Very small reusable stencil set?

[Bennylava]

Wasn't sure where exactly to post this thread. I couldn't decide whether or not to post it here or in Vintage Tools. Because in vintage tools, they do a lot of restoration.

Does anyone have any recommendations, for a set of stencils that are small/very small? I'm looking to use them to restore buttons and knobs on modern vehicles. A good example might be a power window button, or a radio button. In my line of work, I run into this frequently. I always try to just buy a replacement first. But sometimes its too expensive, or difficult to find, or both. So it would be very beneficial to me if I could develop a process to restore buttons.

The only way I could think of to do that, would be a very small set of stencils. Most buttons these days are backlit, which helps a whole lot at night. Often times the black paint they use at the factory will begin to rub off over the years. Leaving a larger glowing white spot on the button, where there used to be small, tidy little letters. So we're looking at letters that are 3mm and 4mm. Somewhere in there.


Thanks in advance

 

[BD1]

You could try Amazon, these are BIG but they may have something.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AVYKDQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

In the old days I had a DRAFTING stencils for letters that had assorted sizes. I don't know if they even have those today.

 

[IndyGarage]

You might try using cut vinyl instead of stencils.

You can buy a Silhouette Cameo that will cut any shape you want in vinyl for about $200. They also have stencil material for them as well, so you could actually make reusable stencils on one. You might see if you can find someone that owns one.

 

[EdT]

I know of two ways the old buttons and knobs were painted. Older stuff tends to have the graphic molded into the part either raised or, more often recessed into the surface. These were painted by applying paint and then, carefully, wiping of the excess off the surface leaving the cavity filled with paint. The raised ones were done with a pad with paint on it applying paint only to the raised surface of the letters. I've not seen many like this. I think both processes are called "tipping".
Newer stuff has the graphic applied directly to a smooth surface via pad printing or hot transfer printing. These are not too practical for one or two parts at a time. lots of capital expense and set up time.
There are a couple of options that I can think of that might work out. One is rubber stamps. There is a whole industry that supports rubber stamping for stuff like greeting cards and such. It's a huge business. I know because my wife supports it vigorously. You can have a rubber stamp made to look like anything you want. Some office supply places even offer "business" type rubber stamps made to order from your graphic. The trick would be to find the right ink/paint that is opaque enough for the job. I'm sure it's out there, but I don't know exactly what it would be. Matching the font might be tough as well.
Another option would be vinyl stickers and, once again, there are specialty vendors out there who make small, low volume vinyl "stickers". One I know of is Callie Graphics. They do mostly special vinyl stickers for the RC airplane crowd and they will do onesies if that's what you want. They can certainly make a sticker that would have the graphic on a piece of vinyl that covers most or all of the button surface and, I think, it's probably flexible enough to cover the rounded surface of a knob. They might also be able to make the same thing as a cut stencil, but that's getting pretty small for a cut part.
Let us know if you figure it out.

 

[frakas]

hello. dont know if they are still made but years ago you could by dry transfer rub on lettering in very small sizes in the office supply stores..maybe still an option

 

[-Brent-]

I don't know much about stencils at any size but the vinyl comment got me thinking. If you do enough of these restorations, perhaps a vinyl cutter/plotter could be the way to go. Then you can make anything you need.

 

[nickleone]

Look here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IRCB3Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Nick

 

[Bennylava]

There are a couple of options that I can think of that might work out. One is rubber stamps. There is a whole industry that supports rubber stamping for stuff like greeting cards and such. It's a huge business. I know because my wife supports it vigorously. You can have a rubber stamp made to look like anything you want. Some office supply places even offer "business" type rubber stamps made to order from your graphic. The trick would be to find the right ink/paint that is opaque enough for the job. I'm sure it's out there, but I don't know exactly what it would be. Matching the font might be tough as well.

I guess I'm not sure exactly what this is. Could you say where I may have seen one somewhere? Out in the world. What would be a common item that would have this on it?

Another option would be vinyl stickers and, once again, there are specialty vendors out there who make small, low volume vinyl "stickers". One I know of is Callie Graphics. They do mostly special vinyl stickers for the RC airplane crowd and they will do onesies if that's what you want. They can certainly make a sticker that would have the graphic on a piece of vinyl that covers most or all of the button surface and, I think, it's probably flexible enough to cover the rounded surface of a knob. They might also be able to make the same thing as a cut stencil, but that's getting pretty small for a cut part.
Let us know if you figure it out.

This might be the way to go. Sign shops. Most sign shops do this kind of thing exactly, I'm just not sure if they do it small enough. But they might.

I don't know much about stencils at any size but the vinyl comment got me thinking. If you do enough of these restorations, perhaps a vinyl cutter/plotter could be the way to go. Then you can make anything you need.

This would be another thing that I haven't heard of. Or at least I can't place it right now. Is this something that they would have at the sign shops? Aka graphics places.

 

[IndyGarage]

This might be the way to go. Sign shops. Most sign shops do this kind of thing exactly, I'm just not sure if they do it small enough. But they might.




This would be another thing that I haven't heard of. Or at least I can't place it right now. Is this something that they would have at the sign shops? Aka graphics places.

Yes, sign shops have them. You can buy a small one that's smaller than a computer printer that works great for $200

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAX7H78/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I bought one of these a couple years ago and I use it to make stickers for my projects.

 

[-Brent-]

Yep, like Indy said. I know a few guys that have them in varying sizes/capabilities.

 

[EdT]

I'm sure you must have seen a rubber stamp at some point in your life. They are still commonly used in business to stamp things like an invoice that you have paid or a bill stamped "overdue". You probably have never seen one that says "HEATER" in small type, but you can have one made pretty cheaply at an office supply store. The trick will be to find the right ink to stamp onto the button, knob, or whatever. You'll probably have to put some kind of clear lacquer over it so it doesn't wear off too quickly. I don't know what kind of ink to suggest, but if you put away your man card for a minute and find a shop that specializes in stamping supplies they can probably help you out.

 

[Bennylava]

Yes, sign shops have them. You can buy a small one that's smaller than a computer printer that works great for $200

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAX7H78/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I bought one of these a couple years ago and I use it to make stickers for my projects.

I like this. Think we're on the right track with that.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Rubber stamps are made with an engraver that cuts out the shape in a piece of laminate. Then the rubber is heated and forced into the engraving and when it cures its removed and put on a handle for use. You could use an engraver to cut pattern into knobs and then use paint to make them show up. The engraver was like what a jeweler would use to engrave rings and watches. They can do curved surfaces as well as flat. I have a sign cutter and no way would you be able to cut letters as small as you are wanting in vinyl. The engraver is adjustable so that your pattern can be reduced to just about any size you need. The patterns are about an inch or so square as I remember and you arrange the letters in a tray and then follow them with the engraver.

 

[Bennylava]

Something about the rubber stamp idea, makes me think its going to be too thick. Those rubber stamps are thick. I just can't have one button being raised and thicker than the others. Also I have to allow for the backlight. If I go with some form of durable sticker, (or paint) as many OEM's do, then I can simply make sure the that I sand off all of the old stuff, and just let the light shine through the letters.

Unless I am somehow misunderstanding this rubber stamp idea.

 

[A_Pmech]

Oem buttons are pad printed.

You can duplicate the process at home by hand if you have a way to etch the plate.

 

[Whiskeymike]

Rubber stamps are made with an engraver that cuts out the shape in a piece of laminate. Then the rubber is heated and forced into the engraving and when it cures its removed and put on a handle for use. You could use an engraver to cut pattern into knobs and then use paint to make them show up. The engraver was like what a jeweler would use to engrave rings and watches. They can do curved surfaces as well as flat. I have a sign cutter and no way would you be able to cut letters as small as you are wanting in vinyl. The engraver is adjustable so that your pattern can be reduced to just about any size you need. The patterns are about an inch or so square as I remember and you arrange the letters in a tray and then follow them with the engraver.

You can also laser engrave rubber stamps and they get very fine. But getting the right paint may be tough.

OP, if you want to try vinyl and you can make a vector of what you are looking for, PM me and 'I'll cut a couple copies for you to try.

 

[Bennylava]

What do you guys think about this thing? My wife is pretty big into crafts, as many women are. So this could be something she'd make great use of. And it looks as if this would have no problem accomplishing this task. It could even cut out the words or symbols for the backlight, in the small buttons. I would just need to make sure I found the right type of material to feed into it. It says it can cut 100 types of material, including leather and vinyl. So whatever sticker I need to use for buttons, should be no problem.

 

[machine_punk]

I think a vinyl paint stencil is your answer. Look at the Crikut machine (around $250 USD right now). Commercial vinyl cutters are made to cut much larger signs. The Crikut is built to cut much finer detail, in pretty much any flat material. There are commercially-available vinyl paint mask materials which would allow you to design and cut a perfect paint pattern for what you are doing. (in this case, print it in reverse, stick just the letters on the back of the glasss, paint the black background, then remove the stencil--leaving clear glass for the light to shine through.)

Kev

 

[EdT]

Bennylava:
You would use the rubber stamp to put ink onto the knob. You would not put the stamp on to the knob. The ink I would recommend is STAZON opaque ink which is specially made for non porous surfaces and can be had a Michaels Craft stores as well as many other places. I am sorry that the concept of stamping the words onto the knob is so complex, but the rubber stamp is, IMHO, as close as you're going to get to the way the originals were done w/o spending a lot of money.

 

[toplessHO]

Oem buttons are pad printed.

You can duplicate the process at home by hand if you have a way to etch the plate.

I have a pad printing machine
to give you an idea of how defined it is I didnt notice a single hair was in it
until I printed and it showed up. Vinyl cutter wont get that small.
I can print half way around a golf ball to give you an idea how flexible the pads are

 

[Woz]

Before 1990 the control knobs on vehicles were labeled using tampography or "pad printing" on the surface of the knobs. This is the process you need to recreate the graphics on the restored vehicles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pad_printing

Now most knobs are labeled using a laser to burn off black paint on the inside surface of a clear knob and then white translucent paint is applied. This white paint is the wording you see in the daylight and is visible at night when the backlighting shines through the knob. This laser etch and paint process creates a knob that can be backlit and the graphics do not ware off because they are on the inside of the knob.

 

[thickhead]

My son uses a Cricut when he needs masks and stencils for his fine detail airbrush and hand work. Cool machine.