Printing Tyvex/Custom numbers
 

One of my goals for 2011 is to be able to print custom numbers for the racers in the Bethel Spring Series. I want to have their name on their number and offer potential sponsors the opportunity to have logos etc on the numbers.

I need to print Tyvex since it's waterproof. It costs about 20 cents a sheet and I can only get one number out of each sheet (8 1/2" x 11").

I need to use either a cool process laser printer or an inkjet printer. I have a couple inkjets but they use a LOT of ink.

So I'm trying to figure out what is a "cool process" laser printer that I can afford. The only ones I can find are those free standing things you see in major corporations or major print shops.

The other option is an inkjet printer that uses separate black ink (for real - apparently some printers use a mix of black and color to make black) and color. The numbers (the biggest print surface stuff) will be black, other things in other colors.

Any ideas on:
- cool process laser printers
- most efficient inkjet printers with separate black/color cartridges and actual use
- Tyvex for less than 20 cents per page ($105 for 500 sheets)
- alternatives to Tyvex?

Thanks
cdr

Are you thinking on-site, or pre-reg only? Or maybe, "pre-pay for x races, get your name on the number"? Anyway, if you go pre-reg / pre-pay just farm it out to a print shop or Kinko's.

Onsite, I got nothin.

I like the idea!! But, isn't 8.5x11 a huge number sheet!!

I have a somewhat old Canon PIXMA iP5000 that has a 2 black cartridges; one, I believe, is for "separate"/"individual" use. I'm not sure about ink consumption for your purposes as I've never recorded output per cartridge, However, I don't recall myself running out to get ink too often.

Pre-reg to get your name on it. They have to dry for a day to be waterproof.

I normally buy about 5000 numbers a year. I want to either offer super customization for sponsors (I'm looking for sponsorship $) or at least make the race unique (name on number).

Also by doing this I can use up all the higher numbers I have left - I have probably 5000-7000 numbers left (a full box - I gave away another full box to a fellow promoter) but all broken sets (lower value numbers gone). So lots of 60s, 70s, 80s, not many 10s, 20s, 30s.

Why not just have Electric City Printing handle them for you? I have had them print numbers for me with custom names and other info that was different on individual numbers. My turnaround has usually been about a week - might be less.

Wasn't aware of them. Thanks for the tip.