How do you make field covers?
 

Guys,
I am looking to make custom field covers for all the teams we have in our solitaire league (1985 season, so 28 teams). The only problem is I have no idea where to start. If someone has done this, who did you contact, where should I look online or in the phone book...I am just lost!

I am open to the magnets or the plastic surfaces...heck I don't care. I am also not in this to sell to anyone, I don't want to flirt with any copyright infringements, just get some cool stuff for our solitaire league.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Mark

II did some while I was in Wichita through a place called.. "Fast Signs".. they are a national company.. (I've noticed them in Kansas City)... They were the most reasonably priced... and.. prices went down the more I could buy at a time..

Almost everyone priced them.. but.. You could tell who was and who wasn't really interested in doing them.. by the price..

Field Covers
 

I will vouch for Raiderman covers, though I am sure at the moment he has other things on his mind... Did you ever find your stick-on #s and names??? I am still interested (2 years later)...

Hope things are well for you. I will warn you, though, if you come to Detroit this Jan., I will hunt you down.sntht$

Fast Signs
 

I too am interested in doing this...for my own attempt at a larger field.

I just checked into their site...what type of sign is best for a fiber board field?

Just ask the guy at fast signs what to use.. We never did find the same stuff that Miggle uses on their fields.. and didn't like the "somewhat" removable materials they did have.. No problems with the stuff that goes down and.. stays down.

I wonder if anybody has thought of printing field covers as transparancies?

Kansas Bill - thanks...

I wondered about the transparecnies too...or clear "static" covers over a plain green (no lines even) board...

Then the board could be permanent, and you could put different clear covers down if you wanted...

Transparancies is an interssting idea, but how would you hold it to the green permenent layer underneath. If it just set loose on top I would think you would lose some of the vibration.

Static?
 

What if the clear was that "static" material? Or is that what Miggle uses that doesn't always remove so easily?

Well, one idea would be to use hobby magnets at the corners to keep it down on the surface. For custom-bullt boards, one could incorporate little brackets at the edges to slip the transparency into, as part of the framework.

Experimentation is obviously called for.

I believe Gerber and 3M make the clear static cling material.

3m does make it.

I Can Do It
 

I have solved the problem, at least to my liking and anybody that knows me knows I'm hard to please.

Here are a few pictures of the SAME big board and 3 different REMOVABLE, REUSABLE covers.

Another
 

Here's another on my board and MIZZOU is on Edgar's board at his house.

What was your approach to the problem?

Very nice field covers, BTW.

Jimbo's solution to Field Covers
 

I posed the same question to Mr. Jimbo a few months ago in a PM and here's what he answered.

"If you have the artwork or the program, you should be able to size it to 33" x 16" or they can at Kinkos' sign department. They'll print, laminate and add sticky. That's it. Prices vary - negotiate first - $20 is fair.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A WHITE SIDELINE OR ELSE THEY WILL CUT IT DOWN TO JUST THE GREEN FIELD!!!

I added white duct tape around my BEARS sideline, which I actually like better because (a) my players don't slam into the side walls and crash; and (b) receivers don't slide downfield out-of-bounds and miraculously get wide open again in the endzones!!!"


I hope you don't mind me posting, Jimbo. I'm just posting this because a lot of EF coaches want to know.

BTW - Jimbo, what graphics program do you use to create your fields?

But does the sticky material make it difficult to lift the one cover off to swap it with another one? Or is this more in the line of a permanent, one-time cover replacement?

glue
 

I bought a miggle San Diego field cover and it would bubble up all the time...so.i used an glue that is a surgical glue and is in a spray can....when you spray it its strong and you have about 2 minutes to get the cover down and get the bubbles out....it holds great and is easy to use..the only drawback is it cost 35.00 a can..i get it for free because i have an insurance that pats for it because i need it for my bag. Urostomy)..if anyone wants to try it ill send you a can with a little in it

glue
 

PS on the glue if you want to try it lii sent it for free...jus pay shipping

Updated Technology.
 

That was then this is now. LOL! That BEARS cover is permanently attached to my 620 now, but I have since created covers for my custom bigboards that are 24" x 48". AND.........I have access to a better printer; better lamination; and found a spray adhesive that allows me to remove my covers and rub off the residue like we used to do glue when we were kids!

My printer hates me, :mad: but I use Excel to do my artwork!!! I'm an Accountant by education, so that is what I used for everything including art. Go figure!?!?! lffng$

Which adhesive is that? Because if it offers a better solution than magnets or clamps at the corners, I'm game for it. At this point, I'm still in the process of gleaning useful information on the several aspects of the hobby.

Jimbo,
Can you make them at 60" x 33"? We have really big boards and have up to now painted the field and made cardboard end zones that we slide in between the painted field and the plexiglass top. However, very few bases will run on the plexiglass and we have to crank up the board so it is so loud the whole street can hear it.

If you can make them, give me a holler and we can work out a price. I am looking to make at least 28 of them, maybe more if the price is good. If you cannot make them, is there any way you could help us to find someone who could? I would not reveal any secrets and would not market them ever.

Thanks,
Mark
(330) 854-4363

Here's What I Use
 

Here ya go. I get mine at my local Target.

thanks Jimbo..... now I can find it..........thmbsp$