Frame decals

Quoted message said:

1. Is this stock made for ink-jet preiners?

Yes. Laser too. micro-mark.com or your local model railroad store.

Quoted message said:

2. Do you need special ink for it (waterproof?)

Nope. A sealer is sprayed. Or, just clearcoat on the bike.

Quoted message said:

3. is the ink available in an opaque white (I'm making decals for a royal blue frame).

Nope. You need an ALPS printer for that, no longer made. Try model railroad groups, Maybe there's
one there. Phil Brown

Quoted message said:

3. is the ink available in an opaque white (I'm making decals for a royal blue frame).

Instead of clear decal film use white. 🙂

Quoted message said:

Instead of clear decal film use white. :

Tough to trim it nicely. Phil Brown

Phil Brown at [email hidden] wrote on 7/31/03 9:21 PM:

Quoted message said:

micro-mark.com

micromark.commicromark.comOpen ↗

...and, since it's a slightly nasty little site to navigate...

dxmarket.comsearch.htmlOpen ↗

-- Jim

(Chris Zacho 'The Wheelman') said:

3. is the ink available in an opaque white (I'm making decals for a royal blue frame).

Only for a very special and expensive ALPS printer. However, two ideas spring to mind :

(a) White cartridges for the ALPS printer are still available. Would it be possible to drain a
conventional cartridge (e.g. H.P. black) and refill it with ink from the ALPS printer ?? I have
used ink from a stationery store in the past to refill an HP cartridge and it worked fine (as
long as it wasn't a large-particle ink like india ink.)

(b) Does anyone know of a good hobby supply store or process for making _stencils_ with a
computer? that would be another way to get white (e.g. white lettering) for some of the things
i want to do.

- Don Gillies San Diego, CA

Thanks for the link(s). The stencil idea may be worth a try too.

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

<< (a) White cartridges for the ALPS printer are still available. Would it be possible to drain a
conventional cartridge (e.g. H.P. black) and refill it with ink from the ALPS printer ?? >>

No, because the ALPS uses a thermal transfer ribbon, not liquid ink at all.

T

The decals are most "unwaterproof". You have to cover them with multiple coats of sealant or they
will wash off in the first light rain. Also, the colors for some reason show up differently when you
apply them- perhaps they aren't as opaque as they look. The film could be thicker as well. Unlike
"real" decals these are very touchy and hard to apply. However, have a "Seiferth" brand bike with my
family's coat of arms on the head tube and "[censored] off thief" on the chainstay was worth the trouble.

Quoted message said:

Now for my question. This decal paper is a water applique type. Does anybody know if it is
waterproof itself? I can pre-seal the front with spar polyurethane, but if water is going to soak
through the paper itself the ink will still run.

Anybody here used this stuff before (on ink jet)?

Try this:

ase-innovations.combicycle decals.htmOpen ↗

Here is another

decalgraphix.comfonts.htmlOpen ↗

You can go to a sign shop who will cut out the art in vinyl. This is how many car graphics are done.
They usually don't charge too much to have a few made. Since yours is more than one color with a
background, it may be more. Mine have stuck pretty well without any coating. I think mine cost 35
dollars for ten exact decals. (Wanted extra in case I screwed up or they came off.)