Creating Stencils.

[Hekinsieden]

I need a big bundle of help in the Stencils department.

I am now using pieces of plastic as my stencils and they are lowering the quality of my art.

Some of the things I use are made from plastic protective covers that are used to put papers in.

Using a X-acto knife on these is turning my ideas into choppy drawings.

Any tips on what to get to create stencils or how to make them would help greatly.

[Clinton]

Almost all of my stencils are cut out of printer paper. Just do up your design on the computer or scan it in and print it to size. If you have Corel Draw you can tile print it as well if you need and cut with an xacto knife. About half my stuff on my site is done that way, the stencils will be good for a few uses and are about as cheap as they get.

[Ambo]

Xray film is good for stencils is you have a few old xrays lying around

[corey]

I use pellon for textile stencils i.e. shirts and fabrics, price ranges from $1.37 yard for thinner weight up to $4.18 a yard for the really heavy stuff. For hard surfaces I use mylar and a stencil material. Also friskit film. The stencil materials can be bought at walmart as can the pellon. The mylar and frisket can be bought at a art supply store like dicks or michaels.
Pellon can be cut with a stencil burner or a sharp razor.

[josie]

i totally agree with Ambo here xray film is what i like to use...i dont know about where you are but we can buy in rolls here
Xray film is good for stencils is you have a few old xrays lying around

[PinWerk]

ever wonder what to use the toilet paper roll after you used the last sheet.. could make some good little stencils right there.heheee i got toilet paper on the brain. i've been using some book covers it looks like frisket, it holds up pretty good under n over urethanes. i do find stuff n copy n scan from books or computer n print it out and use copy paper for the picture n fonts, but then im stuck up the creek tryin find a good stencil i can use over n over n over after i went thru all the hard work n toilet paper cuttin that mess out.
i'd used mailla envelops, they seem to work ok, but like the book covers for some reason. i heard the xray stuff was good, i have no luck in obtaining any of that from hospitals n etc.. im always tryin find new things to use for a long term stencil, so i dont have to cu t no more, i will find something soon, if it aint nothing but the extra long toilet paper = paper towels.. hehee

[HotAir]

Pellon is GR8 just dont over use @ one time otherwise it'll over saturate... The cheapest is poster board, EZ to cut & can be re-used (Some of the poster board stencils I have R over a year old)... Aloha -HotAir-

[rsstoned]

ive made a few out of inkjet printable overhead projector films

real cheap just print in ya printer and cut out.. not sure about use with solvants tho as only used with water colour so far but washable with hot soapy water and pretty strong....

[Whit]

Stencils are where you find them !!!
I've taken newspaper,, ripped in
half and taken the jagged edge to
use for mountain ranges and tree lines !!!
I've used my thumd to shield an eye
to make the bridge of a nose !!!
If it's the shape you need,, use it,,,
if it's not,,, make it fit !!!:partyalone:
Almost anything can be used,, even
if it's only a one time thing,,,,,
stencils are where you find them !!!

[Shiva]

Almost all of my stencils are cut out of printer paper. Just do up your design on the computer or scan it in and print it to size. If you have Corel Draw you can tile print it as well if you need and cut with an xacto knife. About half my stuff on my site is done that way, the stencils will be good for a few uses and are about as cheap as they get.

IF you need to use it more than a few times, cover BOTH sides of the paper with clear shelf liner paper, then cut out the picture.. gives it a longer lasting covering.

I have got some .040 thick plastic sheet material that is used for model airplane windows-the real flying models, and am going to take a scroll saw and cut the picture out with it. the saw blades are in some cases .010 thick, so the pieces will fit close enough. but this is for a long term use picture..

[airarts]

I have found that no matter what it is you cut, Frisk, acetate, cardboard, or whatever, YOU MUST SWITCH OUT THE BLADE BEFORE EVERY PROJECT, and also periodically during the project, otherwise you may get a choppy look. Also use a self-healing mat to do your cuts to save the edge of the blade. You may or may not already do this, but just in case, or who ever else reads this that is new.

[PinWerk]

ok i have this big piece 18x22 heavy pellon i got from a n airbrush store one time, so do i use the knife cutter to cut it out like i do cardboard n etc?? also if i use it against t shirts do i have to spray adhesive behind it or use it free sheild??? i'd never used pellon but im wanting to use this peice

[colourshift]

frankly, if you have a small diameter Olfa cutter, it would make quick work of the big cuts, and use an exacto or small scissors for the rest....on a cutting mat, of course.

[ABD]

Stencils are where you find them !!!
I've taken newspaper,, ripped in
half and taken the jagged edge to
use for mountain ranges and tree lines !!!
I've used my thumd to shield an eye
to make the bridge of a nose !!!
If it's the shape you need,, use it,,,
if it's not,,, make it fit !!!:partyalone:
Almost anything can be used,, even
if it's only a one time thing,,,,,
stencils are where you find them !!!

I'm with Whit..."anything i can get my hands on".....As for letters or something that needs to be cut...Whatever paper or tape I can find...Most are one time deals. So the Stencil doesn't need to last.

[PinWerk]

somewhat true in my case and somewhat its not true in my case, concerning the fact, "stencils aren't meant to last" .t hings such as my main logo i put on everything i do or etc, i have to have same fonts, certain size n yadda yadda, therefore it gets tiring having to redo the same thing over n over, in some instances like this, i need it to last so i can use it over n over and not worry about having to keep cuttin same thing over. temporary stencils yes i can see doing such as that. but something like main logo, phone numbers n etc, heck what will keep for awhile?? anybody know? just curious

[Shiva]

see my post above..
its heavy, tough, and with waterbased, last

[PinWerk]

IF you need to use it more than a few times, cover BOTH sides of the paper with clear shelf liner paper, then cut out the picture.. gives it a longer lasting covering.

I have got some .040 thick plastic sheet material that is used for model airplane windows-the real flying models, and am going to take a scroll saw and cut the picture out with it. the saw blades are in some cases .010 thick, so the pieces will fit close enough. but this is for a long term use picture..


thanks Shiva, i have a scroll saw, just never used it on anything but plexiglass n wood.. never thought about doign it with that plastic sheet material thats used for model airplane windows n etc. that would be pretty great . thanks for the tip on that .. and also about shelf liner paper.. are you talkin about the contact shelf paper that has adhesive on one side??
im wondering if you can use spray adhesive a light tack coat on one side if you need a crisp edge on your fonts/picture u'd cut out .. i think you can, which is what im going to try to do..
thanks for the tips

[Shiva]

thanks Shiva, i have a scroll saw, just never used it on anything but plexiglass n wood.. never thought about doign it with that plastic sheet material thats used for model airplane windows n etc.

IIRR, SLOW SPEED, and a VERY fine tooth.. mine is a variable speed, and along with the numbered bits, should be good to go, gonna cut 2 sheets tomorrow to see how it works. IF i can, will post pictures of it here..
The stencil will have.. maybe 10-12 pieces in it overall on the one.





that would be pretty great . thanks for the tip on that .. and also about shelf liner paper.. are you talkin about the contact shelf paper that has adhesive on one side??


yes, the clear stuff works nicely..
and I cover BOTH sides of the paper, then can xacto knife cut whatever I want..



im wondering if you can use spray adhesive a light tack coat on one side if you need a crisp edge on your fonts/picture u'd cut out .. i think you can, which is what im going to try to do..


for T shirts, works great.. am gonna try a design painted on glass with the heavy plastic, got to do it on 3 windows..

[73shuvl]

I like to use photo quality printer paper because it is easier to cut with an exacto knife and it does not tear easily. This is the paper with one shiny side, Your paint will also not soak the paper and make it flimsy which comes in handy if you plan on moving around your stencils while you are painting. Good Luck hope this helps.:alien:

[Mark]

I found this stuff at a local Hobby Lobby store, called "Funky Foam". comes in different sized sheets...I picked up a few 12" X 20" pieces. like 5 for $1. cuts easily, holds up pretty good.

Mark

[jtsvstar1100]

Hi all, I'm a newby but I,m using plexiglass to make mine.
2' x 4' sheet about $20.00. Its .030 thick(1/2 a 1/16).
Can cut with sissors, seems to be working well so far.

Jeff

P.S. I get mine free, cut offs from work.

[redanner]

Hey jtsvstar1100 glad to have ya! Thanks for posting!

[Pure Evil]

I no this is an old thread, but I figured I'd bring it back to the top.

I use Flexible chopping Mats
They are just thin enough to cut with a stencil burner.
Transparent, so easy to position.
Their about 10 X 16 in size, big enough for most projects
They come in packs of 2 for a buck at the dollar store.

Good Luck

&

A Merry Christmas to All :xmas-smiley-005: :xmas-smiley-005:


Evil :angel-smiley-007:

[fontgeek]

Always a good thread to keep handy!

I use almost anything that isn't nailed down.
I like pelon, paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, aluminum from those throwaway aluminum roaster pans, mylar, acetate, you name it.

For the Mylar, acetate, pelon, etc., you can cut it with a razor, a stencil burner, scissors, a swivel cutter, punches, and so on.

I really like the cardboard from 12 and 24 packs of soda or beer, the cardboard is rigid enough to get good detail, but easy enough to cut or tear for some fairly good detail. I like the torn cardboard for doing the mountain ranges, clouds, choppy surf, crests of waves, tree tops, etc. If I need or want to have them last longer than just a few sprays, I give them good coats of enamel on both sides, I let it dry completely, and do it again. Having the good coating of the enamel helps make them waterproof, so using the waterbased acrylics or textile paints won't soak them to a soggy mess. You can also wipe a good bit of the mess off to help make them last longer and to keep them from smearing paint all over.

Xray film can be gotten from your local vet. Doctors and hospitals are probagly not going to release xrays of humans, but the ones for dogs and cats are not usually held onto for very long. The down side to this material is that more and more MDs and Vets are going to digital setups, so there is no film. So, get it while you can!

When you go to cut your stencils, change your blades on a regular basis, dull blades make for bad cuts.

If you are going to use a stencil burner, get a piece of glass to cut on, and be careful, those suckers get pretty darn hot!