Cleaning stencils

mike miller

KNIFE MAKER
I set up this morning to put my mark on 7 blades I had finished. I use etcher with stencils. I did the first one and headed for the sink to make up some soapy water to clean the stencil
I had carried my coffee cup with cold coffee to dump and what the heck sunk the stencil in the coffee. Awesome the coffee ate all the residue out of the stencil. Took my cup back and cleaned every time after doing a mark. Works.
Something you stumble on to that actually does the job.
 
Interesting to clean with coffee - whatever works. I just turn stencil over and give a quick swipe with pad to clean. This pulls residue and cleans stencil nicely. I don't always have a cup of coffee around.
 
So you're saying you adulterated good coffee? :D

Had to do that. I'm a true coffee addict. Sounds like it would work though. The very mild acid in coffee should do the trick. Do you rinse your stencil after the coffee dunk? I think you would want to as the coffee will leave an oily residue otherwise.
 
So you're saying you adulterated good coffee? :D

Had to do that. I'm a true coffee addict. Sounds like it would work though. The very mild acid in coffee should do the trick. Do you rinse your stencil after the coffee dunk? I think you would want to as the coffee will leave an oily residue otherwise.
Yes it it was already cold.
 
I set up this morning to put my mark on 7 blades I had finished. I use etcher with stencils. I did the first one and headed for the sink to make up some soapy water to clean the stencil
I had carried my coffee cup with cold coffee to dump and what the heck sunk the stencil in the coffee. Awesome the coffee ate all the residue out of the stencil. Took my cup back and cleaned every time after doing a mark. Works.
Something you stumble on to that actually does the job.

I'm going to try this.
 
Wouldn’t the slight acidity ruin the stencil faster? Or does it not make any difference?

Stencils usually clog and are changed out before the mask part wears out. The mesh they use is pretty tough so that part isn’t the problem. I scrub them pretty hard with winded and paper towel. I will occasionally throw them in the ultrasonic cleaner also but that thing eats a stencil if left too long.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top