Has anybody made their own magnetic numbers and class letters for autox that can give me some tips? I plan on stopping by the hobby store today to pick up some magnetic sheets and some adhesive vinyl - I'm thinking it is as easy as printing some numbers on my printer and using that as a template to cut the magnets...

Are there different sizes (thickness) of magnets? I don't want these flying off the car...

 

It really is about that easy, if you are "crafty". There is little or no risk of mag sheet blowing off of a car at autocross speeds - unless there is bondo in the panels that you try to stick them too! (True story about a customer who bought panels from my company - complained a lot because his car was advertised as "filler free".)

The easiest way to do this is to put vinyl numbers on a rectangle of mag material. Cutting the numbers out of the vinyl is tougher but can sure be done.

Get the transfer material for the vinyl film. Cut your numbers through the film only (leaving the paper), remove the waste film, lay the transer material on the vinyl. When you are ready to assemble your panels, put the numbers on "wet" (like model decals) following the film makers rec's - this will avoid bubbles and let you get them straight.

If you are going to cut numbers from mag mat'l, overlay the vinyl that you want using the process above and then cut away. You might be able to find mag sheet in the color that you want if you can find your local signmaking supply company.

Kirk

 

Buy a big sheet and cut some "L.E.D." style numbers.

For both sides, two numbers, you will need 28 pieces.

Ex. #8 (a poor example at that)
_
| |
-
| |
-

Small (lightweight) pieces = less chance of them flying off.

~1" wide ~4" long with 45 deg. cuts on the end.

Will
-who hopes that the numbers will work for the NASA event

[example looks like crap... spaces are not showing up]


[Modified by Willard, 10:59 AM 1/28/2002]

 

That's exactly what I did -- went to art supply store; bought a couple feet of rolled, flexible, colored magnet; printed out one # per page in the biggest font that would fit on 8.5x11 paper; cut #'s off of paper to use as stencils; placed on top of sheet magnet; cut with utility knife (a heavy duty set of scissors would have made the job A LOT easier). Don't know what gauge magnet I got but I'm guessing it's about 1/64-1/32" and that's plenty beefy for auto-x.

 

go with at least .5 mil or it will blow off...

 

http://www.beacongraphics.com/magnetic.html

I got a 10x2 foot roll of black, and it made all the decals on my car, and the giant 88s on the side of D's car (2 feet tall),and i had enough left over to make 2 more sets. Most for most of them, i just put the bumper sticker or decal on the magnet...for the numbers, i've found that using that Vynal-Kote vynal spray they sell in pep boys lets you make black vynal any color it comes it (intended for vynal uphulstry), the stuff bonds to the vynal, and bends with it etc. Check out http://www.sandmracing.com/smagneticdecals.html for the results (the smaller numbers had metal tape on them, it looked kinda ghetto close up, but was shiny!!!)


[Modified by Aleph, 11:12 AM 1/28/2002]

 

The yellow sheet that this company sells almost perfectly matches PY ITRs as well.

 

Flux,
There's a plastics company on Metric, about 1 block east of 183. They sell magnetic sheet for <U>much</U> cheaper than the art supply places. I think it was 2' wide, and like $2 per foot.
Another option to the sticky vinyl that someone mentioned above, is to use this stuff for coating the wings of RC airplanes. I think it's called Monocote, or something like that. Easy to cut, and you iron it on the magnetic sheet. Lots of different colors, and you can find it at hobby shops.

Chris
94 Integra LS
#55 GS

 

I used adhesive-backed contact paper. At least, I think that is what it was called. It feels like very thin plastic, low-tack adhesive on the back. I got it from the arts and crafts store for something like a buck for 2 feet.

 

heheh.. I went ghetto/lazy.. I went to Staples and bought the 8.5x11 sheets (4 per package) for $10. Then the morning of the next event, I grabbed the shoe polish that I had been using on my windows, and wrote on those white sheets with that. 1 sheet for the number, another for the class. Both sides, make sure they are a legal size (8 inches, right?)..

I actually got a compliment for them! HAHAHAHA..
haven't had any fly-aways, fit fine on the side of my 7lb (or is it 7 gallon? I can't remember how they rated that thing) air tank..

 

Same thing I did, printed out the font I wanted and then taped the printout onto magnet/vinyl and cut it out w/ an Exacto knife.

 

Cool, I will give them a call - I think it is called Regal Plastics or something like that. Thanks for the heads up...

 

Yep, that's the place. Couldn't remember the name. They also sell vinyl. Hope to see that ITR out at an autox soon !

Chris
94 Integra LS
#55 GS