What vinyl to use on felt poker table

[neckbone]

Have a customer that wants to create a design to go in the middle of his poker t able. He is applying new felt to the top now. Is there a material that can be used for this or is it even possible to get great results?

 

[SightLine]

I do not think any vinyl would be acceptable in any way. You need to print directly on the table fabric.

Fisher sells fabric which is reccomended for pool table tops...

http://www.fishertextiles.com/ftp4.php?appquery=gaming

All for Dye Sublimation printing though.

Edit - just saw Poker, not pool.... either way it needs to be a quality felt surface. Anything that might cause a ridge or stick up would catch cards and be unacceptable in my opinion. Some of the solvent printable fabrics might be acceptable though. Most gaming sufaces are sanded though (suede or felt) not just a smooth fabric.

 

[MikePro]

Sihl T-Printz. Haven't played with lamination options, yet, but I'd imagine a liquid laminate would do.

 

[petepaz]

i haven't used any but i have seen ads for vinyl that can be used for graphics on carpet. maybe something like that or a t-shirt mateial (just not sure if you can iron the felt

 

[bob]

Have a customer that wants to create a design to go in the middle of his poker t able. He is applying new felt to the top now. Is there a material that can be used for this or is it even possible to get great results?

I've actually had experience with this and I can state with some authority that there is no vinyl that will perform satisfactorily.

The only real options are heat press thermal transfer or printing direct to the felt via whatever process gets you off. Even that will wear off sooner or later.

 

[Gino]

I would imagine either printing directly onto the cloth before being applied by any numerous methods of dye sub, flatbed or even screen printing.... or just using a felt tip pen.

 

[TammieH]

check this site http://www.customtablefelt.com/custom-pool-table-felt.htm

 

[WildWestDesigns]

The only real options are heat press thermal transfer or printing direct to the felt via whatever process gets you off. Even that will wear off sooner or later.

Sublimation will go good with it and last as it's printed directly into the fabric (as long as it's an artificial fabric (poly, scuba foam etc)) and the only time I've seen dye sub wear off is when the fabric is also starting to go or some smart person decided to use bleach.

 

[MatthewTimothy]

check this site http://www.customtablefelt.com/custom-pool-table-felt.htm

i wonder what machine they use for the prints

 

[royster13]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycBQI5-OzlI

 

[SPCAE_86]

Sublimation will only work on synthetic materials. So unless the felt is man made from a poly based material, that process will not work. If you were able to print the correct placement before the felt is applied to the table then you could have it printed directly. Another post install option that would work well would be a transfer material that could be heat applied. Here's an example of one that would work: http://www.thepaperranch.com/shopexd.asp?id=757 , that is a product that I have used in the past on a vast array of natural materials and the durability is great. Do you know if the artwork is a single color? If so, there are many colored vinyls that would work great as well. www.specialtymaterials.com is a great place to start when looking for heat applied vinyls.

I spent 4 years in the garment decoration industry as a equipment and materials distributor and technical support specialist. I figured I would add that info so you didn't think I was repeating some info that I found online.

 

[neckbone]

Thanks for everyones responses. I think he has already applied the new material to his table, so printing directly on it would be out of the question for now. So I'll give him the other options, but I don't think I could give any promises on any of them. Thanks again

 

[Shadowglen]

Bump this one up to see if any new materials have been developed?

 

[knucklehead]

Computer cut vinyl paintmask, airbrush, and Etac paint(s).

 

[d fleming]

Knuckle got it. Heat press materials have a hard time with felt. Screen printing before applying to table is best, after that mask and paint

 

[Atomic DNA]

We design and print poker "felts" all the time. The material we use is a suited speed cloth which is a poly. We dye sublimate to this and it looks perfect.