Question for the Stencil Veterans

Boatdrinks

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I'm getting ready to stencil a Ms. Pac. I've put down the primer and blue layer both with an HVLP sprayer with fantastic results.

My question is, how long to let the blue cure before laying on the first stencil, and afterward how long to let each color layer sit before applying the next stencil? I'm chomping at the bit to get it done before the cold weather sets in here in MN, but I don't want to rush it and have previous layers peel off with the stencils. I'm using Glidden indoor satin for the blue, yellow, and pink.... haven't decided on the black yet. I've read through Jeff Rothe's info as well as several others, but couldn't find where anyone mentioned time frame between colors.

I'll post pics of the work so far as soon as I get a chance.

Thanks!
 
My experience has been that while latex/water based finished have gotten really good, they are far from the best choice for the stenciled layers. For those, you want oil or lacquer. I have used rattle can RustOleum and got perfect results. And..since you'd ideally want to use the same type of finish for the base coat, that means oil or lacquer for the base also.
 
I'm using water-based.... So anyone with some stenciling experience got some recommendations for time between stencils?
 
I've had really good results stenciling with latex paint. The length of time between stencils depends on the temperature, humidity, thickness of the coat and the paint itself. I'd say it's usually 3 days for the paint I use. Just touch it with your fingertip and see if it feels sticky. If it's even slightly tacky, wait another day or two or else the stencil won't adhere to it well enough and will peel up with the premask and/or won't make a good seal at the edges and you'll get paint bleeding under it.

I just finished painting my Scramble with stencils. (I'll start a thread soon with pics.) The yellow base coat was completely dry in 3 days. The orange paint for the first stencil was still tacky after 3 days, since it got really humid at the time and I was painting outside in the garage. The black paint (which was a different brand) that I used for the second stencil was dry to the touch before I even finished painting the other side of the cab! Usually I wait about 30-40 minutes after applying the paint before removing the stencil, so that it's still wet enough not to peel up with the stencil. That black paint dried so fast though, I removed the stencil immediately after painting and I still had problems with it peeling on a few of the corners.
 
delroy666 said:
won't make a good seal at the edges and you'll get paint bleeding under it.


How do you guys minimize the "bleeding under" ?


One technique I've seen used is that you "seal" the edges with a coat of paint the same colour as the "base" colour...??...wait for it to dry...then apply the next "different" colour ?



john


.
 
I've had really good results stenciling with latex paint. The length of time between stencils depends on the temperature, humidity, thickness of the coat and the paint itself. I'd say it's usually 3 days for the paint I use. Just touch it with your fingertip and see if it feels sticky. If it's even slightly tacky, wait another day or two or else the stencil won't adhere to it well enough and will peel up with the premask and/or won't make a good seal at the edges and you'll get paint bleeding under it.

I just finished painting my Scramble with stencils. (I'll start a thread soon with pics.) The yellow base coat was completely dry in 3 days. The orange paint for the first stencil was still tacky after 3 days, since it got really humid at the time and I was painting outside in the garage. The black paint (which was a different brand) that I used for the second stencil was dry to the touch before I even finished painting the other side of the cab! Usually I wait about 30-40 minutes after applying the paint before removing the stencil, so that it's still wet enough not to peel up with the stencil. That black paint dried so fast though, I removed the stencil immediately after painting and I still had problems with it peeling on a few of the corners.

That is why I would NEVER use latex again for a stencil layer. The way latex dries, after spraying the last stencil coat, and waiting almost no time.. when I pulled the vinyl stencil material up, it peeled/tore at quite a few paint edges. I had to do touch ups. In addition, the latex paint had a noticeable ridge, and I only sprayed a few coats, thin, just to get the layer opaque.

Using oil based paint, I had a totally different experience. A few minutes after spraying the last coat, the paint was still tacky. When peeling up the stencil material, I had no issues with tearing of the finish, only razor sharp lines. Of course you have to be extremely careful not to touch the just sprayed paint or to let the stencil you're pulling fold back onto the surface and mess up the finish.
 
I've always used automotive paints, so flash time between painting and removing a stencil and putting a new stencil on is about 15 mins to remove, and wait one hour before putting on the next.
 
I've always used automotive paints, so flash time between painting and removing a stencil and putting a new stencil on is about 15 mins to remove, and wait one hour before putting on the next.

OK - I'll ask the stupid question. Where do you guys get the automotive paint from? I keep hearing thats the best paint to use for spraying.
 
How do you guys minimize the "bleeding under"?

Use a flat plastic burnishing tool when applying the stencil, and again just before painting to press down the edges. I use the one from Rich at thisoldgame.com, but an old credit card will do the job too.

One technique I've seen used is that you "seal" the edges with a coat of paint the same colour as the "base" colour...??...wait for it to dry...then apply the next "different" colour?

Never tried that, although it makes sense. You could only do that on the first stencil though, since the next stencil you'd be painting over more than one colour.

And remember OP, "pics or it didn't happen". ;)
 
Use a flat plastic burnishing tool when applying the stencil, and again just before painting to press down the edges. I use the one from Rich at thisoldgame.com, but an old credit card will do the job too.



Never tried that, although it makes sense. You could only do that on the first stencil though, since the next stencil you'd be painting over more than one colour.

And remember OP, "pics or it didn't happen". ;)

OK...thanks for the advice, I'm going to be doing my first one in a few weeks(taito) I'm going to roll the paint on.



john

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OK...thanks for the advice, I'm going to be doing my first one in a few weeks(taito) I'm going to roll the paint on.



john

.

I would spray if I was you.
You need a nice flat surface to apply the stencils,they don't like to adhere completely to a surface with texture.
You will get some bleed through along the edges.
 
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