Sericol Numbering Stencils

Product Name: Sericol Numbering Stencils

Made by: Fujifilm

Contact Information:

Fujifilm
1101 West Cambridge Drive
Kansas City, KS 66103
www.fujifilmsericol.com
913-342-4060

Today’s product review is the numbering system our shop uses, Sericol Numbering Stencils made by Fujifilm.  We buy our stencils directly from Fujifilm for $127.86 for a full set of 6 inch stencils.

Here is what Fujifilm says about Sericol Numbering Stencils

This efficient numbering method allows you to direct print numbers on most fabrics without investing in expensive numbering equipment.
These numbering stencils are available in:

2″, 4″, 6″, 8″, & 10″ in Standard Athletic Block style:

4″, 6″, 8″, & 10″ in Full Athletic Block style:

4″, 6″, 8″, & 10″ in  the companion Outline style for either the Standard of Full Athletic Block styles; and 8″ in International Soccer Style.

These inexpensive stencils adhere to the screen on the printing stroke and are thrown away after printing the number.  The next stencil is then adhered to the screen in the same fashion with no adjustment or clean up of the screen between numbers.  Outline stencils can be used with the Standard or Full Block stencils to achieve a two-color, outlined number.

With Sericol’s complete line of numbering stencils, Block, Full Block, Outline, or Soccer Style, any printer can complete for team uniforms with a winning look.

Numbering stencils are sold in sets, with replacement numbers available in packs of 100.

A Set consists of:

• 200 number 1′s
• 100 number  0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9′s
• 100 3″ wide paper strips

Product Performance

• Does it work?

Yes, it works IF you pay very close attention and follow the instructions.  It is very easy to mess up a shirt using this method, so you MUST pay attention.  To save time and space I wont go into detail on how to use the stencils.  You can click on the link above for instructions on how to use them.

• Positives

No equipment to buy, or store.  If you use numbering stencils, you don’t have to invest in expensive numbering presses or a heat press.  It utilizes your existing press and screens.  

• Negatives

I don’t like the price tag of $127.86, but I guess that is better than paying a few thousand bucks for a number press.  The learning curve is very high.  It took me years to master this technique to where I am not messing up one shirt for every team I print.  Several things to get wrong that you will need to watch for…  Don’t print the number backwards or upside down.  This may sound silly, but is a very common mistake.  Don’t forget the little paper blocks on the sides of the number.  If you do, you will print a bar on each side of the number.  Don’t forget the “hole”.  In the numbers 4,6,8,9,and 0 you have to manually place the hole in each number.  For example, the number 8 has two holes, one in the top and one in the bottom, without them, you will print a rectangle.  Another similar mistake would be placing the hole off center or backwards in the number 4′s case.  You will notice that in the instructions above, they choose to use numbers without holes…  Hmm…

Don’t let the negatives turn you away from this product.  If you keep your mind on your work, follow instructions, and plan each job well, you have a good shot of printing numbers with stencils without messing up a shirt.  It can be done with practice.  Don’t stop to answer the phone in the middle of a team, keep your mind on your work.

Well, lets hear from you.  Did you find this review useful?  Do you use numbering stencils?  Do you have similar problems with your number stencils?