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Stencil or Vinyl?


LadyG

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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.

That might be OK, if I had the cash to splash, and if I were sure his paint [enamel] would be compatible with the coating I have used, which is a chlorinated rubber and which will "bond" with itself [insert technical word].

Plus, it's been a challenge to do the job myself, and I'd like to finish it myself :)

It's nothing fancy, just the boat name, and the builder.

I'll send for a test stencil and a test vinyl, and see how I get on, I think the vinyl is much the safer option.

 I do not want to rubdown and re paint two large panels, probably impossible at this time of year.

The reason for painting is to keep a "traditional" look, but I think common sense dictates otherwise.............

Edited by LadyG
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1 hour ago, LadyG said:

 

It's nothing fancy, just the boat name, and the builder.

 

It's quite unusual to have the builders name on a boat unless it is someone like Braidbar who will have it painted on themselves,

 

Haggis

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1 hour ago, LadyG said:

That might be OK, if I had the cash to splash,

 

You should check the cost. You might get a surprise.

 

 

 

And yes, why on earth would you want to pay to put the builder's name on?!

 

 

Pretty naff really, whether it is a 'good' name or not. 

 

 

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2 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

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.

 

 

I would always choose signwriting, but it is not an option here. The signwriter has an eye for balance. Most of the operatives of plotters do not.

 

Vinyl can be purchased for different tasks and the quality can vary likewise. Some will take undulating surfaces with the use of mild heat to help. The cheaper ones may stick to this kind of surface for a while, but the sun and time may cause the vinyl to shrink and become brittle. The vinyl is applied with copious amounts of water, to aid the sliding into position. There is no need for more than a drop of washing liquid in the average atomising bottle used for plants.

 

The stencil option is going to be the more difficult to achieve good results. If convenience is wanted, this way is not going to meet that requirement.  

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

 

You should check the cost. You might get a surprise.

 

 

 

And yes, why on earth would you want to pay to put the builder's name on?!

 

 

Pretty naff really, whether it is a 'good' name or not. 

 

 

My former neighbour's boat has ABC BOATS laser cut into the steel work. That wouldn't have pleased me at all. 

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This is very timely for me as I have spent the last few weeks trying to decide whether to use vinyl or try to find a stencil producer.  I ordered letters from one on ebay and they came back far too large and with a gap between the letter and its shadow which I did not ask for.  The seller told me that was how all boats have them done so I should be happy.   I ordered from another on ebay and the letters came back of differing heights - I asked for 14cms high but they arrived with a full 5mm between the height of the shortest and highest!  The seller told me that was normal !!

I couldn't find a removeable stick-on stencil maker so decided as a compromise to get simple lettering and paint the shadow on myself so they loked good but not the false perfection that some vinyl lettering can appear. 

Does anyone know where to get good stencils?

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11 minutes ago, canalboat said:

 I ordered from another on ebay and the letters came back of differing heights - I asked for 14cms high but they arrived with a full 5mm between the height of the shortest and highest!  The seller told me that was normal !!

 

The letters on the name on the bows are normally of different heights to suit the change in height of that bit of the boat. If the letters are all the same height the name looks a bit "odd".

Was this perhaps what the seller meant?

 

haggis

 

 

 

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One of the reasons I bought this boat was that was built by a good builder, so that is why I wanted to credit him, and provide a bit of "detail"

I considered a strapline "may contain rivets", but the joke might pall ?

I am not wanting roses and castles or other traditional designs outside,  but I can get a Celtic Knot as a bit of "detail", as funkeymonkey work with a specialist graphics company.

I've selected them cos they seem to have a good grasp of what is required, and have done lots of boats, they even have a narrowboat section!

 

Edited by LadyG
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22 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Yep, although the cut out doubles as the engine space vent. I quite like it.

That is where I got the idea, but if @MtB considers it naff .................... ?

Edited by LadyG
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6 hours ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

 

You should check the cost. You might get a surprise.

 

 

 

And yes, why on earth would you want to pay to put the builder's name on?!

 

 

Pretty naff really, whether it is a 'good' name or not. 

 

 

But not as naff as putting yer family name and sons, daughters, dogs etc etc!!

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5 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

But not as naff as putting yer family name and sons, daughters, dogs etc etc!!

Now you've upset twenty percent of boat owners, what about those who go for "puns"? 

Edited by LadyG
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34 minutes ago, Murflynn said:

unless you have a name and reputation to be proud of - like S. Haywood.

 

32 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

I expect the paint is drying on that as we type. 

Well at least the first 2 letters are still the same being as his name is now SH..

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2 hours ago, haggis said:

The letters on the name on the bows are normally of different heights to suit the change in height of that bit of the boat. If the letters are all the same height the name looks a bit "odd".

Was this perhaps what the seller meant?

 

haggis

 

 

 

It was for the name on the side of the cabin

2 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

Upper case are often taller than lower case so if you ordered all uppercase then the supplier may well have heightened the initial letter(s) so it looked more like a mixed case word - but they should have asked you first.

Nine letters all upper case sent in detail as the word all in capitals asking for Ariel bold 14cms high times two. 

I was responding to the previous comment that you have to have a care when choosing the provider.  

Does anyone know where to get good stencils?

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8 minutes ago, canalboat said:

It was for the name on the side of the cabin

Nine letters all upper case sent in detail as the word all in capitals asking for Ariel bold 14cms high times two. 

I was responding to the previous comment that you have to have a care when choosing the provider.  

Does anyone know where to get good stencils?

I assume the funkymonkey would be as good as any, better than many, They give advice if you phone them.

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The difference in letter height may be due to computer cut lettering adding a bit above and below the letter line on curved letters such as O, S, C etc. Computer cut fonts over exaggerate the difference to me, intended to give the impression that all letters are equal in height. Vinyl is font perfect if soulless. I can’t paint letters with their precision, nor would I care to. Mine live....

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Boats should be painted by hand with a brush, and signwritten by a proper canal based signwriter, if everybody uses vinyl and stencils then this bit of canal tradition will be lost. You don't have to employ a grand master like Dave Moore, there are several up and coming "youngsters" who are always looking for work.

 

and vinyl looks crap when it starts to peel off.

 

and if Dave Moore did do it (and he's a fussy old git about what he will do :) ) then it would likely add value to your boat.

 

...............Dave

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