Best equipment/tool for die cutting your own stencils?

[Former_Member]

Best equipment/tool for die cutting your own stencils?

I recently opened up shop and found quickly I need my own device to create sayings/quotes/phrases in whatever style I'm feeling.. Locating pre-made or even custom in the size and fonts I need is NOT cost effective.
Sooooooo, next weekend I am making the purchase to create myself.
I rely heavily on customer reviews. I figured what better place to find what I am looking for than the Etsy community!
Help please :)

[Ajminteriors]

I am in a similar situation - currently I use a transfer method (printing saying/quote/image on paper and using carbon paper or chalk paper to transfer it onto my surface). It is more time consuming but relatively easy. I have decided now that it is time for me to purchase a machine. From the research I've done, I've found the Silhouette Cameo is the best option - you can cut on anything pretty much and you have an online library of fonts so there are no costly cartridges. It is more costly up front but seems to be more cost effective in the long run.
Hope this helps!

[Former_Member]

Thanks Nicole, that's what I have found as well. I research the heck out of something before making any decision!
Good luck!

[SignReads]

Thus far I use the transfer method and some free hand and stencils. I don't have huge sales yet. But, if I ever do, I can see myself purchasing a machine to keep up.

[LiveLaughLoveOcean]

Hello,
I love making signs and I love my cutting machine to use for stencils!!
I actually started selling craft vinyl. I have 23 different colors in the Premium Ultra Glitter and I carry Fluorescent Neon colors. The product I carry is great to use directly to painted wood. It is outdoor permanent with a 5 year life.
Here are a few of my top selling colors. If you need multiple sheets feel free to message me for a custom order, to save on the shipping fees.
Craft Vinyl - Premium Ultra Glitter Vinyl in 23 colors! ~ Fluorescent Neon colors! https://www.etsy.com/listing/218777031/vinyl-glitter-craft-vinyl-premium-vinyl
https://www.etsy.com/listing/471319783/coral-vinyl-glitter-craft-vinyl-premium
https://www.etsy.com/listing/453495060/vinyl-glitter-ultra-white-craft-vinyl
https://www.etsy.com/listing/467273815/sea-foam-green-glitter-adhesive-craft
https://www.etsy.com/listing/263130148/vinyl-fluorescent-pink-vinyl-neon-pink

[Former_Member]

When I first started making signs I was using the transfer method. I had always wanted the silhouette cameo but could not afford to buy it, On my birthday I had gotten it as a gift. I could not be any more happier with it. It is so sufficient and easy to use. I highly recommend using the silhouette cameo when making signs. Good luck and you will do great:)

[HJartistry]

Glad to know the Cameo works well--I ordered the silhouette portrait and it is not so good:( It always shifts my paper while cutting designs. Which Cameo is best? I believe they have 3 cameos now--1,2, and the most recent to come out is 3? I heard some negative things about 3--but it might of just been the user.

[Former_Member]

I love my cricut gold edition : https://www.etsy.com/listing/484128981/silent-night-wood-painted-sign

[BoardBattenDesignCo]

Bumping this old thread to say... :) I think most people use a silhouette cameo or a Cricut explore. You can get larger plotters that do a 24" width but they are a but more expensive.

I like to use Oramask stencil vinyl for my signs but some people just use regular vinyl and some people even have luck with drawer liner or contact paper they buy at the store.

What I would really like someday is a plotter that can cut permanent mylar stencils, which I have a hard time doing with the cameo, but I'm still trying to figure that out. If Silhouette makes a larger Curio, then that would work for mylar (reusable) stencils but right now the Curio can only cut 8.5x11 or thereabouts. But that's more of a pipe dream on my end, since I mostly focus on selling the designs and don't really need reusables.. but yeah it would be nice.

[Former_Member]

I started out with the cameo,it worked lovely,but when i got real busy it just couldn't keep up.I also found that i was changing blades (even when they were set correctly) maybe every 3 weeks,they just dulled out so much on the cameo.
So as we were doing well we thought we would move up the next step and bought a Graphtec CE6000/40
What a complete differance that machine has made to my productivity.
Even the blades last a lot lot longer,i haven't changed the current one for well over 6 months,and it is used 7 days a week constantly.
We are happy to stay with this cutter,stencil materials are so easy to cut,although i don't use actual stencil material as it is expensive.We just use vinyl and weed it in or out depending on your sign.
We go through a lot of vinyl for a small business.
One tip if you are going to use vinyl as a stencil.If you have already painted the wood sign with the base coat colour be very careful with the vinyl as a full stencil,they tend to leave behind the residue of the adhesive on the backing paper and not only can it be seen even when lacquered it collects dust like nothing and looks really scruffy,not the type of image you want to portray to your customers.