Q. Can TSW cut my own stencil design?
A. Yes we can cut your individual design, the cost and time involved depends on the complexity of the design, the required material size and the current workload. Always e-mail your queries first and we can give a more accurate answer at the time.

Q. What is the best way to send my design/ drawing to TSW
A . E-mail attachment, fax or by post! We can accept email attachments as jpegs, eps, bmp, ai or sdr files. A simple line drawing is also often adequate, especially for an initial quote.

Q. Can TSW resize a stencil from its range?
A. This can be done quite easily up to a maximum size of 650 mm x 950 mm. We can also re-scale down but to what extent depends on the design. Always ask us and we will do our best to oblige.

Q. How big or small can I have a stencil cut?
A. The smallest we recommend is 100 mm x 100 mm although there are occasions where smaller designs work well. The largest we can do in one piece is 650 mm x 950 mm, although we can cut designs using several pieces, but they are more difficult to apply.

Q. Can TSW laser cut fabrics?
A. TSW laser cuts all its stencils and can also cut fabric as well. We generally have great success with voiles and other man made fibres as the laser technique cuts and seals the fabric at the same time.

Q. Does TSW cut stencil lettering and wording?
A. Yes we do quite a large number of signs for use on warehouse floors, for marking crates/ pallets etc. as well as decorative lettering for the home. We can include the standard wording plus company name, telephone number fax number e-mail address or postal address. Contact us for more specific information.

Q. What type of material are your stencils made out of?
A. We use an industry standard polyester film, it is a flexible but hard wearing, plastic material. See materials page for more info .

Q. How thick is your stencil material?
A. Our material comes in various thicknesses depending on the application. The thinnest material we stock is 75 microns, which is mostly used for finer detail. The standard decorative stencils are cut on our 125 micron material, whereas the 190 micron and 250 micron material are for industrial use and out thickest material at 350 microns is used for heavy grade industrial applications. There is more detail on our material and the various types on our material information page.

Q. Which paint surface is best for stencilling on to?
A. A matt surface is ideal. However, some satin finishes are quite suitable as well. The main thing to remember is that if a paint has been designed so that marks may be wiped from the surface, then this will apply to any stencilling as well. This makes any of the new ranges of kitchen and bathroom paint particularly unsuitable. However, as usual there are ways around this such as applying a primer paint first to act as a new base coat for the stencilling, however, be aware that this removes the properties of the paint so may not be a suitable course of action.

Q. Can I stencil onto fabric or furniture?
A. Fabric such as cushions, curtains, throws etc. and furniture of all types make wonderful areas for stencilling. These little touches to existing or new pieces really help in adding cohesion to a theme and give your home that individual look. If you are using the acrylic paint, you will need to add a fabric medium in order to make the colours fast. There are alternative fabric paints and sprays available, have look at our fabric spray range.

Q. What is a Markal Paint Stik?
A. It is a solid form of oil based paint, easy to use because it is dry. It is still applied with a brush, but instead of a pot of paint you have a dry stick, which needs to be rubbed onto a surface, such as a plate or the side of the stencil, to be used as a palette, from which to pick up the paint on a brush. This makes the risk of spilling paint that much less and people generally find it useful if they know a project is going to take them longer than one sitting. Some people find it easier to use, as it is much harder to overload the brush with this method.

Q. What is Acrylic Paint?
A. It is a water-based paint. Therefore soluble in water, so you can clean brushes in water and there is no odour. It is a thinner paint than household emulsions and can be applied delicately without clogging or looking heavy. It is like using watercolours to paint on the wall rather than trying to paint a picture with poly filler!

Q. What are your most popular colours of paint stik?
A. This depends very much on the colours you have already in the room. However, if you are looking to build up a collection of colours that you are likely to use on several occasions then I would recommend the following: Gold; Silver; Alizarin Crimson; Sap Green; Titanium White; Yellow Ochre; Aspheltum; Ultramarine Blue; Azo Yellow; Celedon Green. The Titanium White is mostly used as a blender to vary the shades of the other darker colours.

Q. How long does the paint take to dry?
A. This depends on the type of paint used, the surface you are applying the paint to and the conditions in which you are applying the paint. However, assuming an indoor application on a matt surface on an average day, the paint will be touch dry within an hour although I would always recommend leaving it 24 hours before applying a protective coat (if required) over the top.

Q . Can I use both Acrylic and Paint Stik outside on a wall?
A. Yes you can. However, in either case I would recommend a protective top coat to protect your stencilling from the elements and prolong its life. Depending on the surface, a sealant base coat is also recommended in order to prevent seepage from underneath the stencil, which may cause discolouration or even for the stencil to be disfigured completely.

Q. How do I clean the stencil after I have used it?
A . If you are using acrylic paint, then simply wash the stencil with a little water after use. If you are using an oil based paint then wipe over with a small amount of white spirit.

Q. How should I clean my stencil brush?
A. If using an acrylic paint, then clean the brush in water. If using an oil based paint then clean with white spirit. Always read the label of the paint you are using. However, if this is not possible and you are unsure as to the base of your paint, then always try removing with water first, if this does not work, dry on a kitchen towel and use white spirit.

Q. Can I clean the walls after I have stencilled them?
A. Once a stencil has fully dried on the wall, then it is possible to wipe over with a damp cloth, (to remove finger marks etc.) however they will not withstand abrasive cleaning with a scouring agent. Please note that if a paint is designed to be wiped clean of finger marks etc. then this will also apply to any stencilling which has been done as well.