Stencil Experiment

[warmcanofcoke]

I started experimenting with making a stencil for My Tardis Project.















well I learned not to do this on a windy day   and I learned you need an even thick coat of paint.

I may design a new stencil.

[warmcanofcoke]

I think my new plan is to cut out all the letters and stick them to the back of the clear plastic using some sort of sticky paste or petroleum Jelly, I may even be able to use plain water, and then add several layers of paint, let it dry, and then remove the letters.

[davidnagel]

Interesting!

Certainly has produced promising results already

[warmcanofcoke]

Ok I've made another stencil ... technically this shouldn't stay in the "Top Signs" topic as my template is for the Pull to Open sign. But as the technique is useful for both signs I'll continue.




cut some plastic to the right size using pvc blades for a circular saw.


added the template.

stencil test fitting.



now I'm going to figure out how to attach the stencils so that they stay in place when I use the spray paint.

[evil bob]

Wow that's a lot of work! 
Awesome!

[DoctorWho8]

Light tack spay adhesive?
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff

[warmcanofcoke]

I had a graphic design teacher that absolutely forbade us from using spray on adhesive =P
But I appreciate the input. I used an Elmer's Glue Stick to keep the letters in place.



another windy day but I applied the spray paint lightly and in a circular pattern to try and get all the crevasses of the letters.




As you can see I will require at least a second coat when this dries.
When that dries, then we will see if I can remove the letters.

[warmcanofcoke]

this is what I had when the first coat dried.



I have added a second coat after I took these pictures and I am waiting for paint to dry.
In the Morning I'm going to take my exacto knife and start the clean-up process.

[galacticprobe]

I'm almost speechless, Nate. This is beautiful. Cutting out those letters, and then sticking them on so straight before painting must have driven you a little closer to that "insane" mark. I hope things come off clean so you can finish the paint job without too much fuss. And you say that panel is plastic? It's so clean (and clear before the paint) that anyone would swear it was glass!

Dino.

[warmcanofcoke]

Well I suppose we are all fighting to stay sane in a crazy world. I'd hate to build a Police box and a console room and then believe I was the Doctor.  I'd spend most of my days next to the guy who believes he's Napoleon Bonaparte. The only way out of the asylum would be to regenerate. 

I've learned that the "I" in "Advice" is crooked. The plastic panel is slightly taller on the right side (easily fixed). And that the Stencil letters(which I wanted to use a second time) were not made of a sturdy enough material to come cleanly off the back of the plate. Additionally my research has led me to discover that it will take the spray paint a couple of days before it fully cures, after that I will be able to do the clean up work I mentioned. (scrape away the areas where capillary action has allowed the paint to go under the stencil.) 

It is ok - This won't go to waste. I have a friend who owns a comic book store who wants to build the Newbery Tardis and put it on his roof. The panel is 15"x11" and will fit into a 16"x12" frame.

[tony farrell]

Nate, this is far more than simply "ok"! The speed and accuracy with which you achieve these things beggars belief - you must have a very steady hand  Little details like the wonky 'I' add to the realism.
I think back-lit, this would look superb. 
Do you intend to use the same technique for the sign boxes over the Police Box doors?
Regards
Tony

[galacticprobe]

I'd hate to build a Police box and a console room and then believe I was the Doctor.

And the problem with this train of thought is...?

Dino.

[museumdave]

Silly Dino.. The clear problem with that....
I am the Doctor

and I am here to help
now you know

[warmcanofcoke]

Thank you Tony, Dino and Dave er .. Doctor.   I spent a lot of time on this forum merely reading, downloading photos, pdfs, and adding an awful lot of photos(perhaps to others frustration - sorry guys...), when I look at the amount of work other fine Tardis builders have done in that time, I feel dreadfully left behind. As always I hope that I play a useful role on this forum and my efforts will lead to owning a police box and Console room.

Do you intend to use the same technique for the sign boxes over the Police Box doors?

Ah yes! A man who read the forum category ... (Paraphrased from Douglas Adams when he gave a talk at the University of Rochester in 1990? was it... I have the poster somewhere. He was supposed to give a talk about computers and the internet and instead talked about his experiences and his book Last Chance to See. During the question and answer period someone from the audience asked him what this had to do with Computers and the Internet. He looked guiltily at the podium and said: Ah yes! A man who read his ticket ...everyone laughed -  He then briefly went over those points.   )

Yes - this Stencil Experiment is teaching me lots of valuable things that will help me produce both a Pull to Open Sign and Top Signs for my police box. http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=3548

I will use what I learn here to make the Top Signs.

Ideas I have come up with include - After I make the Stencils out of a thicker and more durable card material I will remove the paper covering that I used to make the Stencil in the first place. I think this was the reason why the I in Advice was skewed - The Paper "I" and the cardboard "I" were slightly sideways from each other.  

I'm still not sure if I want to just spray the back white at the end, or simply add a white plastic back drop when I am done.

... This is why I started this topic and not simply added it to my build diary.  

As always, thank you for your support.

EDIT: Fixed your link -- SW

[museumdave]

Nate
Sorry Meant to say how awesome this is and got distracted.

Truly awesome!!!

love it
The end product rocks, labour intensive, but great!

Dave