Clear # plate backgrounds?

race
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race
Edited Date/Time 1/24/2012 11:15pm
Anyone here do these? I thought there were a few graphics kit guys on here.

I'm looking for the clear sheets for number plate backgrounds. ( The 12" X 18" sheets, not the pre-cut stuff. ) ... but what I'm looking for is something a little less thick. The industry seems to be settled on 12 to 16 mil thickness. I'm looking for something like an 6, 8 or 10 mil thickness.

The stuff is probably available from a non-moto industrial source as well if anyone has a source for that. Just need a couple of sheets so no major quantity involved.

So far I'm striking out on the usual brands as they are all using 12, 15 or 16 mil.




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noob
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noob 10/22/2009 11:23am
10/22/2009 11:23am
Have you tried clear contact paper from an art store?
Highsider
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Highsider 10/22/2009 11:30am
10/22/2009 11:30am
I need some, too. I tried clear contact to protect the walls in my rv where the tires, grips, etc contact the walls, but it was too light to hold up. Even did double thickness and it tore.
RandyS
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RandyS 10/22/2009 12:02pm
10/22/2009 12:02pm
What you're looking for is the pre adhesived laminate like Convex that the graphic guys use. Search Convex . You could also maybe find a screen printing distributor that would sell you a couple of sheets of 3M adhesive(it's adhesive with backing on both sides) it comes in individual sheets. And you could get the clear from the fabric store by the yard, it's not quite the quality but it's 100 times stronger than contact paper and comes in a bunch of different thicknesses.
peelout719
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peelout719 10/22/2009 12:05pm
10/22/2009 12:05pm
is it to cover the pages of your spank mags? if so, i recommend at least 16mm... i had the 8 and i tore through it like rikki lake on a bran-muffin

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noob
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noob 10/22/2009 12:09pm
10/22/2009 12:09pm
peelout719 wrote:
is it to cover the pages of your spank mags? if so, i recommend at least 16mm... i had the 8 and i tore through it...
is it to cover the pages of your spank mags? if so, i recommend at least 16mm... i had the 8 and i tore through it like rikki lake on a bran-muffin

Smile
LOL
MCP486
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MCP486 10/22/2009 12:14pm
10/22/2009 12:14pm Edited Date/Time 10/28/2010 12:04pm
Highsider
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Highsider 10/22/2009 12:39pm
10/22/2009 12:39pm
RandyS wrote:
What you're looking for is the pre adhesived laminate like Convex that the graphic guys use. Search Convex . You could also maybe find a screen...
What you're looking for is the pre adhesived laminate like Convex that the graphic guys use. Search Convex . You could also maybe find a screen printing distributor that would sell you a couple of sheets of 3M adhesive(it's adhesive with backing on both sides) it comes in individual sheets. And you could get the clear from the fabric store by the yard, it's not quite the quality but it's 100 times stronger than contact paper and comes in a bunch of different thicknesses.
Yep and my friend wraps vehicles, so he is my hook-up. Thanks!Smile
race
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race 10/22/2009 2:37pm
10/22/2009 2:37pm
MCP486 wrote:
I'm using it on portions of a newly powder-coated mountainbike frame. I've used it on my MX bikes over the years for high wear areas. On new mtb frames there are so many cables and they are routed so tightly ( welded on cable mounts ) that the paint gets worn off in a hurry.

I tried the 12 - 16 mil stuff and it works well but a little overkill. And the thickness makes it hard to mold over anything but a flat surface. Something less thick would be perfect. I also tried some of the various rock guard, clear bra, etc. stuff and it's just too thin and stretches too much on install.
Moto_Geek
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Moto_Geek 10/22/2009 3:00pm
10/22/2009 3:00pm
Is this to compensate for the new weight of the YZ450? I ride bar back now and that shaved couple pounds..
Local Industries 10/22/2009 10:53pm
10/22/2009 10:53pm
Try Convex, they have a laminate called motowrap and it comes in 8-10 mil thickness's and it applies much better than a 12 mil
MCP486
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MCP486 10/22/2009 11:03pm
10/22/2009 11:03pm Edited Date/Time 10/23/2009 8:52am
Local Industries wrote:
Try Convex, they have a laminate called motowrap and it comes in 8-10 mil thickness's and it applies much better than a 12 mil
Local Industries 10/22/2009 11:24pm
10/22/2009 11:24pm
um someone already mentioned convex.. so that cat is already out of the bag... and yes i agree there are def way to many graphic companies in the market today.. but what can you do
PaleBlue
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PaleBlue 10/23/2009 12:57am
10/23/2009 12:57am
Local Industries wrote:
Try Convex, they have a laminate called motowrap and it comes in 8-10 mil thickness's and it applies much better than a 12 mil
MCP486 wrote:
The USA home of free enterprise and land of oportunity? Competition is supposed to be good and weed out the dead wood - what's your take on this, MCP486?

B.T.W. Peelout719 16"mm" is just over 1/2 inch thick - you sure you mean that!
JaceWade
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JaceWade 10/23/2009 6:09am
10/23/2009 6:09am Edited Date/Time 10/23/2009 11:04am
MCP486 I disagree about the "little respect" part, where does having no respect for an artist come from? and yes I do a lot more than just dirt bike stickers so I would qualify as one, not just some guy who draws up designs on his computer for dirtbikes.



BTW 12mil is overkill, 8mil or 10mil lam for what your doing should be fine, use a heat gun if you can't get it to conform correctly.
SteveS
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SteveS 10/23/2009 7:55am
10/23/2009 7:55am
We have 7 and 12 mil. You can email me from my sig link.
peelout719
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peelout719 10/23/2009 8:00am
10/23/2009 8:00am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 2:54am
PaleBlue wrote:
The USA home of free enterprise and land of oportunity? Competition is supposed to be good and weed out the dead wood - what's your take...
The USA home of free enterprise and land of oportunity? Competition is supposed to be good and weed out the dead wood - what's your take on this, MCP486?

B.T.W. Peelout719 16"mm" is just over 1/2 inch thick - you sure you mean that!
i know what i meant


Wink
PaleBlue
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PaleBlue 10/23/2009 8:21am
10/23/2009 8:21am
PaleBlue wrote:
The USA home of free enterprise and land of oportunity? Competition is supposed to be good and weed out the dead wood - what's your take...
The USA home of free enterprise and land of oportunity? Competition is supposed to be good and weed out the dead wood - what's your take on this, MCP486?

B.T.W. Peelout719 16"mm" is just over 1/2 inch thick - you sure you mean that!
peelout719 wrote:
i know what i meant
i know what i meant


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Local Industries 10/23/2009 8:27am
10/23/2009 8:27am
MCP486, you did come across as a dick, how about a little respect for another professional.. like I know I don't work for the one of the largest graphics companies and all like you, but I have a legitimate business, one that is not out of a basement i might add. As far as keeping it a secrete.. convex is not that good of a secrete.. as it was already stated in this thread before I said anything. And it takes alot more than just material to do mx graphics.. so if someone wants to start one up based on that go for it,this is America. As Jace mentioned 99% of graphics business fail because they have no idea the amount of time and effort that goes into producing mx graphics and think its just a quick buck.. so as far as that goes I dont care if another company pops up across the street because Im confident enough in what i do and my products.. As i stated before this is America and competition is good, its what makes or breaks business and keeps products ever evolving and continuing to get better. But aside from all of that shit all i was trying to do was to help out a fellow racer who asked a question..
JaceWade
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JaceWade 10/23/2009 9:14am
10/23/2009 9:14am Edited Date/Time 10/23/2009 11:05am
I agree with you Patrick. I'm just saying from a business perspective, loose lips sink ships lol. Seriously though, I know you were just trying to help and yeah nowadays it probably isn't much of a secret at all. I just follow the same attitude I was showed when I first started - don't ask my trade secrets. I don't see anything wrong there but that's me.
race
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race 10/23/2009 10:00am
10/23/2009 10:00am
Wow, I didn't mean to start a war. Some of you guys need to relax a little.

And it's a stretch to think your business is somehow threatened just by sharing knowledge of over the counter materials ... that often, as in my case, are being used for a completely different purpose.

Soooo .... I am still experimenting with some of the protection materials - Rock Guard, etc. I am able to get samples from an auto detail shop located conveniently right near home so I haven't had to email any of you. One thing that is puzzling though is the MIL spec used.

I started out with a standard clear number background 3 pak which was labelled as 16 mil. Vinyl I think. Then I went to the detail shop and they showed me some of the different rock guard stuff they use. But their MIL spec seems totally out of wack from what the MX vinyl uses. I am currently trying their 20 MIL clear guard ( I think it is something other than vinyl ) but it is easily less thick than the 16 MIL MX clear background stuff?

And before this I tried some of their 8 MIL stuff and it felt more like what I would call ... maybe a 2 MIL thickness. Really, really thin and it stretches way too easily. Is there some confusion out there between thickness standards and MIL specs? The shop guys were scratching their heads when I showed them my 16 MIL vinyl stuff and how it was thicker than even their supposedly 20 MIL stuff. ( Obviously compared after peeling off the backing on each. )






BTW - I think I'm going to start my own graphics company in my basement !!!

Tongue Tongue



RandyS
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RandyS 10/23/2009 10:14am
10/23/2009 10:14am
Local Industries wrote:
MCP486, you did come across as a dick, how about a little respect for another professional.. like I know I don't work for the one of...
MCP486, you did come across as a dick, how about a little respect for another professional.. like I know I don't work for the one of the largest graphics companies and all like you, but I have a legitimate business, one that is not out of a basement i might add. As far as keeping it a secrete.. convex is not that good of a secrete.. as it was already stated in this thread before I said anything. And it takes alot more than just material to do mx graphics.. so if someone wants to start one up based on that go for it,this is America. As Jace mentioned 99% of graphics business fail because they have no idea the amount of time and effort that goes into producing mx graphics and think its just a quick buck.. so as far as that goes I dont care if another company pops up across the street because Im confident enough in what i do and my products.. As i stated before this is America and competition is good, its what makes or breaks business and keeps products ever evolving and continuing to get better. But aside from all of that shit all i was trying to do was to help out a fellow racer who asked a question..
I didn't see the original reply to this but anyone who thinks the word convex is some kind of secret is dreaming. Do a search on motocross graphics either by itself or with a third term like laminate. If it doesn't come up first it will be on the first page. I bet I can also find dozens of garage companies who advertise that they use it. The only people who have secrets are companies who go out and do the leg work to develop their own. What convex sells can be done for probably a third of the price with a little leg work if you've got the volume or capital to get more than a roll at a time. It's nothing new.
JaceWade
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JaceWade 10/23/2009 10:48am
10/23/2009 10:48am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 2:54am
Sorry if I was coming off with any attitude I'm up to my knees in order :D, not trying to start anything I was just stating my opinion. Believe it or not a lot of people don't know about the materials.


Race, I've tried a 24mil and it was THICK, but it catches too much and peels off easier, if only. And yeah there definitely is some confusion with the thickness because I've tried other thicker materials that definitely were not thicker. I'm no materials engineer but whats up with that?
SteveS
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SteveS 10/23/2009 11:04am
10/23/2009 11:04am
Lying
JaceWade
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JaceWade 10/23/2009 11:07am
10/23/2009 11:07am
SteveS wrote:
Lying
lol that is usually the case

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