LadyG Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 (edited) I've painted the boat, pretty decent job [for an amateur] Now I need to put up names, should I use a stencil or vinyl lettering?. I am using funky monkeyboatnames graphics? [no connection] Edited October 14, 2019 by LadyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 it's up to you, innit? there's no law saying what you should or shouldn't do in these circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpie patrick Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 If I was doing it, vinyl! I can see where me and a paint pot would lead if I used a stencil... you may be more competent in such matters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moore Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 Your call of course. As a signwriter my initial response is “ neither “, but vinyl may well be the way to go. Using stencils, you would still need to buy paint and brushes, proper ones are not cheap. Hope this helps. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 It was such a long time ago that I can't remember - and the boat is 80+ miles away, so that I can't check, But, but, but - I asked The Management and she said we used vinyl. If that's so they've managed pretty well as it's around 20 years ago and they're still in a reasonable state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbybass Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 Spray can and a stencil for that ' nothing worth nicking on this boat' look..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 If doing vinyl the surface needs to be lovely and smooth, no nibs which will trap air and poke through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 6 minutes ago, bizzard said: If doing vinyl the surface needs to be lovely and smooth, no nibs which will trap air and poke through. are you suggesting that the good lady's surfaces might be other than smooth and blemish-free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 Stencil on mine, for both the name and index number. Don't do what I did, have the name letters curved, as letters in a straight line on a surface curving in two dimensions don't look level, even when they are. I chose stencil so the colour would be the same as the cream, or red of the paintwork. The company I got the stencils from aren't trading any more. They also did the curly flourishes at each end as part of their on-line design tool. Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 2 minutes ago, Murflynn said: are you suggesting that the good lady's surfaces might be other than smooth and blemish-free? I am, they never are, always bits and dust settle on it however good you are. I suggest before applying the letters to wet and dry all over with at least 600 paper then T cut, rub away all traces of T cut and then apply the lettering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 1 hour ago, bizzard said: I am, they never are, always bits and dust settle on it however good you are. I suggest before applying the letters to wet and dry all over with at least 600 paper then T cut, rub away all traces of T cut and then apply the lettering. I would hesitate to apply letters to the good lady's surfaces, even after rubbing them with T-Cut and 600 wet'n'dry. .............. not good for the complexion, don't ya know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Harold Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 Have used Funky Monkey letters on my first boat.Excellent quality.Been on five years now and they look as new. More than I can say for the boat,as it has been neglected. Be careful putting them on,because it's very easy to get them wrinkly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 Just now, Mad Harold said: Have used Funky Monkey letters on my first boat.Excellent quality.Been on five years now and they look as new. More than I can say for the boat,as it has been neglected. Be careful putting them on,because it's very easy to get them wrinkly. We used vinyl lettering on Gamebird in 2002 and it still looks good. The Kelpie head on KELPIE (from a photo Iain took) was also done in vinyl. We were told by the chap who made the vinyl to put some washing up liquid on the area where the vinyl is to go and then it is easy to slide the vinyl into place and then smooth it out from the centre. This gets rid of any bubbles of washing up liquid and you don't get wrinkles. It worked perfectly! haggis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 I used these people - excellent service and value, and a foolproof system of application, unlike other systems I have used. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boat-Yacht-Names-Self-Adhesive-Vinyl-Marine-Signs-Various-Size-Heights/333145532211?hash=item4d91056733:m:m8AnvlgjyYxe_iz-Bu6HYTw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stegra Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 2 hours ago, haggis said: We used vinyl lettering on Gamebird in 2002 and it still looks good. The Kelpie head on KELPIE (from a photo Iain took) was also done in vinyl. We were told by the chap who made the vinyl to put some washing up liquid on the area where the vinyl is to go and then it is easy to slide the vinyl into place and then smooth it out from the centre. This gets rid of any bubbles of washing up liquid and you don't get wrinkles. It worked perfectly! haggis I'm guessing you might mean water with washing up liquid in it. I've done this on a couple of vans and with window film. It works very well. I'm not sure that neat washing up liquid would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 1 minute ago, stegra said: I'm guessing you might mean water with washing up liquid in it. I've done this on a couple of vans and with window film. It works very well. I'm not sure that neat washing up liquid would work. You are probably right. I honestly couldn't remember if I diluted the washing up liquid or not but I remember being told to use "thick" washing up liquid so I assumed that we didn't dilute it. The important thing was to make it thick enough to slide the vinyl into place. Haggis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stegra Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 So I was intrigued by the soapy water. For some reason I remembered that it was called 'slip solution' so I looked it up. (Funny how the mind can recall something useless from 29 years ago but can't remember the name of someone you were introduced to a minute earlier.) Reading up, it seems that a spray bottle of water with just a few drops of Fairy is best. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.t-shirtforums.com/vinyl-signs-decals/t46019.html%3famp=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted October 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 (edited) 7 hours ago, dave moore said: Your call of course. As a signwriter my initial response is “ neither “, but vinyl may well be the way to go. Using stencils, you would still need to buy paint and brushes, proper ones are not cheap. Hope this helps. Dave Yep, I've got artist brushes and paint. Using the stencil, I assumed I don't need the special long bristle type brush ? The sides are flat [between portholes for the name, so I think straight would look OK, not sure how to do some lettering [13 letters and numbers along the top at the back, it does curve up, but there would be an identical problem with vinyl I may send for a small test stencil, see how I get on, then decide if I can cope. Edited October 14, 2019 by LadyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 1 hour ago, LadyG said: Yep, I've got artist brushes and paint. Using the stencil, I assumed I don't need the special long bristle type brush ? The sides are flat [between portholes for the name, so I think straight would look OK, not sure how to do some lettering [13 letters and numbers along the top at the back, it does curve up, but there would be an identical problem with vinyl I may send for a small test stencil, see how I get on, then decide if I can cope. Perhaps test it on a boat index number? I used the Craftmaster signwriting enamel. This is very heavily pigment loaded, so will go on in one coat. Just used ordinary brushes, as the stencil takes care of giving neat edges. Funky Monkey offer curved letters as an option on both stick on lettering and stencils. Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted October 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 27 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said: Perhaps test it on a boat index number? I used the Craftmaster signwriting enamel. This is very heavily pigment loaded, so will go on in one coat. Just used ordinary brushes, as the stencil takes care of giving neat edges. Funky Monkey offer curved letters as an option on both stick on lettering and stencils. Jen yes, correct, but I only want to start level,then rise at the stern, whereas they have a symmetrical curve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 2 minutes ago, LadyG said: yes, correct, but I only want to start level,then rise at the stern, whereas they have a symmetrical curve Complicated. You might have to design it on a vector graphics program, then find someone who can cut a stencil from an svg file. Jen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted October 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 or I could cut the stencil into individual letters and place them where needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 If you cut a comb in to the stencil at the end you want to curve, then you could lay out the curve as you stick down the stencil. Would need a lot of care, but would be easier to maintain the letter spacing. So, cutting most of the way between letters, but leaving a tag at the inside of the radius. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1uk Posted October 15, 2019 Report Share Posted October 15, 2019 8 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said: If you cut a comb in to the stencil at the end you want to curve, then you could lay out the curve as you stick down the stencil. Would need a lot of care, but would be easier to maintain the letter spacing. So, cutting most of the way between letters, but leaving a tag at the inside of the radius. Or you could get a signwriter to do it -- because they'll be able to get it right with minimal fuss and the end result will give you joy whenever you set eyes on it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted October 15, 2019 Report Share Posted October 15, 2019 1 hour ago, adam1uk said: Or you could get a signwriter to do it -- because they'll be able to get it right with minimal fuss and the end result will give you joy whenever you set eyes on it. Until the soft signwriting paint has shed its pigment or had it polished off and the base colour starts to show through. Not long lasting enough for me plus it then causes "shadows" at repaint time unless the whole thing is taken back to metal. My vote goes for vinyl but I had a very bad experience with the purveyors who specifically target the narrow boat market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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