I am looking for the precise details of how to make customized ribbon
magnets (you know, the ones you always see on the back of cars).

When I search for the process, I see many companies selling customized
ribbon magnets, but I cannot find any selling the equipment or
instructions on how to make them.

The best example of what I am looking for is located at
supportourribbons . com and click the ribbon maker tab at the top.
(not for the website functionality, but how to make the actual
ribbons).

So, here are the specific questions I am wanting answered:

1. Where can I find blank magnetic ribbons
  A. Are the backgrounds pre-printed or are they a part of the design process
  B. I am looking for a patriotic "Flag" background and not the solid
yellow background.

2. Once the blank magnetic ribbons are acquired, what is the process
and equipment used for putting a custom phrase on it.

The title of a book or manual with this specific information in it is
also an acceptable answer.

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 15 Aug 2005 18:55 PDT

jadowa...

It sounds like you want to run a home business, printing
these from home. I'm not sure that's feasible. These seem
to be more cost-effective (as with any printing job) when
manufactured in larger quantities, on large presses.

The printing occurs first, and can be offset lithography
on paper laminated with mylar, or silk screened, and applied
to vinyl magnet material. Then they are die cut.

This is evident from reading the results from a search for:
"vinyl die cut magnets"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22vinyl+die+cut+magnets%22

It might be possible to purchase the ribbon shape with the
flag background in quantity from one of these companies, 
and then learn how to do silkscreening at home to put your
message on the ribbon, but it would probably be more cost
effective to simply purchase the customized finished 
product in the first place, such as these silkscreened ones
from gimmees.com at a cost of $.65 each in quantities of 500:
http://www.gimmees.com/detail~pNum~972~pcategory~24~psubcategory~.asp

...or these, printed with offset lithography, from the 
magnets-4-less site, for $.99 each in quantities of 500:
http://www.magnets-4-less.com/ribbon-magnets.htm


If you want to manufacture these from scratch, in a 
cost-effective way, you'd need to set up a print shop
with offset presses or silkscreening equipment, 
a laminating machine and a die-cutting machine (though
the offset press may be able to handle this).

Let me know where this takes you...

sublime1-ga

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Clarification of Question by jadowa-ga on 15 Aug 2005 20:16 PDT

I have looked at some of the makers of these that offer custimization.
 While there prices are certainly competitive, my business idea is for
customizable magnets (such as on the supportourribbons site).  So,
each magnet would be unique and not something that I could purchse in
quantity.  The cheapest I found for unique phrases was $6.99 each.

I already have a home based business that is doing quite well.  This
would be just an add-on to that business.  I can even invest a couple
thousand or so into equipment.

Thanks,
Jason