Full Version: tape masking for painting
From: ppjsmith [#1]
5 Aug 2004
To: ALL
Would it be possible to masks a glass or acrylic surface with drafting tape or some type of adhesive vinyl. Then using a laser engraver, engrave your graphic through the mask. Then using an airbrush paint the surface using the tape mask as a stencil. Then remove the tape leaving behind your painted graphic. I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work. Any comments from anyone who may have tried this?
Thanks,
Phillip
From: James (TILER02) [#2]
6 Aug 2004
To: ppjsmith [#1] 6 Aug 2004
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#3]
6 Aug 2004
To: ppjsmith [#1] 6 Aug 2004
Phillip,
If you laser through your masking material onto glass or acrylic, just remember you will also be etching into the glass or acrylic. If you are doing reverse engraving - the colors will not be as bright as you may want, especially in the acrylic.
If you are doing a front engrave & front color fill, then you should be OK.
From: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#4]
6 Aug 2004
To: ppjsmith [#1] 6 Aug 2004
Phillip:
As other responders have indicated, your thoughts are sound and are used on a regular basis.
While I know you know better after attending the seminar over the week-end, I just don't want to let the use of "vinyl" go by unchallenged. Vinyl is the one "no no" when it comes to laser engraving. Many industry suppliers provide non-vinyl masking foils explicitly for that which you describe.
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#5]
6 Aug 2004
To: ppjsmith [#1] 6 Aug 2004
The way to do it so that the glass or acrylic is not lasered and dull the colors is to do the letters as a vector outline. Then you weed out what gets painted and have the shiny surface to paint on for the bright colors.
From: ppjsmith [#6]
6 Aug 2004
To: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#4] 7 Aug 2004
Roy,
Thanks, I really appreciate the reminder. May I ask why vinyl can not be laser engraved?
Also thanks for hosting the clinic. I found it to be very informative.
Thanks,
Phillip Smith
From: UCONN Dave & Lynn too (DANDL48) [#7]
7 Aug 2004
To: ppjsmith [#6] 8 Aug 2004
Trust me, I'm no Roy, but vinyl contains PVC's which is very dangerous to your health when lased and the gases given off will corrode the working of the laser.
Dave
From: ARAMember [#8]
7 Aug 2004
To: ppjsmith [#1] 8 Aug 2004
Get yourself some Vinyl transfer tape from any sign supplier. Not only does it work for what your describing, it works awesome for registration of odd sized plates..(put on the laser table, cut out the shapes, peel the cut shapes, and put the pieces in the cutout areas) , masking delicate areas from dust/residue, overlaying when cutting for a cleanup free cut, colorfilling acrylic. etc.
I go through a 100 yd roll of 12" a month just using it for the laser.
I use Grimco for all of my sign supplies, and have been very happy with them, and there $20 a roll tape.
Oh Yeah, and the transfer tape has a removable adhesive. So there will NEVER! be any residue.
Justin
EDITED: 7 Aug 2004 by ARAMEMBER
From: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#9]
7 Aug 2004
To: ppjsmith [#6] 8 Aug 2004
Phil,
Dave said about all that needs to be said, but technically the laser vaporizes the chorline portion of pvC which forms H2CL (hydrochloric acid), not good for people, optics, bearings, belts, metal...
From: Mike (EJPUBLISHER) [#10]
28 Aug 2004
To: ALL
I'd like to second what Pedaler has stated, i.e. not to use vinyl. The catch word here is "polyester". It's looks and performs like vinyl but without the toxic/corrosive fumes.
Another product that serves the purpose is a liquid mask material. You brush it on with a paint brush allow it to dry and then laser through the coating. At that point you can paint fill using brush on, spray on or whatever technique you prefer. The mask has a "rubbery" consistency so it's very easy to peel off after the paint dries.
Coincidentally, our September issue is in the mail and it contains a feature article on color filling which covers the whole gamut, including the liquid mask technique.
Also coincidentally, the issue contains an article by Roy Brewer (Pedaler) titled ironically, "How to Get Rid of a Salesman." This doesn't have anything to do with laser masks, but since David recently proclaimed Pedaler as a "guru" in another thread, I thought this tidbit might be of interest.
From: Grouchmore [#11]
29 Aug 2004
To: Mike (EJPUBLISHER) [#10] 7 Sep 2004
Mike
Could you please advies me as to where you purchase the "Liquid mask" ?
Thanks
Have a GREAT one.
Grouchmore