Does anyone out there make there own decals. I am interested in making decals for putting names on my rods. I have tried just about everything for signing rods but, have not found a real good way for signing. I have tried gel pens, fountain type pens, sharpies but known seem to work that great. Any info would be appreciated.

I know a lot of folks here make their own with out difficulty but the easiest thing I did was call Decal Connection. Got a page of decals that should last a couple of years, shipped it to me the next day. Great service, good company, easy to order from.

Decal Connection! You can buy a bunch or just one! Check out teir website for info & samples. Jimi is great and you can have a gold or silver metallic "inscription in a couple days.

Mike

If you want the ease of making what ever you want, and at anytime get yourself an ALPs printer, got a new one just recently myself after seeing the ease of how Putter produced his needs.

What is it, if anything, that makes an ALPS printer superior for making decals than, say, an HP inkjet printer?

Tom,

It's the ink. inkjet printer ink does not hold up. It fades quickly.

Hank
On The Rocks Fishing
Wells, ME.

The Alps has cartridges, much like the old cassette tapes. The 'color' is on the tape and ?embossed? (I'm not really sure how it's transferred) onto the surface (in this case, waterslide decal material).

Putter
Williston, ND

Putter: Is that ALPS a dot matrix printer? Sounds like it, because it uses tapes. How's the resolution? I assume you can see the "dots" if you look closely.

The resolution is as good as the file you print to; if used on it's highest setting, I can't see the dots with my eyes. I've used lower resolutions and could see them if I really looked hard at it, but it's really not noticeable even then.
It's even a great photo printer, it actually has a clear, glossy finish that can be put on also. The paper used can be matte and the photo can be made glossy by using than 'finish' cartridge. I've been afraid of wearing it out, so I only tried it once just to see how it works. It worked great. I just use an HP 5550 for photo printing to save the wear and tear on my "decal maker". LOL



Putter
Williston, ND