Stencils - how long do yours last?

jonnymac44

jonnymac44

Joined
Sep 27, 2007
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Daniel's thread about what to use for pads reminded me that I wanted to ask you guys about your stencils. I get my stencils from Ernie as well and they are super crisp and give a great clean etch/mark. I've seen Ernie's test where he left one out in the weather for several weeks or months and went back and used it and it worked fine.

I've noticed that I only get about 8-10 etches from my stencils before it's difficult to get my mark really clean. After about ten times I end up with weak, or pale spots in the mark. At first the mark is nice, sharp, and jet black but after about ten it's lighter in color. I recall reading that the stencils should be good for more uses than I'm getting out of them. I am always sure to neutralize the stencils right after etching with windex/ammonia and then they get rinsed/washed with warm water and dawn detergent.

Anybody have similar experience? If not, how do you guys care for your stencils after etching. What works for you?
 
Jonny, I am all about getting the most bang for your buck but let's do the math. Around 50$ a sheet which Ernie says around 10 mark on it. If you get 8 etches out of each one, that's 80 etches or roughly 62.5 cents each. I'd say it's not worth trying to squeeze out more unless my math is horribly wrong.
 
I rinse mine with purified water after every etch and they last me a long time, maybe 30-40 knives? I just etched 22 the other day with one stencil and the last looked as good as the first, the etch I do is very deep as well with my machine cranked up all the way. Some seem to last more than others but I think cleaning in reverse osmosis water along with not overheating the stencil is the key.

I used an older but good stencil the other day on Titanium, I was experimenting with a new electrolyte and fried the stencil right off the bat. I guess it reacted or got too hot and it distorted the stencil on me. I tried again with a new stencil and it looks fine so far after maybe 5 uses.

Speaking of stencils I need some new ones! Time to call Ernie.

You can see the etch is deep and clean, I bet this knife was around #30 on the same stencil.
063.jpg
 
Last edited:
Patrice Lemée;10253485 said:
Jonny, I am all about getting the most bang for your buck but let's do the math. Around 50$ a sheet which Ernie says around 10 mark on it. If you get 8 etches out of each one, that's 80 etches or roughly 62.5 cents each. I'd say it's not worth trying to squeeze out more unless my math is horribly wrong.
Click to expand...

LOL, no Patrice....I'm not your penny pinching granny if that's what you're implying:p I was just curious how many uses others are getting. Judging by Daniel's response maybe I'm doing something wrong. It's not the end of the world because I really like the etches I get on my knives, but hey...if I could double the number of etches by doing something different, why not? Although......I do love to spend money:D
 
I also listen to the etcher to see if it sounds like it is etching right, sometimes moving the ground clip around can improve contact and give a better etch.

Maybe stainless and carbon steels etch differently, I use mostly 5160 and O1.
 
Sorry Jonny, did not mean to imply you were cheap. :o
Just that sometimes I am not really conscious of the relative price of things on knives. Like when I spent endless hours cleaning up mild steel I had around to make guards and such when I could have bought nice flat cold rolled mild for a few bucks per knives.
Just wanted to make sure you did not do the same on this.
 
I toss them pretty quickly, maybe 5 at most if I am doing 5 blades, if I am doing 3, then 3. I hate sanding a poor mark out just to redo, I also dont like to store the stencil after it is used.
 
I get approx. 20 knives/tools per stencil (both my marks have pretty fine lines). I like deep etches; it seems that not overheating the stencil and thorough cleaning is a must.
 
Jon,
I mark 50 to 100 units at a time so I run stencils in rotation. I get 25 uses per if I wash them in this ultrasonic washer. I use distilled water in it. When I pull them out of the bath, I sandwich the stencil between paper towels and press it flat.

image_18431.jpg
The cleaner can be had a HF for around 30 dollars.
 
I get right around 30 give or take. This way was told to me by the late Mick Koval when he
sold me my personalizer+ Put the pad on the stencil with the machine on etch, start to take
it up above 3 toward 4 , you will notice the fizz start. Leave 2-3 seconds and flip it to mark.
I usually do this 3 times or so. Deep and clean though I usually take one clean swipe with
600 grit or whatever I'm going to finish up at. You don't want to have to grind one out- on
a folder it usually means a new blade. Ken.
102_0454_edited-1.jpg
 
I get around 30 or so per stencil. I do a deeper etch mostly just carbon steels . I clean the stencil with warm soapy water after each etch . I usually just do one knife at a time maybe two at the most.
 
My stencil supplier (don't have the name handy) explained to me on my last order
that the stencils are very sensitive to light (being film) and that the best way to
prolong their life is to put them quick back in a dark envelope after they're used
and cleaned.
 
anyone ever use vinyl stencils?? from what I've heard you can get around 100 for $10.

I haven't done enough stenciling to tell yet, I didn't get mine from ernie so for now I don't know if that's good or bad, and I'm using a super ghetto setup, ( like a transformer with alligator clips :) )
 
I get my stencils from Ernie as well and get maybe 10-12 really good crisp etches and I can push that out and get 5 more if I want to spend time back on the bench cleaning up the fuzziness with another round of sanding.
 
I get about 30-40 knives per stencil. My stencils come from IMG.
When i finish an etch I take the knife and stencil to the sink and wipe both with soapy water and put them under a water stream and press between a paper towel. I am always surprised by how much dark material come out of the stencil when I wipe it.
 
Rob, I used to get vinyl stencils from a local sign maker but they are a pain in the a$$ compared to the ones I get from Ernie. With the vinyl ones it is hard to get someone to cut fine lines for small letters for one thing, and then if they can do it you have to pick out all of the little letters with a needle and tweezers before you can use it. I also had some trouble with them streching as I applied them from time to time. That being said, they do work and I used them for a while. I still use them on my hawks because the letters are bigger and show up better on them.
 
Any chance of more specific info on who the stencil suppliers mentioned in this thread are and where to contact them please.

I don't know who Ernie, IMG etc are (nor do many others I'm sure).

Thanks

Syn
 
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