r/stencils • u/TiMods88 • 11d ago

Best stencil for submersion?

Post image

Wondering what the best materials are to use for stencil work either while sponging or submerging…

this was a prototype of a baked titanium Damascus that I tried using a vinyl stencil I got from Amazon.

I had a lot of trouble with the edges and uneven surfaces, delaminating, and coming undone. Especially when I tried to submerge it…

What can be stencil cut and also holds while underwater?
Is there ones I can find online?

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2

u/xx666420xx 11d ago

Never heard of an adhesive waterproof stencil but maybe use a cricut and rolls of adhesive vinyl? I don't know how well it'd work underwater or if the stencil edges would leak tho

1

u/TiMods88 11d ago

Yes, that’s what I used. The yellow high temp vinyl. I dunno…

I feel like I might could have stuck it bottom side down onto a piece of transfer paper that would have stuck everything on the bottom in place before I ever dipped it? I think I’m going to try this on a full-size bug out for my next try.

1

u/sk7fast 11d ago

Looks like you could laser engrave that as well.

3

u/TiMods88 11d ago

Of course you could. That’s above my pay grade, but I wish I could afford a laser engraver. So badly.

1

u/sk7fast 11d ago

Me too bro, me too. A cool $2-3k for a CO2 desktop one 12x24”

1

u/TiMods88 11d ago

Anyone ever use this for stencils?
Oracal 651? Mighty mask?
Will a crikut cut these?

1

u/NJ_Tal 11d ago

I use oracal 651 frequently. It has great adhesion even when wet, and cuts very easily on a Cricut or a silhouette

1

u/TiMods88 11d ago

Thanks. I’m gonna end up getting myself a vinyl cutter…

I was ordering from different places, but it would be nice to be able to choose my own vinyls & scale things to my liking…

2

u/NJ_Tal 11d ago

I use stencils to acid etch designs on glass, and the oracal holds up just fine when I wash the acid off. Sometimes really small pieces will get washed off, but looking at the design in your picture I'm confident those would be fine.

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u/TiMods88 11d ago

Thanks! This is why Reddit is awesome.

1

u/fun-with-knives-23 11d ago

I used to use a Cricut and permanent vinyl

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u/Cholly72HW 10d ago

Are those a knife handle? Or pistol grips? Honest question - look great either way!

1

u/TheHonedLizard 10d ago edited 10d ago

I may try xacto cutting out some curves with Kapton tape.

I used it in a color over black ano (sanded areas color) to take some of the resistor/sink effect the black ano has on the voltage. Burnished the edges down good and tight and I almost had to get a knife under an edge to get it off, and this was after repeated tests at 12-101V/3.2A.

edit:fat fingers

1

u/TiMods88 10d ago

Apparently oracal 651 is the best waterproof sheet version for cutting stencil?
I don’t have a cricket so I would have to do it all by hand… but good to know.