Another lazy finishing technique

[culturejam]

I mean, you could, but the real deal are like 50 cents a piece, the printer media would cost more than a trip to a fabric store.

Not really. I could print that exact stencil I used for about 20 cents.

[somnif]

Oh, every time I see printer plastic stock for sale at Frys it always seems ridiculously expensive. Maybe its like Adafruit and they just stock a pricey brand.

[culturejam]

Oh, every time I see printer plastic stock for sale at Frys it always seems ridiculously expensive. Maybe its like Adafruit and they just stock a pricey brand.

A kilo of PLA is about $20. I could make a LOT of stencils with a kilo. Like, a whole lot.

[somnif]

Oh, every time I see printer plastic stock for sale at Frys it always seems ridiculously expensive. Maybe its like Adafruit and they just stock a pricey brand.

A kilo of PLA is about $20. I could make a LOT of stencils with a kilo. Like, a whole lot.

Ah I see. Frys has it 25$ for 200g of the stuff, which always seemed high to me.

[culturejam]

Ah I see. Frys has it 25$ for 200g of the stuff, which always seemed high to me.

That is highway robbery. Unless it's some kind of speciality filament, never pay that much.

[thesmokingman]

been wanting to try lace as a stencil since seeing a rat rod friend of mine use it in a racing stripe for visual interest

[jposega]

That is cool! I wonder - have you tried using your 3d printer to make stencils for the same kind of thing? Or are they prints too rough for that?

I mean, you could, but the real deal are like 50 cents a piece, the printer media would cost more than a trip to a fabric store.

I don't mean copies of the one he used - stencils based on artwork. Like a full sheet covering the enclosure with cutouts for the lettering, etc. Might not be practical...the pic just made me think of it.

Makes me think a 3D printed faceplate would be pretty cool.

[movinginslomo]

That is cool! I wonder - have you tried using your 3d printer to make stencils for the same kind of thing? Or are they prints too rough for that?

I mean, you could, but the real deal are like 50 cents a piece, the printer media would cost more than a trip to a fabric store.

I don't mean copies of the one he used - stencils based on artwork. Like a full sheet covering the enclosure with cutouts for the lettering, etc. Might not be practical...the pic just made me think of it.

Isn't that what laser cut vinyl is for?

[culturejam]

Isn't that what laser cut vinyl is for?

Vinyl tends to melt with most kinds of rattle can paint. See pic below. I think you need acrylic to not melt it. Haven't tried it, but I think I read somewhere that they are compatible.

[reddesert]

A kilo of PLA is about $20. I could make a LOT of stencils with a kilo. Like, a whole lot.

Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.

[nzCdog]

Bazinga!  That's super cool... so ezy even nzCdog could do it! 

[davent]

For years i've used transluscent frisket film from art supply stores for making stencils, cuts easily with an xacto knife, adhesive backed and releases easy. Works great with acrylic paints, no idea if it can be used with the nastier solvents of rattle can paints, possibly.

dave

[stringsthings]

Got the idea while chasing my kid through Joann Fabric the other day. I saw these cool disk things that looked like they would make for a neat rattle can stencil. Apparently this things are called a "plastic canvas".

That turned out great! 

[culturejam]

Shot some clear over the box and it looks pretty good. It's shiny but not over-the-top shiny.

I have a populated Belton II reverb board that I designed a few years back for a client who never ended up using it, so I I think I'll put it in this box. And I'll laser-etch the control labels onto the knobs just for fun.

[sjaustin]

That's a creative idea and a great result. Cool!