Where to buy re-useable stencils

[Stacey K]

I need two stencils and was quoted $205 which is maybe the going rate? They will each be used a few times so even a carboard material might work. Anyone?

 

[geezer]

Try Sign mart and see if the price etc. is good for you. https://www.sign-mart.com/custom-stencils/

 

[ikarasu]

they’re using hdpe which is pretty expensive and meant for thousands of stencils. You could ask them to cut it out of styrene which will give you a couple of uses… probably lower the price a bit.

We’d probably be at or more though, maybe less if it was a trade partner. You have art setup, approval, setting up the cnc, cutting and popping everything out/ cleaning up the edges, packaging, etc. $200 seems like a lot… but they’re using a 100k machine to do it.


Do you Have a plotter? You can cut .010 or even .020 styrene on one, which will make a stencil that will last quite awhile. Before we had a flatbed cutter I used our graphtec to cut core labels out of .030 styrene… it took 2 passes but it worked. It cuts 99% of the way through then you just pop them out

 

[ddarlak]

Why wouldn't you just make them yourself? .04 styrene is about $15-20 a sheet, take you 1/2 hour to cut it out with xacto. Styrene will last hundreds of times.

 

[Stacey K]

Thanks all, that was the Sign-mart price. I'll ask if they have styrene. Makes sense Ikarasu for the pricing, I just wasn't sure if that price seemed high or not.

Never thought of making them myself...it's a one off job for some guy, not a business. I'll say no to the xacto, theres a lot of letters, good idea for less letter though.

 

[Stacey K]

Why wouldn't you just make them yourself? .04 styrene is about $15-20 a sheet, take you 1/2 hour to cut it out with xacto. Styrene will last hundreds of times.

This seems like it would take more than 30 minutes and there's 2 sizes, 12x24 and 20x48...or am I wrong?

 

[White Haus]

This seems like it would take more than 30 minutes and there's 2 sizes, 12x24 and 20x48...or am I wrong?

View attachment 182129

Ain't nobody cutting that out with an X-acto!

 

[ProColorGraphics]

This seems like it would take more than 30 minutes and there's 2 sizes, 12x24 and 20x48...or am I wrong?

View attachment 182129

I have some styrene I could cut them out of for you.

 

[McDonald Signs]

I've used S365 to make me some stencils in coro, pvc & aluminum before. I just uploaded my cut file with no print on the order and they worked great. May be a higher cost than you were quoted though.
I've also ordered white JBond Cut 1/8in & 1/4in thick individual letters for storefronts and bldgs from S365 the same way too and they worked great.

 

[kcollinsdesign]

Ain't nobody cutting that out with an X-acto!

You are right. Trying to cut that with a #11 X-acto blade would be a nightmare! But it could be hand cut with a Grifhold #113 swivel knife.

It would be easy for me to do (and probably most people with hand lettering skills), but it would likely be a challenge for people who have not developed the motor skills for hand lettering. I would probably cut the straight edges first with an X-acto #16 scoring blade, then connect everything freehand with the swivel knife.

The tool is everything. The offset blade is held in the handle by a screw-on barrel and the shaft of the blade sits on a ball bearing so it swivels smoothly. This tool is heavy enough to cut through treated cardboard (oil board) and styrene. Attached is a photo of the blade.

 

[kcollinsdesign]

Somewhere back in the shop I have one of these (Cutawl). We used it all the time for stencils, theater sets, and displays (before computerized plotting cutters came along). I'm pretty sure it is stashed away with the Electro-pounce.

 

[Scootershooter]

This seems like it would take more than 30 minutes and there's 2 sizes, 12x24 and 20x48...or am I wrong?

View attachment 182129

How about cutting them out of paint mask?

 

[VizualVoice]

I have one client who does custom high-end paint in fancy houses and uses stencils sometimes to replicate old wallpaper styles.For her, I've cut heavy 10 mil mylar (easily available on amazon) with my Graphtec plotter before with plenty good success. I used a 60° blade over the channel with a modified pounce / perf-cut pattern (very minimal material left) and then just punched it out by hand after pretty easily. Now that my laser is back up and running I'll probably use that in the future since that will cut it like a dream, but even without that it's totally doable with a little trial and error to get your settings dialed in.

 

[ddarlak]

I only use #16 xacto blades and I could easily cut that in 30 minutes by hand. I've been doing this since 1986.

 

[DL Signs]

For crate marking we used to use the brass interlocking ones like these (might even be where we got them). They're not bad if you just need one size, but if you need several it adds up.

Brass Interlocking Stencil Sets

Brass Interlocking Stencils Interlocking Stencils Brass Stencil Sets

www.nationalstencil.com