Stenciling.

[txtatz]

Ok, another question for the masses. What do you use to apply the stecil so it will stay on htere good.

I have lately been using the Dettol that I hear others talking about and I have not had good results with it. I apply let it get a little tacky then apply the stencil and have even let it dry for 30 min. and the stencil still starts whipping off right away, really pisses me off when that happens. I used straigh green soap with better results.

What about you guys??

[Jillsta]

I tried the rubbing alcohol after I read that tip here, but I can never seem to get just the right wetness for it and end up with a fuzzy stencil. I've had great luck with lubricating jelly (I bought a box of individual packets) and after it's on, I put a layer of A&D ointment over the whole stencil before tattooing and it preserves the stencil for a lot longer.

[Bigaza]

I was taught to use Speed Stick, the old green type. Go figure?
:D

[framey]

:evil:

[Anonymous]

I used to use Speed Stick , back in the day , to avoid cross contamination , u have to cube it up and dispose after use , But now I just use a 1/3 to 2/3 solution of green soap to distilled water .. have always had good reults with that .

[Bigaza]

I use a sterile towel, it never touches skin directly, only towels, but I will try the other methods. Thanks again for the tip.

[tat2er1]

dettol is very good, make sure you delute it first and not apply a ton of it.
see if this helps. also everyones skin is different, some more oily some more dry. wiping it down with rubbing alcohol first will give give you a clean slate so to speak , then apply the dettol . give it a try .

[olboys]

hey tatt2er what do you dilute your dettol with alcohol? im curious

[KnightRum]

A friend of mine(not going to mention any names) had a hosptial visit, for an injury that he had sustained during a sports game. Being the little clepto that he is, rooted through the drawers of the examination room. He then returned to me with pockets full of alcohol prep pads, rolls of guaze and items of that nature..... :shock: But one of the things he got for me was these little packets of SurgiLube, on packet says sterile surgical lubrication......i noted a product of similar name and substance on a tat supply website, and they had it listed for use as a stencil applicant......so i tried it, and it worked VERY well... allthough you have to be careful to not put too much on as it works so well it will leave tones of stencil ink on the body. Also comes in small individual packets so you can through them away and use a new one everytime. Does anyone have any imput on this method?

[olboys]

yeah i heard of it but most people been using ky jelly

[sickboy]

Out of all the different methods i've tried this is what works best for me;
1. Make sure your area to be inked is shaved already
2. Spray some greensoap onto a folded up paper towel.
3. gently wipe the greensoap onto the skin. The trick is not to soak the area, but wet just enough. I.E. you don't want to see the soap dripping.
4. Now your ready to apply the stencil. Don't press too hard.
Your stencil should go on just right.
5. Let the stencil dry for a few minutes and your ready to begin.
If done properly you will not have any smears on the stencil.
This method will assure that the stencil doesn't wipe off while your tattooing.

[el tatuaje]

if you live here in the state's then you know about walmart, as much as everyone likes to use dettol or the greensoap spray method, i like to buy
these travel size speed sticks that are sold under a dollar.
.79 cents to be exact, buy a few and keep them for that one time use and add it to the expense of that persons tattoo.
just food for thought and you don't have to wait for any spray to tack up or use extra paper towels to make the area for the stencil tacky, just roll on!
el

[ifive]

How come when someone states that they use speedstick everyone gets defensive about cross contamination. Hopefully its been talked about enough that everyone who uses it understands that youc cant just rub it on using the stick and then on to the next person.

On the otherside i have stopped using it(speedstick) recently on the fact that it can cause irritation to broken skin and it didnt seem healthy, i switched to greensoap, does anyone know of this can also cause irritation?

[el tatuaje]

i had two guys tell me that when i cleaned off the shaved area, that the area felt irritated, and thats before the tattoo went on and i don't even wipe that hard either, go figure. i'm taking it is because the green soap has alcohol in the mixture.
el

[FORGIVEN]

I melt down 2 un-opened speedsticks in a double boiler ,add distilled water and a little G.S., add a little more D.W. . ...stirring the whole time ,place in a spray bottle ., pour the rest in an empty distelled water jug, havent had a single problem with it !!!

[Capt. Calzone]

Hey GIVEN, about how many parts water and G. Soap to the 2 bars or speedstick?

[FORGIVEN]

TAKE A METAL BOWL OR GLASS BOWL AND PLACE IT IN A POT OF HOT WATER , KEEPING A LOW BURN.....PUT IN YOUR CRUMBLED S.S. AND A LITTLE D.W. ..STIRRING THE WHOLE TIME , ADD A LITTLE G.S. ....CONTINUE STIRRING , YOU WANT IT KINDA THICK ..NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO THE RECIPE ..TRY IT OUT ,YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT !!!IT WORKS GREAT ..YOU GOT TO REALLY WORK TO WIPE IT OFF , SO MAKE SURE ITS WHERE YOU WANT IT!!

[needlemark]

i think i will have to get my cauldron out tonight haha

[TickTatToe]

I've never had any problem applying the stencil.. that's the easy part :shock:
After shaving and wiping down the area with a clean tissue, i apply neat dettol on a clean tissue then immediately apply the stencil. If you let the dettol dry at all then the stencil won't take. Let the stencil paper sit on the skin for a few seconds then pull it off from one edge in a smooth motion. Now allow it to dry. Let the client look at it in a mirror to check it's in the right place etc. Then I wipe it over with a thin film of vaseline, this helps to keep the stencil in place when you wipe during tattooing. Each time I need to clean an area with spray soap, i re-apply a thin film of vaseline. I've never lost a stencil during working yet.
Now I've got the easy bit sussed, I just need to figure out how to do the rest :roll:

[Inkster]

Each time I need to clean an area with spray soap, i re-apply a thin film of vaseline. I've never lost a stencil during working yet.
Now I've got the easy bit sussed, I just need to figure out how to do the rest :roll:Out of interest what spray soap do you use TickTatToe?

[TickTatToe]

Each time I need to clean an area with spray soap, i re-apply a thin film of vaseline. I've never lost a stencil during working yet.
Now I've got the easy bit sussed, I just need to figure out how to do the rest :roll:Out of interest what spray soap do you use TickTatToe?
I use a blue sterilizing soap which is sold as a hand sterilizer for manicurists. i dilute it with distilled water. I don't measure it, just make it a light blue. Hope that helps. I'll post the name of it tomorrow as I'm not at the shop today.

[Inkster]

Each time I need to clean an area with spray soap, i re-apply a thin film of vaseline. I've never lost a stencil during working yet.
Now I've got the easy bit sussed, I just need to figure out how to do the rest :roll:Out of interest what spray soap do you use TickTatToe?
I use a blue sterilizing soap which is sold as a hand sterilizer for manicurists. i dilute it with distilled water. I don't measure it, just make it a light blue. Hope that helps. I'll post the name of it tomorrow as I'm not at the shop today.Do you buy the distilled water from anywhere special or just the local chemist? Its Andy by the way, glad to see you on the forum

[TickTatToe]

Do you buy the distilled water from anywhere special or just the local chemist? Its Andy by the way, glad to see you on the forum

Hi Andy :) we meet again

local chemist doesn't stock it but a friend got me 2 5ltrs . The ones I'm using at the moment are the Crystal Medic. next purchase is probably going to be the same from this website
http://www.pure-watercoolers.co.uk/purified-water-2.php
Might try boots first though, i'll let you know.

[Ladedeth]

How wet do you get the area before applying the stencil?

[FORGIVEN]

USING THE RECIPE I POSTED , I GET IT SLIGHTLY TACKY , APPLY THE STENCIL AND SET-UP MY EQUIPMENT , TAKE THE STENCIL PAPER OFF , AND THAT THING IS GOOD !!!

[TickTatToe]

How wet do you get the area before applying the stencil?
it should just be damp. If it's too wet the ink will run, too dry and the stencil won't take. Try it out with just plain lines till u get it right. I use hectograph paper to trace my stencils. not sure how other stencils take. Hope that helps.

[inkman_66]

The best transfer solution for stencils is simple. Mix Dettol with rubbing alcohol. The stencil stays on the skin until the tattoo is finished. Never had to worry about stencil wiping off.

[tat2dmthrfckr]

Hey All, I use a way that is sure fire and I have to wipe off a stencil.

1. Clean and remove all hair.
2. Lightly mist with green soap, then blot a little, with dry paper towel.
3. Apply Pattern.
4. Let Dry while setting up equipment
5. Put a thin layer of vaseline on. (use tounge depressors to get the vaseline out.
6. And instead of wiping excess ink off, blot it. Sure fire works, for me anyways.

[urmindsi]

I use this stuff called Bones Transfer Solution, works good, spray some on a paper towel ,wipe unto client , apply stencil, wait 10 minutes , good to go.

[Hammer]

In the shop I'm apprenticing in now, I pretty much do all the stenciling. We use Hibiclens. It's the same stuff the hospital uses when they prep someone for surgery, it's a liquid Antiseptic, Antimicrobial Skin Cleanser that is sprayed on the skin after its been shaven, prior to appling the stencil, and it works great. Stencil once dry is a bitch to scrub off, plus you get the added benefit and security of a sterile canvas from the get go. I've seen it in some supply catalogs, just don't remember which ones.

[carl]

hey guys and gyals,i know its an old post but here goes,

at 1st i was kinda :x frustrated with stencils as every time i put them on with dettol the same thing happened,they just wiped straight back off

but now it works great for me,i use the tinyest ammount of dettol on a paper towel leave 30 seconds to get tacky,apply the stencil press down,peel off and its on,then a slight film of vasaline and thats it,damn i have a hard time getting rid of stencil from the skin once ive finished.


i found that if i used too much(like saturating it)it is shite.

[Inkster]

I even slightly dampen the back of the stencil with Dettol and my stencils come out real neat and bright.

[magicman70]

hi guys im in the uk and excuse my stupidity but what is green soap also whatis the purpose of putting a film of vasaline over your stencil

[the colorist]

hi guys im in the uk and excuse my stupidity but what is green soap also whatis the purpose of putting a film of vasaline over your stencil
http://www.james-alexander.com/products/tincture.html

[papadurivage]

hi guys im in the uk and excuse my stupidity but what is green soap also whatis the purpose of putting a film of vasaline over your stencil

Personally I use A&D ointment, which is similar to vaseline in the sense that it is petroleum based, but has some minor soothing properties which vaseline doesnt.. but i dont just use it for the stencil.. I also put it on the area I'm tattooing as I go.. (ie. before pulling a line.)

A few reasons I use it:

1. It provides a moisture resistant barrier, so excess ink doesnt dry on the skin, making it easier to wipe away while tattooing, basically protecting your stencil a bit from the wiping.

2. It acts as a lubricant, which minimizes skin trauma a bit when your needles penetrate the skin.

3. Going back to the moisture resistant properties: It acts as a barrier after you've tattooed an area, so that other colors dont wipe into freshly tattooed skin..(ever wipe yellow and get some in the fresh blue you just did, ending up with an unintentional green spot?)

4. Lubrication again, helps your hand glide smoothly when pulling lines (ever have a glove stick to your client and drag while pulling a line?)

keep in mind that petroleum products break down latex.. so either change your gloves frequently, or use nitrile gloves or polymer coated latex.

[Rickyboy]

I use a brawny paper towel with speed stick and wipe the skin to be tattooed, a thin layer of speed stick , then apply the stencil pressing firmly, and slowly remove,, i usually get a very crisp stencil-- i let it dry while setting up my machine, then i apply a thin coat of vaseline on the stencil -- i rarely have any stencil wipe off after that--and while tattooing i use A&D ointment sparingly on each section of the tattoo! as stated in the above post!!!!:D

[confused tattooed]

personally, I have used the speed stick method. And I would suggest that if you use it cut it into little cubes and only use one cube per client. so as not to cc. I would also suggest investing in some Dettol, I search around and finally found some in a Indian grocery store, locally. I promise you'll never want to use the speed again, so much easier to use and the stencil doesn't wipe off as easy, so it last alot longer.

Anyways that's just my 2 cents, hope it helps

[Rickyboy]

to prevent CC - i always rub the speed stick on a paper towel for each client

[Rickyboy]

and i will be looking for dettol, and give it a shot--

[prosthetis]

and i will be looking for dettol, and give it a shot--
I was able to find it at a site called painfulpleasures.com they got it and a bunch of other stuff that can be useful and you dont have to work in a shop,but you can also buy wholesale if you are buying for a shop. Not a bad site to check out.

[razer_irl]

If any of you lot are in the UK then Aldi and Lidl have their own brand of "dettol" which is just as good as the real stuff.
In Aldi its called "Mettol" :) and Lidl its called "Antiseptic cleaner" or something like that.
Ive a feeling its just normal Dettol rebranded since it looks,smells and works the exact same.
Both work great for stenciling and are 99 cent(euro) per half litre which is less than half the price of Dettol.

[wickedstylesink]

I use a brawny paper towel with speed stick and wipe the skin to be tattooed, a thin layer of speed stick , then apply the stencil pressing firmly, and slowly remove,, i usually get a very crisp stencil-- i let it dry while setting up my machine, then i apply a thin coat of vaseline on the stencil -- i rarely have any stencil wipe off after that--and while tattooing i use A&D ointment sparingly on each section of the tattoo! as stated in the above post!!!!:D
i use the same technique except i use a&d not vaseline

[needles]

use dettol all the time .. if its wiping off your doing sommat wrong.

[Martin]

use dettol all the time .. if its wiping off your doing sommat wrong.

Dettol works great for me too.

[punkfloyd]

Me too.Never had problems with the stencil rubbing off with Dettol.

I apply it by putting some drops on my gloved fingers and rubbing it on the skin not too sparingly, let it dry for about a minute then put on the stencil, I know I'm stating the obvious now but I always start tattooing from the bottom of the stencil and work my way up.light coating of vaseline and I dab away excess ink not wipe.;)