Stencil Material Selection Guide - What does "Mil" mean?

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All of our stencils are laser-cut from reusable plastic materials.

Stencil Material Selection Guide

What painting technique will you use for your project?
MATERIAL	USE FOR:
60 mil	Spray paint or paint spraying equipment. The larger the stencil, the more the need for thicker material.
*14 mil or 10 mil	Paint rollers, industrial application
10 mil or 7.5 mil	Brushes/rollers, decorative application
7.5 mil Adhesive	Automotive & other precision applications
6 mil Vinyl	Automotive & other precision applications

*Note: Some large stencils like hopscotch and shuffleboard can be done with 10 mil or 14 mil using spray due to the total sheet size

How thick is our material?
MATERIAL	MILLIMETERS	INCHES
4 mil	0.10 mm	0.004 in
7 mil	0.18 mm	0.007 in
6 mil	0.16 mm	0.006 in
7.5 mil	0.19 mm	0.0075 in
10 mil	0.26 mm	0.01 in
14 mil	0.36 mm	0.014 in
40 mil	1.02 mm	0.04 in
60 mil	1.54 mm	0.06 in

Not sure what material to choose from? Get a material sample pack.

60 mil

Ultra Flex Heavy-Weight 1/16” (60 mil = 0.060 inches or 1.54 mm)
Uses: field stencils, parking lot stencils, concrete applications when a heavy-weight stencil is needed. The 1/16” can be used in slightly windy conditions when other materials get blown around. Spray equipment, spray paints, inverted marking paints and landscape chalks can be used with 1/16” (note: paint rollers, brushes and stencil brushes are more difficult to use with this thicker material and are not recommended unless you have tested your application and achieved acceptable results).

Stencil Ease manufactures industrial grade stencils using LLDPE (low density polyethylene) plastic and ABS plastic.

LLDPE
Stencil Ease is now manufacturing all parking lot stencils, athletic field stencils and many others on a new “super-durable” plastic called LLDPE. Our current stock is all 1/16" and initial results from our core contractor base have been all positive.

OUR NEW LLDPE: (Linear Low Density Polyethylene)

Can be rolled and flattened out without curl
Sheds paint with ease and won't crack or break
LLDPE has a higher tensile strength than LDPE
LLDPE has a higher impact and puncture resistance than LDPE
Superior stress crack resistance
Superior resistance to chemicals

ABS
The ABS material is a rigid plastic that is generally used for smaller individual pieces like letter stencils, number stencils and storm drain stencils up to a certain size. If an order can be flat-packed and doesn’t have to be rolled into a box we will cut the order on ABS plastic. If you are using smaller letters, numbers or detailed custom graphic stencils it may be better to cut your stencil on ABS plastic.

**If there is any doubt about what material is right for your job, please contact one of our customer service representatives at 1-800-334-1776 or 860-395-0150 to get your questions answered. You can also request a free material sample pack here -http://www.stencilease.com/material-sample.asp

**NOTE: Stencil Ease recycles every ounce of plastic during the manufacturing process. Beginning in 2009 we vowed to keep even the smallest scraps of plastic out of landfills. Today we sort scrap by polyester, PETG, ABS and LDPE for several plastic recycling centers. These scraps are then converted into new stencil sheets, plastic bottles and a variety of other materials. Read more about the Stencil Ease green initiative - http://www.stencilease.com/stormdrainstencils.htm

Heavy-Duty 14 mil = 0.014 inches (0.36 mm)

Uses: this is an extremely durable polyester plastic. It is durable enough to withstand heavy repeated use and multiple cleanings. 14 mil is ideal for use with sprays, paints and industrial inks. This material is not recommended for fine decorative applications when paint is being rolled on.

Medium-Duty 10 mil = 0.010 inches (0.26 mm)
Uses: for projects that require moderate repeated use and repeated cleaning of a stencil. The 10 mil film can be used with spray paints, brushes, rollers, inks and most paints and stains. The 10 mil plastic can work for outdoor use on playgrounds, parking lots, patios, walkways, driveways and concrete surfaces. If you will be using spray paints, inverted marking sprays or landscape chalks we suggest a thicker material.

Standard Painting Material 7.5 mil = 0.0075 inches (0.19 mm)
Most painting stencils are cut from standard 7.5 mil material. This is a durable, reusable material that is ideal for painting on walls, wood, floors, fabrics and most surfaces. It can be used with any paint and can be cleaned with most paint cleaners (from soap & water and citrus based cleaners to paint thinner). The thinner gauge films will generally create a finer image on the surface you are painting without creating an edge around the cut-outs. Thicker gauge films may be more durable for certain projects, but tend to allow the paint to build up on the edges of the cut-out portion.

Adhesive-Backed Mylar Material 7.5 mil = 0.0075 inches (0.19 mm)
Adhesive-backed, 7.5 mil material, comes with a repositionable, medium-tack, backing to secure your stencil in place. This durable, reusable, plastic material can be used on any painted surface, floor, sign, car, boat or craft project. The adhesive-backing assures that paint will not seep under the stencil design if you are using liquid paints, spray paints, inks or other mediums. Additionally, the low-tack quality of this material will allow you to easily lift the stencil from the surface and reposition it securely onto your surface over and over again. See Tips on how to use this material >

Low-Tack Adhesive-Backed Vinyl 6 mil = 0.006 inches (0.16 mm)
Uses: Trucks, boats, walls or any job that requires precision stenciling. Our peel and stick low-tack vinyl can easily be removed from any surface and reapplied. Ideal for air brush, spray or roller applications.


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