help with stencils

[troymay]

What are you guys cutting stencils with? I think most of my images will need help with stencils .because I am new to air brushing. And shaky hands dont help much. I you are using burners please tell me exaxtly what these are..Any help would be nice
thanks Troy

[aixguy]

stencils can be cut from anything .. paper cardboard, vinyl magnetic sheet, plastic, etc.. xacto kife, woodbruner with fine point tip, stencil burnner (same as wood burninger) etc.
I personaly don't like stencils but used them when needed. If you have not spend a bit of time practicing the basic brush strokes, I would recomend that before/while you start playing with stencils.

When I cut a stencil I will use a cutting matt, xacto knife with excel blade (not xacto) and a $10 stencil burner purchassed at a craft store.

I cut my stencils with an ordinary soldering iron but you need to understand I don't need an extremely fine tiny line..Depending on what you'll be painting will determine how precise your stencils need to be..I have access to quite a bit of used Xray material & it's about the best thing I've ever found for stencil making..They sell stencil burners for a high price in arts & craft stores (I've never found that wood burners work) get you a common soldering iron at WalMart & if you're daring, file the tip down--that may give you a finer cut--try to cut anything--coffee can lids (I don't know it may work!!) pellon has cut well for me--some say file folders work--but honestly Xray film is my choice..If you practice your fundamentals shaky hands firm right up--but don't get me wrong..I love the use of stencils--I use them everyday & cut a new one almost as often..a certain amount of my business depends on them..But be well advised that stencils & stencil cutting is an art all of it's own..it takes time & patience & a lot of practice to become accomplished at it..The more you get aquainted with me you'll understand that my middle name is PRACTICE..good luck with this..

[troymay]

Thanks for the input..I have been trying to get x-ray film..But it is about to become a thing of the past..it is all going to the computers....It is looking like air brushing is all in the prep and clean up. that takes away from the fun..But it can look sooo good. Will keep trying

[mixingpaint]

I like the soldering idea thanks gonna try that one, I have tried pounceing it on (tiny dots you use a pounce wheel on paper then use powder or graphite and goes through the tiny holes)on vynil then cut out with a exacto knife, once I went to a vynil sign shop and ask if they would cut out my work for me if time is a issue you can buy masking from them too. but practice is the best, crossing one hand over another helps for lines curves it seems to take my hole body and a carefree additude to do, lol. I was told once to use a pencil and paper (pen) and while your watching tv or sitting some where just practice your circles and loops, I agree setup and cleanup takes time ( I do not have a shop ) so I cant walk away. I work in my kitchen, I say dont let that stop you, time has away of getting resourceful and others ideas help, thanks for the ideas and help and good question. Jeannie

[Cameron Arts]

Troy, nice dog!

I do one or more of the following when I need a stencil...
1.) Create a vector file & email it off to have an acquaintance cut it in vinyl on his plotter, then mail the stencil (both positive & negative pieces) to me.
2.) Hand cut the stencil from a roll of vinyl with my Xacto. I either trace with a light box (image under vinyl) or use transfer paper (image over vinyl). I also do this on good quality tracing paper if I'm only misting a light coat & I need to see what's going on underneath while positioning.
3.) If the image is small enough or my surface is flat enough, I just print it off to size on regular printer paper & cut it out with an Xacto. I can also do this with card stock for a more durable stencil.
4.) Buy one precut from plastic! This is mostly for my interior decorative painting, but there are some fantastic precut stencils out there these days for custom bike/auto painting by Fraser, Learn, Vandemon, etc.
5.) If the image is large (like 2' by 2' or bigger), contains free-flowing or organic shaped elements (no ruler-straight lines), & doesn't need to be razor-edge crisp, then I use heavy duty EZ-Cut plastic from PJ Stencils & a stencil burner, or Pellon & a sharp utility knife (easier on the fingers).

[troymay]

Thanks for the tips..will try to see what works best..she is a good boxer(Bermie)..hyper,but shes family.