Cleaning stencils

P.K.Hansen

P.K.Hansen

Joined
Aug 8, 1999
Messages
402
I just got some stencils, and now I need to know how to clean them after use. Is it enough to rinse under hot water ?
 
I get my stencils from a company in NY for about $9 per sheet of 6. Ron Newton, Tim Hancock and a few other of the great knifemakers have advised me to use them once and throw them away. Yes, you can use them over and over, but the quality of your mark is going to suffer. The way Ron explained it to me was that it cost him less than $2 to mark one of his knives and that it was worth that price considering the cost of the finished knife.
 
I just wash mine gently with a little soap and water. They hold up pretty well for several markings before the quality starts to suffer. I'd probably go for the one time use if I had gotten my stencils from the place Danbo is referring to. I paid way more than that.
 
I paid a lot more too. I think it was $41 for a little sheet. If the quality is good, $9 is a real deal.
 
I paid 6$ each for mine ( that is for one stencil ), and the factory claims they will last for more than 50 knives. I don't know how yours are, but the ones I just got are like rubber with a stiff plastic frame - The guys on the german forum also say these things last quite a while.
 
Let me clarify my first statement. The actual sheets are about $9 per sheet of 6. However, there was a one time artwork/setup fee of about $35. So, yes, the first sheet of stencils did cost a lot more.
 
I have had excellent results using spray FANTASTIK in the yellow bottle. Spray one side, blot with a tissue, spray the other and blot again. Works great!

RJ Martin
 
Hi,
This thread was around a while back and folks reported good results with using a small ultrasonic cleaner.
Enjoy...Ken
 
I do use the ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Mine has 2 bowls, one for wash and the other for rinse and use regular dish soap. There is 11 etches on the stencil, I am currently using and is still clean and crisp.
Ken (wwjd)
 
the higher the amp setting the hotter it gets
this will cut the life of the stencils down too.
I just run under cold water from the tap and wipe REAL
gently with the stencil pad
I have a different electrolyte for stainless
then I use for the high carbon steel.
 
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