If you have a boat, you probably have equipment associated with your boats. This equipment should be marked, either by law or to show that it is your property. At Sticker Stop, we can create Custom Stencils for Boats to help you mark your pontoons, lifejackets, scuba gear or even your boat itself.
What Sort of Stencils Do We Offer?
We can create two different types of stencils for you. We use mylar plastic which is 7.5mil in thickness (roughly 2 copy pages thick) that is durable, flexible and solvent-proof. You can use solvent based paints and cleaners with these stencils without issue. We also use SprayMask vinyl to make sticker stencils. These are single-use vinyl stickers that you can apply to a surface and spray over. They both have their uses and their pros and cons, so let's take a look at these now.
This sticker stencil was created with Spraymask vinyl and will adhere to the surface of the rubber boat. After spraying, it can be removed and the boat will have your registration applied.
Pros and Cons of Plastic Stencils
Pros of Plastic Stencils:
- Durable: They are able to be used indefinitely if cared for properly
- Flexible: You can bend them over backwards without breaking them, so they can be wrapped around objects easily
- Solvent-proof: You can use them with solvent paint and cleaners
Cons of Plastic Stencils
- Underspray: Unless you use a temporary glue, you will probably get underspray
- Cost: The initial cost is higher but if you are planning on using them often, this the cost is worth it
Pros and Cons of Sticker Stencils
Pros of Sticker Stencils:
- Solvent-proof: You can use them with solvent paint and cleaners
- Removal: Sticker stencils are easy to remove and don't lift paint of leave much (if any) residue
- Cost: They cost about the same as a regular vinyl sticker of the same size
- No underspray: Since they are adhesive, they reduce the risk of underspray
Cons of Sticker Stencils:
- Single-Use: You can usually only use them once
- Application: They aren't suited to all types of surface. Smooth, clean surfaces are ideal, while rough surfaces might reject the sticker
Which Stencil Type Is The Best To Use?
So, which stencil type is the best to use? It really depends on your situation. If you're just wanting to mark your equipment quickly and you just want something to mark your property, then a plastic stencil will do the job. This is also the case if you have a lot of equipment to mark - getting a sticker stencil for every item will probably get a little pricey. And if you don't mind a bit of underspray, the plastic stencil is the way to go. Also, if you look after your stencil, you can use it over and again.
If you're spraying something small or it's important for you or your business to have a nice looking spray marking, then a sticker stencil would make the better choice. You won't get the underspray so the finish will be cleaner.
Stencil Design and Creation
You can send us the file, logo or image that you’d like made as a stencil to sales@stickerstop.com.au and we’ll take a look at it and get back to you with a quote or some information. If you have the file available in a vector format (.AI, .EPS, .PDF) that would be ideal but we will still take a look at your raster (JPEG, BMP, GIF) images too. Note that, for us to be able to use them with our machine, it will need to be made into a vector format. If you’re not able to do this yourself, we can probably do it for you, however there is a charge ($15 minimum) involved depending on the complexity of the image.