Advice on making your own painting masks

[ohbejuan]

I have ordered paint masks several times in order to paint insignia like roundels multiple times, and it has been a great experience. I just tried making my own, and the results were not great. I borrowed a scanner and a Silhouette Cameo from a buddy, and bought some masking sheets from Ammo by mig. Has anyone here had success printing their own masks? And would be up for answering some questions? Or know a good resource. I feel like I have a handle on scanning and tracing the decal sheet. What I need is precise advice on materials and cutter settings. Thanks if you have any.

 

[Jim62]

Perhaps this video will assist you.

 

[ohbejuan]

Perhaps this video will assist you.

Thanks you for sharing this.It did help quite a bit. ! I used it to learn how to do the design. The only problem I am having is the actual cutting part.

 

[Jim62]

Thanks you for sharing this.It did help quite a bit. ! I used it to learn how to do the design. The only problem I am having is the actual cutting part.

This link should take you to a list of cutting videos for the silhouette.
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=do...+specific+cutting+material+&atb=v258-1&ia=web

 

[BlackSheepTwoOneFour]

I'd love to get a silhouette or Cricut machine but I don't have the funds nor the space on my bench for one.

 

[ohbejuan]

Yeah I borrowed one. I don't think I am going to go for it.

 

[BGilbertSound]

I had a Silhouette for awhile, but I wasn't using it enough so I sold it and bought a laser engraver instead. It is definitely a different beast altogether. The Silhouette could do some things better- if your only need is for cutting masks, the Silhouette is probably the way to go. But I very much prefer my laser, as I'm doing other things with it that the Silhouette couldn't do (like cutting paper and wood parts for various models, scenery, etc. The beacon below is an example, cut mostly from cardstock- too thick for my Silhouette, I think). A laser is NO GOOD for cutting vinyl or various plastics, though, not only does vinyl release toxic fumes, some plastics will release chlorine gas which destroys the laser lens.

 

[urumomo]

I had a Silhouette for awhile, but I wasn't using it enough so I sold it and bought a laser engraver instead. It is definitely a different beast altogether. The Silhouette could do some things better- if your only need is for cutting masks, the Silhouette is probably the way to go. But I very much prefer my laser, as I'm doing other things with it that the Silhouette couldn't do (like cutting paper and wood parts for various models, scenery, etc. The beacon below is an example, cut mostly from cardstock- too thick for my Silhouette, I thinkView attachment 125085). A laser is NO GOOD for cutting vinyl or various plastics, though, not only does vinyl release toxic fumes, some plastics will release chlorine gas which destroys the laser lens.

Someone else here was running a CNC laser and I asked about cutting plastics .
My concern was distorted edges from " melting " , but was shown that was not an issue .
Where does the chlorine gas come from and how does that damage a glass laser lens ?

 

[Edbert]

I've got one of these on order for making British/Japanese insignias, also wheels of course.



I'll post my results when I have some.