Cheap/easy Stencil?

wolffbite

wolffbite

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May 7, 2010
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Ok so I know there was a thread on this a few months ago... can't for the life of me remember the title or user who posted so..

I just got an order to make a custom design neck knife for a local guy. I can meet all of his requests except for a custom etch on. He wants his initials etched on the opposite side to my maker's mark... he designed the knife (rough sketch which i translated to scale drawings)

My question is... how can I go about doing this without breaking the bank? I don't make my own stencils, nor do I want to fork out a lot of $$$ for a stencil that will basically be a one time use.

Dropping $46 (going through Ernie) is kind of out of the question for such a small one-time deal.... I'm wondering if there is an easy home-made 1 time use thing I can do, or if there is someone near me who can help me make one up?

Thanks in advance!
 
Not sure if it would work or not, but how about going to a sign shop and ask them to cut out the initials on a small piece of sticky vinyl. Peel, stick, etch. Would that work?
 
make tape versions of the initials.
put them on the knife
spray paint the knife
peel off the tape
etch.
after you have the etch you want, strip the krylon - or bake it at 350 for 45 minutes to make it rock hard. (poor man's duracoat without the 2 week wait for it to final cure)
 
I think I would tell him if he wants it done in a way that is going to be a permanent as your makers mark it is going to cost him the price of a stencil. Even it is a one time use its about the only way you will get a good job!

Case in point I had a customer that wanted his grandson's name on the sheath I had made for a knife I had up for sale. At the time I did not have a stencil set for lettering on leather and I told him I would burn it into the leather. I didn't like the result and sent him pics before I sent the knife to him. He liked the pics and I sent it too him and told him if he was not satisfied in any way with the knife or the sheath he could return them. When he got them he was tickled to death but I was never happy about letting the sheath go out with work that I was not satisfied with!

Would I do it again and risk losing the sale. I would not, if he wanted it and I didn't have the right thing to do it with I would either make him pay for that cost or just tell him I could not do it. I know now there is a piece of my work out there that I feel was sub-quality and it bugs me every time I think about it!!!!!!!!!!

Just food for thought, but it the anal retention gene that keeps the quality in my work! If I don't feel like it is the absolute best I can do I don't want my name attached to it!
 
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If you have extra stencil paper , I know I had some extra come with my etch-o-matic isn't their a way to use light to make a stencil. I know they sell a product with a light bulb box thingy but I don't know what kind of light it is . Then you could pencil the etch on the stencil paper and make a little light box with that bulb and make the etch., I think there is transparency paper in there too. If you find out keep us posted. I know there was a DIY stencil making thread a few months ago.
 
Dixieblade57 said:
I think I would tell him if he wants it done in a way that is going to be a permanent as your makers mark it is going to cost him the price of a stencil. Even it is a one time use its about the only way you will get a good job!

Case in point I had a customer that wanted his grandson's name on the sheath I had made for a knife I had up for sale. At the time I did not have a stencil set for lettering on leather and I told him I would burn it into the leather. I didn't like the result and sent him pics before I sent the knife to him. He liked the pics and I sent it too him and told him if he was not satisfied in any way with the knife or the sheath he could return them. When he got them he was tickled to death but I was never happy about letting the sheath go out with work that I was not satisfied with!

Would I do it again and risk losing the sale. I would not, if he wanted it and I didn't have the right thing to do it with I would either make him pay for that cost or just tell him I could not do it. I know now there is a piece of my work out there that I feel was sub-quality and it bugs me every time I think about it!!!!!!!!!!

Just food for thought, but it the anal retention gene that keeps the quality in my work! If I don't feel like it is the absolute best I can do I don't want my name attached to it!
Click to expand...


Great post/advice!!! :thumbup:

The only time I will do something like a special mark and not charge for the stencil is something like a numbered run/set.

And I won't mark a blade with ANYTHING if I don't know I can make it look as nice as the signature. I know, I know... every $25,000 Loveless out there has a vibratory pencil mark on the blade.... but I'm still blown away he did that all those years.
 
How bout your local trophy store, or engraver? I cant imagine 3 letters costing more than 46 bucks?
 
Well he mostly wondered if it was possible... as of right now it doesn't seem there is an easy or free way for me to get this done and still have it look good.

I don't really have the funds or reason to invest in stencil making equipment... It's not like I'm going to openly offer custom stencils on knives :p

Thanks for the advice guys, I think I will tell him it isn't possible unless he is willing to pay for a proper stencil. I would rather him get a clean professional knife than something with a jerry-rigged marking that looks like crap.
 
Check ernies website. He has a special price for these special customer stencils looks to me like it's $8 per name.
 
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I would go with laser engraving, but do both your stencil and the customers mark at the same time in the same way.

Check your yellow-pages under Trophy Shop, Engraving, Engraving - Laser


$10- 15 ish to do.
They find knives interesting and you should be able to get them to waive any art or setup charges if you provide your logo in the software that they use.
and give them the impression that you will be a repeat customer.

Adobe Illustrator files for they guy I have used, but call and ask for $ and that info.

Like this shop in BC - no idea if it's close to you or not, it lists Coquitlam BC

http://www.trophycentre.ca/trophy-centre-artwork.htm
& they give the artwork file types
 
The_cutting_edge said:
Check denies website. He has a special price for these special customer stencils looks to me like it's $8 per name.
Click to expand...

I just checked that out and you are correct he does offer it for $8.

Think I'm just going to go that route so I don't have to mess around with getting both my logo AND name engraved. The customer will be happier with this option and the $8 will be their cost to get a better looking end product..

Thanks for the heads up

And count that looks like a good resource, they are about a 3 minute drive from my house. Will book mark it for future reference, thanks :thumbup:
 
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wolffbite said:
Dropping $46 (going through Ernie) is kind of out of the question for such a small one-time deal
Click to expand...

I spent $35 for my stencils, with multiple designs... extras are $13 for life!!!!!!... special names I'm sure prices are even cheaper.. absolute professional service... http://www.tustech.com/admin/home

NOT from ernie..

you can use the electrical tape method with fingernail polish (even clear??) around the tape, etch and wipe with acetone..
 
Dixieblade........What a geat quality gene to have! Knowing that you have it will make me look at your work with more respect. Cheers
 
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