[sister1]

Has anyone ever used those paper stencils that are intended for single use to print athletic numbers on the backs of shirts? Despite trying to avoid the athletic market, people are coming in and wanting shirts with numbers and names on the back for their teams. I have done these in the past when I couldn't avoid it by actually burning the numbers on screens, but I have two orders for next week that would require a total of 20 screens (2 numbers per screen) to fulfill, and I'm just not into coating and immediately reclaiming that many screens.

I have a sample pack of number stencils that I got at a trade show last year, but no instructions on use. I tried printing a couple just using a bare screen to see if it would work, and it looks like it COULD work if I had some tips on doing it successfully. I seem to recall that you are supposed to burn a rectangle on a screen a little smaller than the size of the paper stencil, but then -- do you adhere the stencil to the back of the screen, or the garment? And how? Off contact good or bad? How do you get the little "holes" in numbers like 6 and 8 to go where they are supposed to go and stay there while you print?

Any tips/tricks would be most appreciated.

 

[out da box]

This may not help you now, but I finally bit the bullet and got a 24" vinyl cutter for numbers and names. anything else is uncivilized. See this post: http://www.t-shirtforums.com/screen-printing/t58863.html

 

[knifemaker3]

This may not help you now, but I finally bit the bullet and got a 24" vinyl cutter for numbers and names. anything else is uncivilized. See this post: http://www.t-shirtforums.com/screen-printing/t58863.html

I agree up to a point. On certain athletic mesh garments most printers in my area who use vinyl end up having to replace or refund because the #'s/letters fall off. Probably due to using incorrect vinyl.

I've completely avoided the situation so far but I figure it's just a matter of time. What few shirts I have done for teams were done on regular t-shirts with no problems.

Just be wary of mesh and be sure to get the right stuff.

If doing it with regular screen, how about doing a page of numbers on transfer paper and then just cut them out and heat press? Might be your easiest solution..

Good Luck!
Craig

 

[knifemaker3]

Also, I think transfer express has premade numbers you can buy to heat press.

 

[INKFREAK]

Has anyone ever used those paper stencils that are intended for single use to print athletic numbers on the backs of shirts? Despite trying to avoid the athletic market, people are coming in and wanting shirts with numbers and names on the back for their teams. I have done these in the past when I couldn't avoid it by actually burning the numbers on screens, but I have two orders for next week that would require a total of 20 screens (2 numbers per screen) to fulfill, and I'm just not into coating and immediately reclaiming that many screens.

I have a sample pack of number stencils that I got at a trade show last year, but no instructions on use. I tried printing a couple just using a bare screen to see if it would work, and it looks like it COULD work if I had some tips on doing it successfully. I seem to recall that you are supposed to burn a rectangle on a screen a little smaller than the size of the paper stencil, but then -- do you adhere the stencil to the back of the screen, or the garment? And how? Off contact good or bad? How do you get the little "holes" in numbers like 6 and 8 to go where they are supposed to go and stay there while you print?

Any tips/tricks would be most appreciated.

O.K. this is going to be long winded but hopefully you get it.Burn a rectangle or just tape it off.It should be the same size as a double number put together.Put two numbers next to each other on the shirt,look through the screen,make sure your rectangle is wide enough but not too wide.
The numbers are place on the shirt with the "knock-outs where they need to be to form the numbers.Like the little triangle that makes a 4 a 4.You bring the screen down and print.The paper stencils stick to the wet ink and sticks to your screen.You peel off the used stencil and either throw it out or run it through the dryer for another use.Ink build-up will stop it from sticking so only do that once or twice.DO NOT peel the stencil off over the shirt.It can get a little messy.
With single numbers place magazine paper on the left and right of the number to block out any areas where ink might get through.That way your triangle only has to be one size.I always had to cut some of the stencil to get the double numbers close enough to make them spaced properly.
Oh and make sure you "LOOK" at the number right ,That when I developed my dyslexia,looking at things upside down for to long.

 

[Steelheader100]

I just burn a screen with a rectangle a little smaller than the whole stencil and mark the center line and corners where the stencil goes on the back of the screen with a sharpie. Then I flood the screen with ink and apply the stencil. Place the first digit on first so that when you go from number 23 to 24, the 3 that you want to peel off is not underneath the 2. You leave the first digit on for all the number 20 somethings. and just switch out the second digit. Does that make sense? We regularly do thousands of numbers on our automatic press this way. In fact next week I need to print 1900 soccer shirts all with numbers.

 

[sister1]

Inkfreak and Steelheader100: Thanks so much. I was trying to make the stencil stick to the shirt, not the screen. I'm burning my window screen right now, and will try your methods. Many, MANY thanks for the responses.