STENCIL PAINT & TIPS
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What are the types of paints recommended for my stencil?
Almost all latex and acrylic paints will work great.
Another Benjamin Moore paint called "Ben" seems to have ideal qualities
One more is Regular latex house paint and craft acrylic paints like Folk-art.
You can even use metallic paints, glazes, varnish, and textured paints and plaster.
Can spray paint be used with my stencil?
Yes it can be used but keep the below pointers in mind.
If you are using spray paint with your stencils try to do the project outside or at least in a well ventilated area as it is toxic. Also shake the can well before spraying. Spray paints usually take longer to dry then regular house paints.
What kind of textured wall can be stenciled?
It's possible to stencil over textured surfaces, but it depends on the roughness of your texture and your desired outcome. That is if the textures out there are really rough, with huge “peaks & valleys” then stenciling is not an option.
What's the best recommended paint finish?
Paint comes in various types of sheen: Flat, Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-gloss and Gloss, with Flat being least shiny, fast drying, & most porous whereas Gloss being most shiny and reflective when dry.
Flat, matte or eggshell finish is the best option for your background wall paint. The background will absorb the stencil paint which will dry very quickly, almost instantly, in between repeats.
What are the different versions of stencil?
There are two kinds namely; large & small. The Small Scale is simply a scaled down version of the Large Scale. Small scale is suitable if you are working on a small scale project and if you are going for a bit more of an open less dense look, then the large scale is the best option.
What are the tips to get good stencil finishing?
- Never use too much paint. If there is too much paint on your roller or brush then there are chances for bleed. Use paper towels to remove excess paint.
- Use a dense foam roller as it will give best results as others not so much.
- The paint should not pushed under the edge of the stencil and also too much pressure should not be applied when rolling or stripping with the brush.
- Use flat sheen base coat for stenciling as it will work well then stenciling on glossier surfaces because your stencil paint absorbs into the base coat and dries quicker.
- Use flat latex or craft acrylic paint works because it dries quickly and has less time to seep.
- Stenciling on smoother surfaces always works better then on textured surfaces.
- Choose the best brand for paint.
How to stencil on furniture?
Ensure good adhesion when stenciling furniture. You can use scotch bright pad, steel wool or fine grit sandpaper for the same purpose. Mildly sand the surface and then wipe down the piece with a little denatured alcohol on a rag to remove any grease, wax or furniture polish. When done, soak any alcohol rags in water, place them outside and dispose of them on trash day and to soak them in water as it can spontaneously ignite.
Then base coat or use adhesive primer. After your primer/basecoat is dry you can stencil with whatever paint you like.
How to stencil on fabric?
Iron the fabric first. Then it to a flat surface (table or floor) so it doesn’t have any wrinkles or moves. Lightly mist your stencil with a spray adhesive, after drying place your stencil on your fabric surface, pressing it to achieve a tighter seal.
Always use stencil brushes (if it is a smaller project) or a dense foam roller for a larger one. Then add some textile medium (sold in craft stores) to your stencil acrylics and stir it in well. Use very little paint on your brush and use paper towel for removing extra paint. When using a stencil brush, apply the paint with a dabbing/swirling motion. Leave 24 hours to dry completely.
It is essential to heat set the stenciling. Slowly iron the stenciled fabric by pressing the iron for about 20 seconds on a low setting through the piece of soft thin cotton cloth. This process will cure the paint and will help to prevent it from being washed off in the laundry. Be careful not to use too much paint during stenciling, it may leak through on the other side of the fabric, which may add stiffness to the fabric. Place some paper if the fabric thin.
HOW DO I STENCIL MY FLOOR?
De-gloss and clean any wax, grease or oil off the floor to insure better adhesion of your paint. You should lightly sand the entire floor with 220 Sandpaper. This will break the gloss and allow your paint to stick.
Clean the floor and then clean using denatured alcohol. Wipe the floor with the alcohol rag and then follow it with a clean moist rag. Soak the used rag in water and put them outside to dry out.Apply base coat. Use a flat or semi gloss paint as your basecoat. Ensure that the base coat has good adhesion & quick drying.
For stenciling: basically you can use any water based paint, latex or acrylics. Do your stenciling as usual, using dense foam roller or brush. Apply the top coat for clear sheen & durability. Select a good topcoat in the sheen you want. Remember that the more glossy the topcoat, the more it reflects imperfections. Hence satin finish is recommended. They make great water-based topcoats these days so there is no need to use oil. The smell is very strong and lasting (harmful too) and the oil also yellows over time which can affect your floor colors.
HOW DO I CLEAN MY STENCIL?
Clean your stencil with just water and a stiff brush, just like the one used for scrubbing dishes.
If you want to remove adhesive and stubborn paint, try Dawn's "Power Dissolver" in a blue spray bottle. Spray on your stencil and clean as usual, or spray the stencil, roll up very carefully or lay flat and place into a large plastic trash bag and Seal. Let it sit for a few hours or better overnight and then clean as stated above.
You can also use Motsenbocker's Lift-Off Latex Based Paint Remover, Simple Green and Krud Cutter products for the cleaning purpose. And also for adhesive removal, try Bar Keeper's Friend cleaner.