opinions on decals

nglauer · Apr 28, 2009

I am almost ready for my decals... but need opinions on who has the best, greatest value, fasted service, or (D. all of the above).

I have contacted Sonnys, Sams, and Maple-Hunter. Of the three Maple hunter seems to have a great price, and the look to be high quality. Sams has nice decals... but they are slightly out of my price range. I wasn't sure if other companys sold these decals, or if those are my only choices. All three look like they would be great to do business with. I know Sonnys and Sams have both been helpful answering questions about my tractor, or helping me locate stuff.

I will post pictures soon on my other post. I took them with our Sony camera...but cannot get the cord to work... so I can't upload them. Our computer doesn't have a slot for a memory stick either... so i'm pretty bummed. Once we figure it out I will definetly have my pictures to share.

Thanks again
Nicholas

JustinR · Apr 28, 2009

I got mine from Sam's. They were high priced (more than he quoted me a month before) and packaged so that the sticky part was exposed to air at a few points. I probably won't order them from him again. Again, not talking bad about Sam's but I wasn't impressed. Also, while applying them, I ripped one on the end from rubbing out a bubble. I didn't apply a lot of pressure and I had a small mist of water underneath for application. Seemed like they could have been a little thicker. I will probably order from Maple-Hunter when I repaint my 1250.

Ken in NJ · Apr 28, 2009

There is a guy from Ohio by the name of Jermey Barlow .. who sells VERY NICE decals .. High quality materials are used to make them .. I have got them from him for my HT-23 and my 1250 ..

I did a set of HT-20 decals from Maple-Hunter .. and they were no where as nice as Jeremy's stuff

I will look tonight and see if I can find his contact info ... if your interested

attorney_barnabas_collins · Apr 28, 2009

Use regular dishwashing soap in water instead of plain water. It will stick the same but give you more sliding time to squeege the bubbles out.

Hey, I made it through 4 hours of applying wood grain on a station wagon quarterpanel with stupid slat lines that had to be lined up. a gas door and wheel opening flares back in 1980. If I can do that, you can do decals. as long as they are worth putting on, the soap will make them go on with time to get them straight & bubble free.

Never put any on without soap.

attorney_barnabas_collins · Apr 28, 2009

Oh, I did get some Case 446 decals from Maple Hunter that looked factory perfect, and some Lawn Ranger decals off ebay from someone name of Presley in Oneida IL, can't remember store name off the top of my head but they look fantastic too. I may just hang them on the wall, they look too good to put on my tractor.

nglauer · Apr 28, 2009

I appreciate everyone replying to this thread. My wife wants to buy the decals for me for fathers day, so it is my goal to find the right ones at the right price. If anyone has pictures, or additional information please let me know.

Thanks again,
Nicholas

nglauer · Apr 28, 2009

Ken,

Do you have any pictures of the Kit you got from Jeremy? he might be close to me... as I live in Ohio as well. I don't plan on using my HT23 at any shows, but... I want everyone that drives by while i'm using it to be jealous lol...so I want something that will handle the sun, the heat, and the coooold year round. My tractor stays covered 90% of the time, but doesn't live in the garage yet (wife has to many things stored in there right now). So hopefully most of these hold up to the elements well.

Thanks again

Ken in NJ · Apr 28, 2009

I do not have a photo of them .. I can assure you ..they are nice decals ..

I just sent you a PM with Jeremy's address and phone #

nglauer said:
Ken,

Do you have any pictures of the Kit you got from Jeremy? he might be close to me... as I live in Ohio as well. I don't plan on using my HT23 at any shows, but... I want everyone that drives by while i'm using it to be jealous lol...so I want something that will handle the sun, the heat, and the coooold year round. My tractor stays covered 90% of the time, but doesn't live in the garage yet (wife has to many things stored in there right now). So hopefully most of these hold up to the elements well.

Thanks again

Paul J · Apr 28, 2009

Anyone know where decals can be had for a Sears ST-10 riding garden tractor? I want to restore the one my dad bought new. It's in very nice all original condition with mower and plow, but I would like to make it like new again. PJ

attorney_barnabas_collins · Apr 28, 2009

I don't know of any Sears decals for any Suburban type being made. Could sure use a set for my 66 suburban 10 and they were beautiful decals.

nglauer · Apr 28, 2009

Jeremy is no longer in the business, however he still has a kit for the 1050 and the 850.

If anyone is interested you may contact him at 419-884-1042.

Thanks,
Nick

LPBOLENS · Apr 29, 2009

Sam has always been good to deal with, IMO. Supposedly, he is making decals that match the factory quality and thickness. Jeremy's decals were very good; it is too bad that he decided to get out of that business.

The advice to use soapy water to put them on is good advice. There are also commercially available solutions for applying decals that work even better than soapy water, but that might be overkill for the hobbyist.

Doug

nglauer · Apr 29, 2009

When I talked to Jeremy today he told me that the kits that Sams "was" selling were kits he made. He told me that he hadn't sold any to him in a long time, so he wasn't sure if he was still selling the ones he made or someone elses. He did tell me the kit still pictured on Sams site were ones he had made. The down fall is that Jeremy told me he sold that same kit around 80.00 shipped, and sold larger quantity's to Sams (probably at a discount, thought he didn't tell me what he sold them in bulk for). When Sams sent me a quote it was 145ish plus shipping.

I'm still not sure what I want to do. I want it to look factory, and be quality vinyl so that it lasts.... butttt I don't think my budget will afford decals over 100.00 :sad_02:

I also need some for my cub 1811, so maybe if someone made both they would offer me a slight discount for buying two sets... hmmmm

Nick

Ken in NJ · Apr 29, 2009

Sorry for sending you on a wild goose chase ... I knew that Jeremy sold his 1250 .. but I thought he would continue selling his decals ...

He was an old bolens buddy from years back on the Yahoo Groups .. we sold each other some stuff a few times

nglauer · Apr 29, 2009

Really nice guy, he told me that the company that printed the decals for him was bought out by another person... and then they raised the pricing on him. He said it just cost to much after that, and with his family it made it impossible to keep up on them anyways. He said that he may get back into it one day, but not right now.

Is someone needs a 1050 or 850 set they should call him. Those were the only two that he had left. I have a feeling that they could get a decent deal on them.

Nick

crossroads45356 · Nov 29, 2009

Nick do you by chance have a photo of the decals? There is a sign shop in piqua that does the vinyl over lays on cars and makes vinyl signs . So I was thinking that there might be a vinly sign shop near you that could take the photos and reproduce them . I am not sure it would be cost effective but you might try and talk to them to get a idea of costs.

larryccf · Nov 29, 2009

i was thinking to suggest the exact same thing - the printer that does our trade show flyers does vinyl appliques (or whatever they're properly termed)

i had sent him a shot of the hood decals with some measurements for my H16XL he quoted $50 for a set (reversed image from one to the other to keep the "bolens" to the front end) but i was still too cheap for that

but any shop that does signs, banners etc, ie a lot of one-off work will be able to do them locally and if there's a problem, will usually correct them on the spot - most of the cost is in the setup for the job

stuartshomepc · Nov 29, 2009

I got a very nice set for my 1256 from Maple Hunter. One decal was slightly the wrong size and he made it correct and was very prompt.

ed-nh · Nov 29, 2009

I'm looking into decals for my G14 refurbish too. Maple Hunter has them for $43.00 and it looks like a complete set. Sams quoted me $81.00 and his look good too. Not sure what the difference in price would be. They are both vinyl.

wilberj · Nov 30, 2009

I would buy sam's not Maple Hunter from what I here there not that good like price is. lol

opinions on decals

nglauer

JustinR

Ken in NJ

attorney_barnabas_collins

attorney_barnabas_collins

nglauer

nglauer

Ken in NJ

Paul J

attorney_barnabas_collins

nglauer

LPBOLENS

nglauer

Ken in NJ

nglauer

crossroads45356

larryccf

stuartshomepc

ed-nh

wilberj

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities