Juicegoose Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 I was thinking of using my vinyl cutter to precut some scales on a piece of stencil plastic and then vacuum forming it after cutting. Has anyone tried it before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Buck Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 If you are meaning to cut the scales out of the stencil plastic, then heat and form, I don't think it would work too well. It would just suck air through the holes, and not conform to the lure shape very well. I apologize if I misunderstood your question. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juicegoose Posted December 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Oh ya sorry josh I guess i should have mentioned I would use a secondary piece of plastic or another sacrificial piece to lay over the cut stencil. maybe even heat it and then put it in a vacuum saver? I am just spitballing here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretcher66 Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 i still dont think that would work, unless you had a perfect pattern cut that will compensate for the plastic forming to the lure and a way of holding the stencil and sacrificial piece to heat them and to lay your stencil perfect on the lure once heated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 I agree, I don't think so either. I have tried it. If you don't care about distortion of the stencil as it forms, then your good. A few that I did came out different then I expected but looked good. Some times a mistake turns out great. The only way you find out for yourself, give it a go. Dale 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 I think it is a good plan. Scales on a real fish are far from perfect. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Ron Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 I think you would have issues with heating the layer of plastic that is cut and the sacrificial layer because of heat transfer consistency with the layer of air between both sheets. But this is how we learn. So try it and if it works teach us. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 You could also try covering the plastic with a piece of Duct Tape. Not sure how it would hold up to the heat required to soften the plastic, but it would be worth a try. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretcher66 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 one other thing i was thinking about is , why are you cutting your scales into the plastic stencil? i would think if you cut scales into the plastic that it would fall apart when heated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juicegoose Posted December 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 I'm actually doing this for my custom painted reel seats. So there might be scales or other types of background images that I would attempt to cut out. I can cut it out on vinyl ans apply it to the seat but I was thinking of something I could mold to a particular size reel seat for repeatability. Side note. Where does everyone get their stencil film from.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretcher66 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 i personally use the plastic from gallon milk jugs or from plastic water containers , the kind you sit on your counter. they are nice and square. how about a piece of large heat shrink tubing for the reel seat? that would mold to it and you could just make a slice down the back to remove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
