Cricut Stencil Vinyl

[Chris Fretz]

Anyone out there making stencils for painting with a Cricut explore air 2? What kind of vinyl are you using so it don't rip layers off?

[Angelo Smyth]

I have one of those as well. I have yet to (learn to) use it, so I'll definitely be following this thread!

[Avaiojet]

If it's ripping the vinyl it could be the blade depth, a dull blade or possibly the blade isn't rotating?

Google, sign supplies for your needs.

You'll see Mask material.

My supplier will NOT sell to the public but there are many that will sell to anyone.

You will be cutting "masks" using masking material, "Stencil" is something different.

Google that also.

[Chris Fretz]

I have one of those as well. I have yet to (learn to) use it, so I'll definitely be following this thread!

In the same boat as you.  Leaning to use Cricut Design Space may take some time!

[Chris Fretz]

Ill try to be more clear.  Say I want to have the machine cut out my AMA number and put the mask or stencil down. Spray the paint down and be able to remove the vinyl mask without ripping the silkspan,  ribs, silkspan on the other side of with wing (yes exaggerating). So I'm looking for people with experience on what kind of vinyl or whatever material they use with these machines that is removable.  Cricut makes all kind of vinyl from permanent to stencil vinyl and so on.

[Alan Resinger]

Chris,
Most of the guys on the West coast that cut their own use Mactac masking material.  We get it mainly from Ordway Sign Supply.  Best masking material I've ever used.
Alan Resinger

[Avaiojet]

Ill try to be more clear.  Say I want to have the machine cut out my AMA number and put the mask or stencil down. Spray the paint down and be able to remove the vinyl mask without ripping the silkspan,  ribs, silkspan on the other side of with wing (yes exaggerating). So I'm looking for people with experience on what kind of vinyl or whatever material they use with these machines that is removable.  Cricut makes all kind of vinyl from permanent to stencil vinyl and so on.

Looking for someone with experience. 

I've been in the sign, art and graphics business cutting vinyl and paint masks since 1994 by computer. Before that I did everything with a brush or airbrush using other materials cut by hand for airbrush art and graphics. A lifetime, it was my living and I still have a sign, art and graphics business.

Is this enough experience? Go to the vendor's corner, I'm CFC Graphics.

Ripping the silkspan when removing vinyl mask material?

Masking of colors comes last. If material is lifting, you've done something wrong with your wood prep or covering material application.

My tests with covering materials, I only use silk I will never use anything else.

This model had masks that completely covered the wing. Top and bottom. Nothing came off except the masking material. Tape that was used to mask removed nothing. Tape is a mask also, i.e. "masking tape."

Painted with aerosol cans.

If You want information and help PM or email me.

[Chris Fretz]

Looking for someone with experience. 

I've been in the sign, art and graphics business cutting vinyl and paint masks since 1994 by computer. Before that I did everything with a brush or airbrush using other materials cut by hand for airbrush art and graphics. A lifetime, it was my living and I still have a sign, art and graphics business.

Is this enough experience? Go to the vendor's corner, I'm CFC Graphics.

Ripping the silkspan when removing vinyl mask material?

Masking of colors comes last. If material is lifting, you've done something wrong with your wood prep or covering material application.

My tests with covering materials, I only use silk I will never use anything else.

This model had masks that completely covered the wing. Top and bottom. Nothing came off except the masking material. Tape that was used to mask removed nothing. Tape is a mask also, i.e. "masking tape."

Painted with aerosol cans.

If You want information and help PM or email me.

I'm well aware of what you do. I rejected your services due to poor  business remember. Ripping up silkspan or down to the silkspan was a example of what I'm trying to avoid I haven't tried a mask yet. I know what kind of material you use and I'll never use what you use, you have never offered me any useful information. I'd appreciate you not clogging up my tread with pictures I've seen a thousand times before. Thanks but again no thanks.

[Chris Fretz]

Chris,
Most of the guys on the West coast that cut their own use Mactac masking material.  We get it mainly from Ordway Sign Supply.  Best masking material I've ever used.
Alan Resinger

Thanks for the reply, I'll have to look that stuff up.  What kind of cutter are you using?

Chris

[Avaiojet]

I'm well aware of what you do. I rejected your services due to poor  business remember. Ripping up silkspan or down to the silkspan was a example of what I'm trying to avoid I haven't tried a mask yet. I know what kind of material you use and I'll never use what you use, you have never offered me any useful information. I'd appreciate you not clogging up my tread with pictures I've seen a thousand times before. Thanks but again no thanks.

22 years of doing model airplane graphics and you're my first complaint.

And no, I don't remember.

[Chris Fretz]

22 years of doing model airplane graphics and you're my first complaint.

And no, I don't remember.

Ha Ha ha hold on let me get my hip waders cause the S***s getting deep around here! 22yrs and one complaint lol right! Constantly trying to make yourself look good on here isn't fooling anyone. I bet if I mentioned Back to the Future graphics that might jog your simple mind or maybe a couple fox bellcranks sent to you.  Do you know what selective memory is? It's 22 yrs of making crap up.

[Avaiojet]

Yes, I remember. You got nasty for some reason. 3 hours drawing this from scratch, for free.

[Chris Fretz]

Yes, I remember. You got nasty for some reason. 3 hours drawing this from scratch, for free.

No that was you getting nasty cause you didn't like when I told you how I wanted it, then you started accusing me off being a troll which I was done dealing with you at that point. But it all worked out in the end cause I made my own graphics and it looked ten times better then that junk you made.

[Avaiojet]

No that was you getting nasty cause you didn't like when I told you how I wanted it, then you started accusing me off being a troll which I was done dealing with you at that point. But it all worked out in the end cause I made my own graphics and it looked ten times better then that junk you made.

The only people who are my trolls are in the Forum and they display this behavior with their replies. Some go back years of trolling me. Many know this.

I would never call a fellow modeler, who I was in the process of making graphics for, a troll. How can you be a troll? Pissed off customer maybe but not a troll.

Here's the thing. Some graphic designers hardly ever copy other designer's original art. There's model airplane graphics people that don't care, they copy and scan other people's finished art. I don't. I always draw from scratch or make many changes. So some of my work may not be as good as or different. Depending how the work is viewed.

I would like to see your model I bet it did come out great, and I would like to put this behind us.

The Forum doesn't need this, it should be in a PM.

I still like my art and I was surprised you found fault in my efforts.

[Steve Helmick]

Maybe Chris used the wrong word. Troll, maybe not. Ogre, perhaps?     Steve

[Chris Fretz]

I would never call a fellow modeler, who I was in the process of making graphics for, a troll. How can you be a troll? Pissed off customer maybe but not a troll.

I guess you would and did. Back to the selective memory thing. And were back to you running a poor business. And in conclusion back to you waisting my time.

[Alan Resinger]

Chris Cox and I went together and bought a cutter from US cutter in Seattle.  A model SC.  Works great. Here are a coup,e of pictures.

[Chris Fretz]

Chris Cox and I went together and bought a cutter from US cutter in Seattle.  A model SC.  Works great. Here are a coup,e of pictures.

Looks good!  Do you use Mactac 8448? What program do you use to design from,  or did your cutter come with the program?

[Alan Resinger]

Mactac 8448 is the one. We use Corel draw as the cutter did not come with a drawing program that was sufficient for our use.y

[Chris Fretz]

Mactac 8448 is the one. We use Corel draw as the cutter did not come with a drawing program that was sufficient for our use.y

Thanks for the info that's what I was looking for!

Chris

[Chris Fretz]

Mactac 8448 is the one. We use Corel draw as the cutter did not come with a drawing program that was sufficient for our use.y

Thought of something else, what kind of transfer tape do you use?

[Alan Resinger]

We use two kinds of transfer tape.    Both are available from Ordway.  Paper tape and somewhat clear plastic tape.  The plastic tape is used when you use multiple masks due to multi colored objects that require alignment when you change colors. Like this.

[EricV]

I'm a little late to the party and you've already gotten some good advice, but here goes a little more, FWIW.

I’m no pro and haven’t done a ton, I’ve used plenty of masks and knew what I wanted, just not how to get there. So I was in the same boat as you.
Through some trial and error, I found I liked these products best from USCutter (the people that make my cutter)

ORAMASK 813 Paint Mask Stencil – I like it because it is low tack water-based adhesive, and it is a PVC type with a blue color. I get a few advantages with this product, the PVC is a little stiffer in that is isn’t as stretchy as the other masks so it lays down flat easily and isn’t as prone to wrinkle from laying down unevenly, and the blue color lets you see it easily through the translucent white or clear layup transfer tape, which makes it much easier for me to place. The 1 downside is the stiffer PVC material is not good for wrapping around small tight curves, but I haven’t found that an issue on most things stunt related…

https://www.uscutter.com/ORAMASK-813-Paint-Mask-Stencil

RTape Clear Choice AT65 - General Purpose Medium-Tack Application Tape - 100yd (RTTAT65) – I like the clear because I can see what I am doing. The white paper tape works fine too, but I am now spoiled by the clear. TIP – Tape the corners of your weeded stencil down to your work surface before applying your transfer tape, so the static charge doesn’t let it jump up to meet the tape before you get it where you want it!
https://www.uscutter.com/RTape-Clear-Choice-AT65-All-Purpose-Medium-Tack-Application-Tape-100yd

And finally, get a cheap set of dental picks somewhere on line to help do your weeding, and some tweezers of different shapes and sizes. If you are like me, weeding will be the bane of your existence. Some things are harder than others, depending on if you are doing a back mask, or forward mask. Or keeping the outline of the font, or the interior of the font. Either way, you'll have to deal with smaller parts you want to stay put at times. I enjoy most of the process right up to the weeding. Weeding big letters and graphics is fun and easy, but any small detailed graphics or alpha/numeric print smaller than 5/8” text starts to get challenging to keep the holes in e’s and a’s etc to stay put on the siliconized backing. You’ll find using a dental pick to hold the small centers of objects down while you peel away with the tweezer helpful and you will find techniques that help over time, like pulling parallel to the surface to stretch the letter away before trying to peel back against itself… Or peeling an A from the WIDE end first, not the pointy end, so you can have a better chance of the center staying put. Good times!

That’s about all I can think of at the moment, gotta run. Hope it helps, or helps anyone else thinking about playing with a plotter and DIY stencils.
EricV

[RogerGreene]

Hi All, FYI,

I am using a Silhouette Cameo and I use TurboCAD to make the patterns. The Silhouette will take any file that is graphic dxf or tif, pdf, jpg, etc. I have used it to make my rib patterns on poster board etc. for my airplanes. Works very well and it can cut material up to 2mm. The site is www.silhouetteamerica.com. I have not tried to cut vinyl for paint lines yet. Will try when I get my next plane painted.

My 2˘

Roger

[TigreST]

Sparky uses some sort of light-ish blue color vinyl masking material on his builds.  Check out his scale Shoestring build....and just about anything else he's painted.  He also uses a U.S. Cutter machine, from there MH line, if memory serves.  I've got one to, sad to say,..still in the box!     So it's not a good idea to mask me anything about it.

T.

[Avaiojet]

What kind of money is spent for this equipment, to get up and running where you can cut vinyl with no issues?

Total cost?

[TigreST]

You can build your own package with US Cutter.  34" MH unit with stand with some extra blades ran to about $330.00  Yeah..you know your a hobbist when you spend $500.00 dollars to make your own 25 cent pieces  twice a year.  But that's just the way I roll.  No plans for a business operation at all,..that's to much like work.  And besides..who the hell wants to deal with "John Q Public" on a regular basis? (not me).

T.

[Avaiojet]

You can build your own package with US Cutter.  34" MH unit with stand with some extra blades ran to about $330.00  Yeah..you know your a hobbist when you spend $500.00 dollars to make your own 25 cent pieces  twice a year.  But that's just the way I roll.  No plans for a business operation at all,..that's to much like work.  And besides..who the hell wants to deal with "John Q Public" on a regular basis? (not me).

T.

John Q Public can be fine when they know their getting a great product for a great price. Modelers on the other hand can be tricky. 

I've been doing sign, graphics, art and a bunch of other related stuff since the early 70's and honestly, I can't ever remember having issues with anyone that I did business with. I've had a great ride and it's far from over. 

I don't look at what I do as work, it's fun. 

Look, here's a suggestion, nothing else.

ALL sign business "step up" in equipment over the years. Some keep their older out dated equipment so as to not seed the business with new competition. Most don't sell it. Probably toss it before they sell it.

So, many sign business have this old, but fully functional, stuff hanging around.

If I was a modeler I would probably start there. That is, finding a sign shop that has some functional but old and out dated equipment they are not using.

This equipment would be a PC with sign software installed already set up to drive a cutter. And they would most likely have an old functional cutter to go with that PC. Probably a 24" cutter.

Most are using 30" and 50" cutters.

You could start with your local, the closest sign shops, and work out from there seeking equipment. Phone calls or e-mails could work.

Sign shops are everywhere and the possibilities of finding a complete setup are better than one might think.

If this doesn't pan out, plan B. There's tons of suppliers for this kind of equipment.

I have older Mac computers hanging around that can drive a plotter with software already installed. Expensive professional software, but I keep them because I have tons of files stored in them and have to use them from time to time.

Especially if I need the art. Easier to change old art instead of drawing from scratch.

Possibly in a few years, when I slow down, things could change.

[RC Storick]

Here is who I buy from https://www.uscutter.com/

Here is alink to the stuff https://www.uscutter.com/ORAMASK-813-Paint-Mask-Stencil

[RC Storick]

Sparky uses some sort of light-ish blue color vinyl masking material on his builds.  Check out his scale Shoestring build....and just about anything else he's painted.  He also uses a U.S. Cutter machine, from there MH line, if memory serves.  I've got one to, sad to say,..still in the box!     So it's not a good idea to mask me anything about it.

T.

I should have read the whole thread before replying. Eric V gave you some good advice and the right links

[big ron]

Sparky what transfer or application tape do you use?

[Dan McEntee]

  Sparky, do you have your stuff here or where you have been working? I don't have any special needs right now but wouldn't mind observing how these work. Coming from the printing business and some of the equipment that they took on there right before I left makes me curious as to how related they may be. If you have this stuff in town and get ready to crank something out, let me know and if possible I would like to watch the process. Videos of this stuff do nothing for me, not like being there in person.
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Chris Fretz]

Thanks for the options guys!

I should have read the whole thread before replying. Eric V gave you some good advice and the right links

Sparky i imagine you use the same transfer tape as Eric V?  Can you design in sure cuts a lot, is it worth buying for a for using here and there?

Thanks
Chris

[Chris Fretz]

The Cricut is entertaining to play with.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[RC Storick]

Thanks for the options guys!



Sparky i imagine you use the same transfer tape as Eric V?  Can you design in sure cuts a lot, is it worth buying for a for using here and there?

Thanks
Chris

I have done a few videos on Sure-cuts-a lot pro. It's easy to use and works very well. There are 100s of videos on how to use it. I like it and do recommend it. Yes, same tape.