Avery Sticker paper, an easy alternative to T-Shirt Transfers ...

[Melanhead]

I found this last week and tried it out

http://www.avery.com/us/Main?action=product.Details&catalogcode=WEB01&node=10210893&productcode=3383

Works and looks great! ...... It's repositionable as well ... The only bad side is you can see the box color (in my case no color, just the raw box) a bit through it when you apply a clear coat. ,  ... but if the box is white it shouldn't be an issue ... I'm willing to live with it for way less hassle ...

... I was getting tired of having to re-do pedals because the T-Shirt material is so damn tempermental!, ... Too long with the iron and it stains, too little time and it bubbles! ... DAMN! ...

Anyways, just wanted to share as I'm sure there are a few out there that had a few frustrating moments with t-shirt transfer ...

[Melanhead]

oh ... I'll try to post a pic when I can ...

[gez]

The only bad side is you can see the box color (in my case no color, just the raw box) a bit through it when you apply a clear coat.

Make a feature of it!  I use a 'transparent' label (could be Avery, I'd have to check) which is actually slightly opaque.  The plain aluminium shows through whatever colour you choose as background and you get a marbling effect, which looks pretty cool. 

If you use yellow/gold as a backing you can even get faux copper effects.

[Melanhead]

Cool ... I've tried the avery clear stuff before but always had a problem with air bubbles

[8mileshigh]

Hey Bob,

Did you order it on-line or did you buy it locally ?  If you did where, I'd prefer avoiding the mail order thing if I can get it at Bureau en Gros in Quebec.  What clear coat are you using ?  Thanks

8

[blanik]

hey, a fellow montrealer.. i thought i was the only one in here... 

the trick to avoid bubbles with this stuff is lifting the top of the peel paper, align the partly exposed sticker with the box (you can lift and restick until the first few mm are perfectly aligned and the remove more peel and sticking the decal from top to bottom very slowly... never had bubbles by doing that...

R.

[Melanhead]

Hey Bob,

Did you order it on-line or did you buy it locally ?  If you did where, I'd prefer avoiding the mail order thing if I can get it at Bureau en Gros in Quebec.  What clear coat are you using ?  Thanks

8

Got it at Staples ... Most stationary stores should have it ....

I'll have to check but I think I'm using Krylon Crystal Clear in the spray can, from Kent ....

I do 3 coats about 2 minutes apart, wait about an hour( it dries quick!) , wet sand with 600 grit and repeat the process ... I usually do this 3 times. When dry again, one more wet sand with 600 grit then I apply 1 more thin coat ... So 10 coats ...

[Melanhead]

hey, a fellow montrealer.. i thought i was the only one in here... 

the trick to avoid bubbles with this stuff is lifting the top of the peel paper, align the partly exposed sticker with the box (you can lift and restick until the first few mm are perfectly aligned and the remove more peel and sticking the decal from top to bottom very slowly... never had bubbles by doing that...

R.

I'll have to try that again someday ...

[zpyder]

pic?

[Melanhead]

probably not 'till after the weekend ... gigging all weekend and doing family stuff

[dacaumodo]

hey, a fellow montrealer.. i thought i was the only one in here... 

I'm a Montrealer by heart (and a Parisian by obligation)

[Melanhead]

Yup .. I checked and I've been using Krylon Crystal Clear ... I couldn't remeber 'cause I bought a bunch of it months ago and never really pay attention to it when spraying 

[Melanhead]

pic?

here ya go:

[dacaumodo]

Looks good!

[dosmun]

Are there different types of Avery Sticker paper?  I have some that I use from time to time but it isn't very sticky and needs someting else to help it stick more permanently.  Here is one of the peds I made using Avery sticker paper.

[Melanhead]

Looks great! ...

Not sure, there may be different types ... the avery sticks really well, but It can be lifted and placed it's it's not right the first time.

[markm]

WOW!
Those do look good guys!
How's the durability with regular usage?

[Melanhead]

This is the first I've done this way, but It probably depends on how much clear coat you put on ... 10 coats seems to be enough for me, as that's how much I've used on any pedals I've done with t-shirt transfer and they've held up very well in regular use for about a year now ...

I'm guessing the sticker material will hold up just as well ....

[Alex C]

I've been using these labels with great success for my last several projects, including three or four pedals built for friends and fellow players.  One trick I have found to get around the problem of the bare box or base color showing through or affecting the final appearance is this: after printing the design on the sticker sheet, cut out an area containing the printed design and stick that to an unused portion of the sticker sheet.  The enclosure design can then be cut from this double-thickness section and applied as usual. 
This method enabled me to print and use a label with a white background on a dark blue powder-coated box (supplied by the recipient of the pedal) with no alteration of the true white of the design, and the standard clear-coat process has worked fine with the double-thickness sticker.

This has proven to be an easy, efficient, and great-looking method for labeling pedals.  Any image or graphic that can be printed can become the top surface of the enclosure, providing endless possibilities for custom design.  A simplified grayscale version of the final image printed on regular paper makes a perfect drilling template too.   My first pedals made using this design were built about a year and a half ago and there have been no issues of any sort so far with peeling, fading, etc.  Proper clear-coating seems to protect it well.

I don't know if Melanhead is around here very much these days, but this was a great suggestion, and I am grateful for being made aware of it.

-Alex

[rnfr]

are you using the avery sticker paper or the avery sticker project paper?  is there a difference?