Floyd,

I don't mind if you call them stencils when they are not.  No harm in that, but professionals my be thinking stencils just for a bit.

Vinyl transfers are more preferred. No big deal.

Gotta be careful with heat, I supply vinyl graphics to scale model builders who actually use a "bit" of heat to burnish vinyl into wing stitching. Vinyl can be destroyed easily if heated improperly.

The "transfer paper" to which you refer, is available in a couple of contacts, heavy and medium. I always use medium when I send vinyl to modelers. Never had one complaint after 17 years of providing modelers with vinyl graphics and lettering.

Here's the thing and I'm surprised you weren't aware of it?

After the graphic is applied, the surface transfer or "release" paper can be wet. Wet it with a sponge! When it is wet, it looses it's adhesive abilities and is really easily removed. Falls apart, not like toilet tissue, but close.

Modelers with graphics on open bay wings take advantage of this trick. I always give up this information.

Yes, I would say most professionals know this also.

Adhesive residue. Easily removed without hurting the substrate if the proper chemicals are used. I use a special remover. 3M makes a product that is offered at automotive supply stores. Used for vinyl removal and the removal of vinyl pinstripes. Works like a charm.

I stay with all my customers right up until the last graphic is applied, helping in any way I can.

I've been a modeler my whole life. A very happy modeler!

Charles

Specify low-tack material.  The best I've seen is made by Avery.  I forget the part number.

Howard,

You're correct, Avery makes great materials for that industry.

I don't get a brake in price from my distributor with Avery.

Transfer Rite is one of the brands I use. R Conform is another. I have stuff now my distributor says is their label?

Keeping in mind these are just transfer materials and get 'spent," my interest is a product that removes itself easily from the roll when it gets low on the tube. This is why I recommend that modelers, who elect to make their own vinyl graphics and lettering, ask sign shops for their short rolls. Most toss them anyway. When I lived up north I gave them to an art school.

I send mine to a few modelers who are making their own stuff with good results. Send out my vinyl scraps also.

I did a short Thread on doing your own vinyl. It's not as difficult as one might think.

Charles

"For a long time, I have been ordering paint stencils from RG GRAPHIX.  Now, paint stencils come as a 3-part set-up. The backing is peeled off and the vinyl stencil is applied to the model.  Finally, a top paper is pulled off, exposing the vinyl stencil for spraying.  When dry, the vinyl stencil is pulled off." Floyd wrote "stencils" when, to me, he clearly meant "masks", and I don't think there's any need to argue with either term. There was no implication of applying permanent vinyl trim, IMO. Read more carefully!    Steve

Steve,

A "stencil" doesn't come in a three part set up. That is, by it's true definition, meaning and use.

A stencil is something "entirely different." Like that line in the movie The Phoenix. 

Google it.

Stencils were around and used, long before vinyl was introduced and used, in the industry which I make my living in, only for over 40 years.

There was a graphics guy, "Get Stencils." He might still be around. I'm not mad at him for reinventing the term. He could have gone by, "Get Masks." Masks is what he offered, not stencils.

There's a really big difference.

Now here's something interesting. One could make a "one time" graphic used as a mask and call it a stencil. Even out of vinyl. And they do. But it's really a mask.

Charles

Perhaps the definition of "stencil" has changed since my military days.  These were re-usable plastic "things" you taped on a box, then rolled over with a paint roller.  Removing the "stencil" left the printing just as desired.

"potatoes", or "potatos" ?
 

I use "spray mask" from signwarehouse.com. It is low tack and the surface has a matte finish so the paint sticks. This creates a very clean line when removed. They also sell a "stencil film" that is very similar....Derek

Derek,

I don't know of any "mask" material that has a shine to it?

I prefer the yellow in color.

Charles

Derek,

I don't know of any "mask" material that has a shine to it?

I prefer the yellow in color.

Charles

I use to order my masks from a local vinyl shop and the mask material they had was shiny. I had to sand the edges to make the paint stick.

Derek

Alan,

Nice work. Kudos!

Do you live in Canada?

My wife and I would take our Holidays in Quebec and Old Quebec, been there many times. They wash the streets!

MacTac, is a fine product. The best advantage is you can see through it, if it's still the same stuff?

No thinner than the more common products on the market and really doesn't give you a better edge.

Gallery artists, like myself, would use it on our stretched canvas for masking. Been a while since I've used their products.

Can you still buy that stuff by the foot?

I purchase whole rolls, not that brand, so I pay much less.

Mac was used on this image.

Charles