Developing Stencils

S

safta

Joined
Nov 26, 2005
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Ive developed my first stencil, and it looks very clean and crisp, but when I etch it only about the last 1/2 of the mark etches. I can see through the stencil in the parts that I should be able to see through, but Im guessing electrolyte just isnt going through, am I not developing long enough? Is my font not large enough, its at 12 now with Lucida Calligraphy?
 
Safta, I fought the stencil battle for about 6 months.Bad etches,Foggy,Only half etched.I was useing an etch-O-matic 440 stencil maker. I cussed and finally ask the same ? you are asking. I had my stencils professionally made.No more problems.And I'm useing a cheap-o etch-o-matic.The other thing I learned was do a 5 second burn break ground for 3 sec.Reapeat this 5 times.The breaks allow the gasses to escape and I got a lot clearer burn(or etch)
 
Im using a home made etcher I use stencils from tus with no problems but got one of the etch o matic developers and was just trying to make my own, didnt know if anyone had any luck with these.
 
sharpeknives said:
Safta, I fought the stencil battle for about 6 months.Bad etches,Foggy,Only half etched.I was useing an etch-O-matic 440 stencil maker. I cussed and finally ask the same ? you are asking. I had my stencils professionally made.No more problems.And I'm useing a cheap-o etch-o-matic.The other thing I learned was do a 5 second burn break ground for 3 sec.Reapeat this 5 times.The breaks allow the gasses to escape and I got a lot clearer burn(or etch)
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What company makes your stencils?
 
safta said:
Im using a home made etcher I use stencils from tus with no problems but got one of the etch o matic developers and was just trying to make my own, didnt know if anyone had any luck with these.
Click to expand...

Just a thought, make sure the positive goes to the blade and the negative goes to the etching pad.
 
Edro20 said:
What company makes your stencils?
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I'll have to look let you know tomorrow when I go out into the shop.I'v done probably 50 blades and just started useing my second one. $for $ best money spent. It helped to clean up my language.
 
The etcher works fine, I use the stencils I had made by TUS without any problems, The stencils that I develop myself dont produce a good etch yet the stencil itself looks just as clear and crisp as the professional ones I have made by TUS.
 
safta said:
The etcher works fine, I use the stencils I had made by TUS without any problems, The stencils that I develop myself dont produce a good etch yet the stencil itself looks just as clear and crisp as the professional ones I have made by TUS.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Are these available online?

sharpeknives said:
I'll have to look let you know tomorrow when I go out into the shop.I'v done probably 50 blades and just started useing my second one. $for $ best money spent. It helped to clean up my language.
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SWEET! Thank you kindly. I'll check back!
 
safta said:
Ive developed my first stencil, and it looks very clean and crisp, but when I etch it only about the last 1/2 of the mark etches. I can see through the stencil in the parts that I should be able to see through, but Im guessing electrolyte just isnt going through, am I not developing long enough? Is my font not large enough, its at 12 now with Lucida Calligraphy?
Click to expand...

I bought one of the stencil making kits from Martronics. I think this is probably the same as you are referring to. I have found that it is a very frustrating trial and error process to find the right exposre time when making the stencils.

The size of the font or graphics seems to dictate the exposre time. I have made made good stencils with exposures ranging from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. It seems like 15 seconds either way can determine if you get a useable stencil or not.

I have made good stencils but they do not seem to be as good as those I had made by Marking Methods.
 
MisterSat said:
I bought one of the stencil making kits from Martronics. I think this is probably the same as you are referring to. I have found that it is a very frustrating trial and error process to find the right exposre time when making the stencils.

The size of the font or graphics seems to dictate the exposre time. I have made made good stencils with exposures ranging from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. It seems like 15 seconds either way can determine if you get a useable stencil or not.

I have made good stencils but they do not seem to be as good as those I had made by Marking Methods.
Click to expand...

I'm having the exact same aggrivating problem. Let me know when you figure it out. I give up. I pulled my hair out on the last ones. :(
 
I have had the best luck with an exposure time of 2.5 minutes. Then develope for 6 to 7 minutes. My developer is heated to lukewarm.
Some of my stencils wouldn't pass the solution. I wash all stencils right out of the develpoer with a light mixture of dawn and water. Test by putting your stencil on a paper towel and press a wet sponge on it to see if the towel gets wet. The IMG paper turns almost white in the emulsified area if its right. I use a sonic cleaner and a acid brush when developing.
Take Care
TJ
 
A. Sharpe...Who is IMG. Did a internet search and couldn't find anyone named IMG that made stencils.
 
I develop my own stincils and its a pain. I expose for 2 min 15 sec and develop in 1 part developer to 2 parts water for 6 to 8 min. Rince well and let dry and test each one before I use it. Once I can tell that the etch is good, I just make like 20 while I am making them. I just cant see spending $50 for 6 stencils. Thats what I was quoted with all the shipping and material and art cost and I have vector lined art so there really isnt an art charge needeed. I worken in a print shop so its not much different in there shop I am sure.

I can now make 8 stincils in 20 min. so I cant justify the cost.

It was a head ache to learn how to get them made right and I still am rusty but I am cheap S.O.B. :)

This shows my stincil mark okay.
D2_Chefs_done.jpg


I dont always blacken them either. Sort of a minimal approach :)
ironwood_G-10.jpg
 
Thank you for the replys, Ill try a little longer exposure, Ive been doing 2mins and Ive only been developing for about 2 mins as well so it looks like I definately need to lengthen developing time. Ill surely try the wet sponge and paper towel trick. Thanks again
 
Its a little too much to go over in a post reply. Does anyone have a link to the old tutorials that floated around on different sites?
 
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