Hello. I am starting a business etching beer mugs. I know how to etch, but I don’t know how to make my own stencils. I can design what I want on the computer, print it on regular paper and then. Well, I’m lost! I need somebody that I can send my image to, have them make the reusable stencil, send it to me for a reasonable dollar amount. Does that make sense? Would you be willing to make stencils for me, or can you suggest who would? We run softball tourneys and thought this would be a great money maker, to put the softball team name and number on the mug and sell them. But I can’t make a darn stencil! Any info you can give me would be wonderful! Thanks-Kelli
Hello. I am starting a business etching beer mugs. I know how to etch, but I don’t know how to make my own stencils. I can design what I want on the computer, print it on regular paper and then. Well, I’m lost! I need somebody that I can send my image to, have them make the reusable stencil, send it to me for a reasonable dollar amount. Does that make sense? Would you be willing to make stencils for me, or can you suggest who would? We run softball tourneys and thought this would be a great money maker, to put the softball team name and number on the mug and sell them. But I can’t make a darn stencil! Any info you can give me would be wonderful! Thanks-Kelli
Hi Kelli,
It’s good to hear another entrepreneur wanting to start an etching business!
I don’t make reusable stencils. There have been a bunch of people asking me about what places will make them or what supplies are needed to make them. I usually show them a few places that I find on the web.
It would be better for you to search around for the best prices or you could ask a local sign business to make you one.
What you would need is a laser cutting machine, and I use a vinyl cutter which isn’t as good for making reusable stencils.
If you aren’t doing a huge quantity of stencils and are personalized, you actually might want to consider non-reusable stencils. I can literally make these stencils for about a penny or two each as I explained in the downloadable book.
I wouldn’t really consider making a reusable stencil unless I was etching more than 30+ glasses.
Benefit
A benefit to using non-reusable stencils is it can look better since you don’t need every part of the stencil connected to each other.
Disadvantage
Obviously, the disadvantage to using a non-reusable stencil is it takes a little longer because you have to cut a new one for each glass.
Sandblasting Process
One last thing, if you are sandblasting or sandcarving over the stencils, you might want to read the post about stencil thickness.
-Eric
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Very straight forrwad info on bottle blasting. Here in Hawaii we have abrasive material derived from lava. I will have to do some research to find out if it has silica in it. Seems like if it doesn’t, it might be good to use in a sandblaster. Regards, John