About Silkscreen Stencils

What makes these stencils special?

Chalk & Mesh Silkscreen stencils are made with an adhesive back and a fine mesh material embedded in the middle that gives them greater details and less paint bleed. You can use them many times and are easy to care for.

Silkscreen stencils are very versatile and easy to use. They work great on smooth surfaces like glass, wood, ceramic, fabric, or plastic. You can add a design to a sign with chalk paint, burn a design onto wood with Torch Paste, etch glass with EtchAll, or create great screen print t-shirts with fabric paint or Speed Ball Ink.

The best thing about Chalk & Mesh Silkscreen Stencils, is that they can be personalized or made with your choice of designs. If you have a name or design you would like made into a silkscreen stencil, just go to our Custom-Made Stencil Page to learn more or place an order.

How to Use Our Silkscreen Stencils

Using Chalk & Mesh Silkscreen stencils is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Write "Back" on the clear backing, then pull it off and apply the stencil to your surface. Be sure to smooth out any air bubbles.
Apply your choice of paint, ink, etching creme, or torch paste with a smooth squeegee. Make sure to spread it in all of the mesh. Scrape off any excess and replace it back into its container.
Lift off the stencil slowly checking for any missed areas. Reapply the stencil and medium, if necessary. Remove the stencil and clean it immediately or place in a pan of water until you can.

How to Care for a
Silkscreen Stencil

Using Cool water, clean your stencil by holding it in one hand and gently rubbing the front of the stencil with your other hand or a stencil sponge. DO NOT clean the back. You can rinse it, but do not rub it. Some staining or discoloration can occur. This does not affect the performance of the stencil, as long as the screen area is clear of all paint particles, it will be fine.
Place the wet stencil onto your table face down, and place the clear backing onto it with the word "back" showing and move it around until it is centered. Then squeegee the water out of it, and place it on a flat, dry towel or hang it up to dry.
Store the stencil(s) flat, in a cool, dry setting, away from any strong humidity. Your stencil(s) can be reused many times if they are cared for properly.

Tips and Tricks

If using the stencil on glass, metal, or any other slick surface, make sure to "Fuzz" the stencil. This involves taking your stencil and sticking it to a lint free cloth a couple times. This will lessen its stickiness, so it won't stretch or tear when you remove it from your surface.
If the stencil does not seem sticky enough, try using more pressure when applying. You can also increase the adhesion by wiping the adhesive back with a damp (not wet) sponge then apply it to your surface
If you notice a scratch or hole in your stencil, just place a piece of painter's tape over it.
If your paint or ink gets a little dried out, simply add a little distilled water until it is the consistency of Greek yogurt. Distilled water prevents mold build up.