Looking for an alternative to vinyl stencils

[GoodPeopleFlags]

So, I have this project that I'm doing and I'm looking for a quick n easy way to spray paint text on to raw, painted wood, approx 4" x 15". This is an ongoing thing with about 20 - 30 designs, with multiple repeats over time. I've been cutting vinyl stencils and it works well but its time consuming, mostly when removing the transfer tape because the vinyl doesn't stick well to the wood. I thought about making reusable stencils out of styrene or something, but the fonts would have to be like a stencil font with the insides of the "O"s and other letters connected. Painting the spaces left by the stencil would be more trouble than its worth and not match the look of the rest of the spray painted text. Maybe screen printing? Maybe some kind of "stamp"? Anyone have any ideas? I really like the look of the raw wood and the spray painted text (kinda of a distressed look) so I don't want to change those things. Just pokin' around and see if there might be an easier alternative to vinyl stencils.

 

[rturner381]

Perhaps you could go to your local CNC person and have them create the "rigid" stencils for you?

 

[HIGHSPEEDGRAPHIX]

At a shop i worked at way back when, they did a lot of parking lot painting. They cut stencils on the gerber router. I think the material was called polypropylene. It almost looked like a cutting mat but the backside of it not the matte side you cut on. it was a little thinner, but cut well on a router. and was easy to clean. They would sell them to customers that wanted to re-use stencils and everyone like them.

 

[GoodPeopleFlags]

But those stencils will have the insides of the Os, Rs, Bs, Ds, etc., attached, not floating in the letter, right? Like the attached image. I don't want the text to be like that because I'll have to fill in the gaps and it won't match the paint of the rest of the text, plus it'll be a major pain.

 

[J Hill Designs]

I think only option is and adhesive stencil then, or you can create lithograph stamps out of pocket routed plywood

 

[Gino]

How 'bout a pounce pattern and someone good with the brush just cut it in real quick ??

Other than a sticky bucked template, where you'll have to do a new one for each and everyone, there's no way to transfer a rigid template without connectors in those letters.

You could screen print them, but according to how raw this wood is, you might ruin screens...... and have quite a bit of seepage.

 

[GoodPeopleFlags]

Hmmm... maybe I could make a reuseable stencil but completely leave out the middles of the letters; like the O would just be a solid circle. Then just pop in the middles with vinyl.... Just brainstorming. It might be alot of trouble.

 

[Z SIGNS]

flatbed em

 

[TammieH]

I use .02 polystyrene, cut out on our old Graphtec,
mind you...
you need to set starting and ending position the same to make multiple cuts, then carefully snap/tear out the fonts

you can not do large stencils this way

 

[klmiller611]

Sorry to be a bit late on the response here, but as was suggested have them cut out of brass or galvinized metal, then you could have them solder the middle of the letters in with thin wire, this is how large industrial stencils were made many years ago.

Ken Miller

 

[knucklehead]

See if, breninc.com has something you could use.

 

[Billct2]

If you like the distreesed look a stamp would work. I have a friend who makes small relica cannons and ships them in wooden boxes. He had a stamp made to put the logo on the boxes it looks pretty good.

 

[all over it]

If you have a cnc make a rigid mask, and a jig 2 place the unattached letter centres correctly, mabey with lightly applied ds tape depending on how much pressure your hitting them with. Jig could just be the male shape left by routing out the mask.

 

[Mosh]

Use rigid stencils cut on a CNC. Just use some thin wire and hot glue the centers of letters in place on the stencil.
If the wire mark shows after painting an easy touch up, thin enough wire and no touch up required.

 

[GoodPeopleFlags]

I'm loving the idea of holding the middles in place with small wires. I'll let ya know how it works out!