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#167741 - 25/06/2003 20:42 Plasticized paper
tanstaafl.
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5539
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
You know those envelopes that Federal Express uses for small shipments? Not the stiff cardboard ones, but the soft ones made out of paper that is just about impossible to tear?

Is it possible to buy that paper in letter size or legal size sheets, in small quantities (say 100 pages)?

I am the promoter of the annual Death Ride, a mountain bike race for true lunatics that involves wading (with your bike) through a swamp that can run as much as chin-deep if you don't bypass the deeper holes (like here) and the numbers I made up out of light card stock simply didn't hold up. I'm looking for something more durable that I can print on using a laser printer.

Any ideas?

tanstaafl.
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#167742 - 25/06/2003 20:53 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
It's called Tyvek. It's a Dupont product. I'm sure you can find it in any form you want. I'm sure the name ``Tyvek'' is a big step in that direction.

According to the Tyvek print-specific web site, you can't laser-print on it, though. That includes photocopying. There's apparently an ink-jet compatible form, but I don't know how well that ink would hold up in those conditions.

Your best bet may be to contact a local printer and see if he can help. If they can do a print run of business cards, I can't see why they couldn't do a print run of a hundred full-size sheets.


Edited by wfaulk (25/06/2003 21:03)
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#167743 - 25/06/2003 21:02 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
I think you're talking about Tyvek envelopes. At least that's what we use in my office. I'm not sure if they just make paper, though.


*edit*
Damn! I waited to long on the submit button! Grrr...


Edited by DiGNAN17 (25/06/2003 21:03)
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#167744 - 25/06/2003 21:35 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: wfaulk]
tanstaafl.
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5539
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
Your best bet may be to contact a local printer and see if he can help

If the only allowable print method is offset, then I'm out of luck because each page printed will be unique -- a different rider number for each page.

I agree with you that ink jet printing would be less than desirable.

Another way I can do it is to print the pages out on card stock, then lay clear contact paper over the faces. I think that would work out to about 5 cents per number getting two numbers per page, figuring the cost of the card stock, the contact paper, and the laser toner, allowing myself a "salary" of about 10 cents an hour, of course. That's do-able.

But, the Tyvek solution would have been a lot more elegant!

tanstaafl.
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#167745 - 25/06/2003 21:42 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
If you can find the right sort of ink, you could silkscreen it.

There's other printing methods listed on the Tyvek website, some of which I'm not familiar with. Still, you could call a printer and find out what they could do.
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#167746 - 25/06/2003 21:58 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
get nice custom tee shirts with the Death Ride logo and a number on the back

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#167747 - 25/06/2003 22:05 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: ithoughti]
tanstaafl.
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5539
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
get nice custom tee shirts with the Death Ride logo and a number on the back


Still the same problem -- how to print each shirt with a different number.

tanstaafl.
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#167748 - 25/06/2003 22:06 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: ithoughti]
jimhogan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 06/10/1999
Posts: 2591
Loc: Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
get nice custom tee shirts with the Death Ride logo

/me envisionong a logo of consisting of sideways crossed hands on the shirt front (CPR placement guide)

Lots of printers produce Tyvek bibs/numbers for races, but I assume that is way out of budget. Doug needs a printer sponsor.
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#167749 - 25/06/2003 22:09 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
Still the same problem -- how to print each shirt with a different number


I dunno... How about on each one you pin on a number thats printed on light card stock?

oh wait...
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//matt

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#167750 - 25/06/2003 22:29 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: wfaulk]
genixia
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
Hmm. Isn't that the name that I keep seeing wrapped around various houses that are under construction/renovation? I'm wondering whether tanstaafl's local hardware store sells it, or whether he knows a friendly builder who would donate some.



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#167751 - 25/06/2003 22:38 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
ricin
veteran

Registered: 19/06/2000
Posts: 1495
Loc: US: CA
You can buy some of the "styles" by the yard here.
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#167752 - 25/06/2003 23:02 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: genixia]
msaeger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
Yes it is. I was going to suggest getting some scraps from a construction site but it sounds like the problem would be printing on it.

How about a can of spray paint and stencils
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#167753 - 26/06/2003 00:09 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
rompel
stranger

Registered: 26/08/2000
Posts: 44
Loc: California
You might try Rite In The Rain. It's waterproof and I just ran a sheet through my laser printer without a hitch. It's not tearproof like Tyvek, but it won't go soggy and I'd imagine it would be strong enough for a race number.

--John

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#167754 - 26/06/2003 01:34 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
David
addict

Registered: 05/05/2000
Posts: 623
Loc: Cambridge
Also consider synthetic substrates such as Teslin. It basically feels like card made out of rubber.

It is tearable, but takes quite a bit of effort as it tends to stretch before breaking. It's completely waterproof, can be litho printed with a rubber-based ink, but not laser printed due to the heat, or inkjet printed as it's not absorbent. Permanent marker and biro do seem to work though.


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#167755 - 26/06/2003 03:03 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
jane
enthusiast

Registered: 10/10/2000
Posts: 350
Loc: Copenhagen SW, Denmark
I've been to several running events where they provide waterproof number signs... They must get those from somewhere...

Marius (

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#167756 - 26/06/2003 04:05 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
boxer
pooh-bah

Registered: 16/04/2002
Posts: 2011
Loc: Yorkshire UK
When I've done this, for guide maps, notices etc., I've simply encapsulated an ordinary sheet of paper off my printer.
We have an encapsulating machine at the office, but I would think printers would be able to source someone, also.

If it's just numbers, to put on the back, any shop that deals in the paraphanalia that surrounds horse riding stocks, or can get, numbers on flexible plastic, with holes already punched to tie on. I imagine that any competitive sport would have the same requirement, and stock them


Edited by boxer (26/06/2003 04:11)
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#167757 - 26/06/2003 06:04 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
OK, here is a real solution

go here

its printed on Tyvek (it doesn't say it but if you download the .pdf catalog there is more information) and they're $11 for 100 of them.
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#167758 - 26/06/2003 07:34 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: ithoughti]
genixia
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
At a cost of 11c per entrant, with no printing hassles...winner.
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#167759 - 26/06/2003 07:37 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: genixia]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Absolutely. And bonus points for attacking the real problem and not getting caught up in idle postulating.


Edited by wfaulk (26/06/2003 07:52)
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#167760 - 26/06/2003 07:41 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: wfaulk]
genixia
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
And bonus points for attcking the real problem and not getting caught up in idle postulating.


But this _is_ the off-topic forum.
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#167761 - 26/06/2003 23:58 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: ithoughti]
tanstaafl.
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5539
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
OK, here is a real solution

Definitely workable, but not what I'm looking for.

Here is a sample of my Death Ride bike numbers... this motif is repeated on the course markers (8.5"x14" flourescent orange signs with black lettering, on aluminum backing plates) and on the surveyors pin flags that are put up throughout the course. On race day there will be more than 100 course markers laid out.

Simplest, low-tech solution will be to just print my numbers on card stock, and then lay strips of filament tape across the top and bottom of each number before I put the mounting holes (for the zip ties) in them. (I stack all the numbers together and use my drill press to make the mounting holes)

[image]why the hell can't I make this work?[/image]

Awww, screw it. Just look at the attachment!

tanstaafl.


Attachments
166134-drbike##.bmp (232 downloads)



Edited by tanstaafl. (27/06/2003 00:09)
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#167762 - 27/06/2003 05:41 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
jeeeez, so demanding.

Ok, Running Count Racing Numbers seems like a good place to go. They do custom number printing on Tyvec. I called them. You can send them a graphic and they can print numbers in the forground, at a cost of $0.21/each + $18 set up fee (I think you can skip the set up fee if you send them the graphic in the right format, but I'm not sure)
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#167763 - 01/07/2003 17:10 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: ithoughti]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
well???

did that link help or what??

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//matt

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#167764 - 02/07/2003 17:15 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: ithoughti]
tanstaafl.
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5539
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
did that link help or what??


Yes, thank you.

The Death Ride is over for this year, but I have bookmarked that site for next year.

tanstaafl.
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

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#167765 - 02/07/2003 20:36 Re: Plasticized paper [Re: tanstaafl.]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
The Death Ride is over for this year


Damnit!

always late! It's my life's story.
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//matt

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