide rolls too.

They ship super fast and have decent prices. If I order on Monday, I'll have my vinyl by Wednesday or Thursday in Michigan.

http://www.coastalbusiness.com/easyweed.aspx

[shawnliner]

Originally Posted by MrBasse

I get all of my vinyl from coastal business supply. Siser Easy Weed is great stuff and comes in a lot of different lengths. 5 yards is enough to last you several years. 1 yard is more than enough for eight sets of numbers. We do 15" wide rolls too.

They ship super fast and have decent prices. If I order on Monday, I'll have my vinyl by Wednesday or Thursday in Michigan.

http://www.coastalbusiness.com/easyweed.aspx

how do you get the vinyl to stick to the bumper material?

UPDATE:
never mind just followed you link and found it was heat stick.
We've got some vinyl and access to a die cut, but can't seem to get the numbers to stick to the fabric.
May have to go another way.

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by MrBasse

I get all of my vinyl from coastal business supply. Siser Easy Weed is great stuff and comes in a lot of different lengths. 5 yards is enough to last you several years. 1 yard is more than enough for eight sets of numbers. We do 15" wide rolls too.

They ship super fast and have decent prices. If I order on Monday, I'll have my vinyl by Wednesday or Thursday in Michigan.

http://www.coastalbusiness.com/easyweed.aspx

Excellent choice.

I use the best heat transfer vinyl for the teams who have contracted me to make bumper numbers.

My product will not come off like some of the other numbers from other companies in the previous years.

If you would to learn more, see my signature.