Stencil Material Recommendation

[rhill]

Hello All,

So when it comes to Dimensional Letters, our installer likes us to have stencils.
I currently use any cut vinyl I have on a Summa T 140 , but it's not a clean cut for the backing (Blue Lining) of the vinyl.
The through-cut is fine so I know it isn't a blade issue. I just wanted to see what everyone else uses to create stencils.
Thanks!

 

[Stacey K]

I use Oracal stencil mask or I use up any Oracal 631 I have laying around since it's less sticky, it's easier to remove. I cut stencils mainly for cornhole boards. When I used to make stencils for wood signs it was important to dab around the edges so the paint didn't bleed.

I'm not sure what you mean by not cutting clean for the backing? Please explain that more.

 

[JBurton]

We use paper for stud mounted letters...
I guess I'm misunderstanding standoff letters. What do you mean exactly?

 

[Gino]

We pounce 20lb. paper.

 

[Bonzai901]

Gerber Mask is made for stencils, is a low tack vinyl, comes in white and blue

 

[visual800]

paper here also

 

[rhill]

I use Oracal stencil mask or I use up any Oracal 631 I have laying around since it's less sticky, it's easier to remove. I cut stencils mainly for cornhole boards. When I used to make stencils for wood signs it was important to dab around the edges so the paint didn't bleed.

I'm not sure what you mean by not cutting clean for the backing? Please explain that more.

We have some Oracal 651 lying around that we thought we'd use, but when it cuts, it cuts the vinyl portion just fine but doesn't cut through the blue lining. In order to use this vinyl to create a stencil, we would need to break through the lining. Also I forgot to mention, I Use a summa to cut out my stencil.

 

[rhill]

We use paper for stud mounted letters...
I guess I'm misunderstanding standoff letters. What do you mean exactly?

Sorry "Standoff" was a poor word choice. I'm meaning "Dimensional Letters," you know letters that you would see in someone's lobby or outside of an apartment complex.

 

[Signstein]

Paper here too. 20lb bond. I get it in 24" rolls and use a felt tip pen in the plotter.

 

[JBurton]

More often than not our dimensional (Ironically I'd refer to them as flat cut out letters) letters would have studs on them, so instead of needing the whole letter cut out, we just need a hole marked.
For letters with no studs, just double stick, we would route out a piece of coroplast, just a little larger than the letters, like .01" larger.

 

[StarSign]

Tyvek for stud mounted letters, laser cut cardboard for flat letters

 

[Stacey K]

We have some Oracal 651 lying around that we thought we'd use, but when it cuts, it cuts the vinyl portion just fine but doesn't cut through the blue lining. In order to use this vinyl to create a stencil, we would need to break through the lining. Also I forgot to mention, I Use a summa to cut out my stencil.

I'm sorry, I read your question too quickly. Sounds like a few good ideas above, hope one of them works for you

 

[Gino]

Another good way if studs are not involved.................

Layout the letters on your computer screen and cut to the red line. Use the bottom piece, taped on the wall as your template and when all the letters are sticking on, remove the template.

 

[bigben]

I use synthetic poster paper for studs (we always have this in stock) and laser cut cardboard for flat. For flat, we were using low tac material. But the time to cut and premask then lay it out on the job site was alot more time consuming than cardboard.