Reusable non permanent numbers?
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Reusable non permanent numbers?
Obviously magnetic numbers don't work. I've tried static cling. Sticks to itself really well. Not so much to the car. Painters tape numbers don't look too good and they fall off too.
I'm hoping for a solution that I can take off and put on every other weekend. This car is my daily, so I need something that can go on and off frequently.
What are you guys using?
I'm hoping for a solution that I can take off and put on every other weekend. This car is my daily, so I need something that can go on and off frequently.
What are you guys using?
#2
Advanced
Member Since: Apr 2011
Location: Somerville New Jersey
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I use a vinyl with the removable adhesive. I bought the roll and cut out numbers myself. I made a template for my numbers and size i like, and trace over and over and cut out with scissors. They usually last me the whole weekend. Once or twice i've had a number start to peel but i just replace it with another.
I also typically just lay down a quick spray on wax on a clean surface before i put them on. Never had a problem getting them off. Just take them off right when you are done.
I also typically just lay down a quick spray on wax on a clean surface before i put them on. Never had a problem getting them off. Just take them off right when you are done.
#4
Drifting
I used the Reusable Vinyl Placards from Hart Photography, they are a local photog/numbers shop that comes out to local (DFW) tracks for HPDE events put on by The Drivers Edge. They ship too. Here's a link to order them:
http://hart-photography.com/photocar...&viewItem=1009
I used the numbers back when I did AutoX and also for HPDE where they want numbers for cars. They work really good. Here's a shot of what they look like on my wife's car and my old Z06. I had them round the corners, called 'em up and talked to them over the phone and has the "SS" added so it would work for SCCA Solo too.
http://hart-photography.com/photocar...&viewItem=1009
I used the numbers back when I did AutoX and also for HPDE where they want numbers for cars. They work really good. Here's a shot of what they look like on my wife's car and my old Z06. I had them round the corners, called 'em up and talked to them over the phone and has the "SS" added so it would work for SCCA Solo too.
#5
Drifting
Reusable vinyl here as well. If you take care of them you can get a good life out of them. I've gotten at least a half dozen days out of a set. Picked mine up from Solo Performance. Pretty sure David Farmer can cut you these as well.
#7
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
E-Emmons those look great. and the trailer even better. I need to ask you about that some day. I'm not a fan though of cutting my own numbers though. I have 0 artistic ability, lol.
The Hart Photography panels look really good. Taking them off and on isn't a problem?
I looked at the Solo Performance stuff. If they could do a panel where I could have the numbers and ssp letters all at once I'd be sold.
Thanks for the answers!
The Hart Photography panels look really good. Taking them off and on isn't a problem?
I looked at the Solo Performance stuff. If they could do a panel where I could have the numbers and ssp letters all at once I'd be sold.
Thanks for the answers!
Last edited by Sox-Fan; 02-28-2014 at 01:35 PM.
#8
Drifting
I was (and still am) impressed with how nice they look and how well they work. The panels come already stuck/applied to a sheet of slick paper (sort of like thick wax paper). I always clean the surface that I am applying them to (the doors and the rear bumper for a small sticker). I peel the sticker panel off and then slowly apply it to the car, go slow, work out any bubbles. At the end of the event they peel off nice and easy, just go slow, make sure the original slick paper is clean, apply the panel there and put it back in the supplied cardboard sleeve (two pieces of cardboard taped together.
#9
Racer
Member Since: May 2010
Location: Washington DC
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For a different option, you can look into cheap disposable vinyl numbers. I get 9" numbers and put them on the back window (easy to apply, even easier to remove) for HPDE events. They're cheap enough that I can throw away at the end of the event. I have used Sign Specialist in the past, but anyone with a vinyl cutter can make these.
Vendor website: http://www.signspecialist.com/lettering/lettering.html
Example:
Vendor website: http://www.signspecialist.com/lettering/lettering.html
Example:
Last edited by Hat_Trick_Hokie; 02-28-2014 at 01:52 PM.
#10
Vinyl shelf liner from Target.............I find the font I like on the internet, copy the numbers to something like Word, then blow it up to the size I want and print it. Using that for template, just cut out the shelf liner numbers. I used to take it off after each event and reuse, they lasted about five events that way. Then I decided to leave them on and they lasted several years (not daily driver).
#11
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Thanks all of you for helping.
I ended up ordering the reusable square panels from Solo Performance. The Hart Phtography panels look great too, but in the end it came down to who had more options and who picked up the phone when I called.
I think either choice would have been a good one.
I ended up ordering the reusable square panels from Solo Performance. The Hart Phtography panels look great too, but in the end it came down to who had more options and who picked up the phone when I called.
I think either choice would have been a good one.
#12
Burning Brakes
Another suggestion:
I've used both individual numbers and the square panels. In both cases, they last longer if I put them on the night before by lightly wetting the door surface before applying the vinyl numbers and then letting it dry overnight.(It also makes it much easier to squeegie out the air bubbles.)
I've used both individual numbers and the square panels. In both cases, they last longer if I put them on the night before by lightly wetting the door surface before applying the vinyl numbers and then letting it dry overnight.(It also makes it much easier to squeegie out the air bubbles.)
#15
Team Owner
I've had good luck with static-cling numbers that were made for me at a local sign shop. They used black numbers on a clear panel. Nothing special in terms of a font, just Windows Arial Bold at 8" high
I have had them for 7 years now primarily for autocross and they also work for track days. The key is to have the door panel clean and I squirt lots of water on the door and then apply the material and use a piece of hard rubber to push out the water. To remove them, I have to work at peeling back a corner.
They came with a plastic-coated backer sheet and I keep them there when not in use. IIRC, I paid $40 for a pair of 2-digit numbers and 2 class letters.
I have had them for 7 years now primarily for autocross and they also work for track days. The key is to have the door panel clean and I squirt lots of water on the door and then apply the material and use a piece of hard rubber to push out the water. To remove them, I have to work at peeling back a corner.
They came with a plastic-coated backer sheet and I keep them there when not in use. IIRC, I paid $40 for a pair of 2-digit numbers and 2 class letters.
#16
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I tried static cling and found that they like to stick to themselves more than the door. I got them on the car the first time and they looked great. Bit, in taking them off the car they turned into a jumbled mess before I could get them onto the backing sheet. end up tossing them out.
#18
Burning Brakes
I use a vinyl with the removable adhesive. I bought the roll and cut out numbers myself. I made a template for my numbers and size i like, and trace over and over and cut out with scissors. They usually last me the whole weekend. Once or twice i've had a number start to peel but i just replace it with another.
I also typically just lay down a quick spray on wax on a clean surface before i put them on. Never had a problem getting them off. Just take them off right when you are done.
Amazon.com: Vinyl Oasis Craft & Hobby Vinyl - Matte Bright Red w/ Removable Adhesive - 12 in. x 10 ft. Roll: Arts, Crafts & Sewing
I also typically just lay down a quick spray on wax on a clean surface before i put them on. Never had a problem getting them off. Just take them off right when you are done.
Amazon.com: Vinyl Oasis Craft & Hobby Vinyl - Matte Bright Red w/ Removable Adhesive - 12 in. x 10 ft. Roll: Arts, Crafts & Sewing
#19
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Seems if this threads is any indication, they could do more business simply by forwarding the phones to a cell phone while they are out of the office.
#20
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
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They work great and can last a long time if you make sure the car is clean when you apply them, the edges are smoothed out and tight to the car body, your fingers are clean when you remove them and reapply to the backing material. Any dirt will kill the adhesive pretty quickly but when taken care of they can last for years. I am still using some that I purchased 6 or 7 years ago along with some that I purchased 4 years ago.
Most HPDE events that I have attended in the past provided their own numbers. That makes it much easier to keep track of cars and to find out who the guilty party is. They can assign an instructor the same number as the student and just add an Alphabetical Character at the end to identify which run group the car is in. When you have an event with 140 cars and 2 or 3 people per car wandering around it makes it much easier to find the car when wandering around in the paddock/garage. It is almost impossible when everybody uses their own number.
Bill