Markings on ammo boxes

[The Cuthberts]

As well as the 'Geocache' sticker, I have seen a couple of ammo cans with 'Contents Harmless' neatly stencilled on the side. After trawling through various websites I cannot find one that will cut me a cardboard stencil that I can simply spraypaint onto the side of an ammo tin.

 

Any recommendations ?

 

Andy

[Ben Pid]

What is wrong with a bit of card and a stanley knife?

 

After printing off a sheet in a stencil font saying what you need it to..

 

Thats what Hornet did anyway.

 

Pid

 

--------------------------------------------------------

 

www.buckscaching.co.uk

[+stu_and_sarah]

I looked into this.

 

I don't believe there is a photographic technique to make a stencil. You can print and cut it in card (easy), but the stencil won't last that long. You can cut it in plastic (not easy) and the stencil will survive for ages.

 

Apparantly (although I haven't managed to confirm it yet), the method the military use is to use a stencil kit. There's a frame of some sort, with squares with letters cut out. You assemble the required message into the frame, then spray it. This sounds like the best plan - lasts well, and can customise messages, but I'm not sure how expensive/bulky the kit is. Nor how many letters/numbers you get in the set.

 

Edit: Found a link and another.

 

Cheers,

 

Stu

 

[This message was edited by Stu & Sarah on September 19, 2003 at 06:15 AM.]

[The Cuthberts]

Many thanks for the replies. I did try the 'by hand' painting but it was just a collection of white splodges ! Cutting things with knives is not something in the 'Cuthbert Handbook of Survival' Pid as we are probably the clumsiest couple on Earth !

 

I shall try the website and if it looks good we will take a spray-can cache-checking with us and post the results.

 

I was just a bit worried about some of the comments from our US cousins where their caches had sparked off scares, etc.

 

Andy

[+Lizzzzeeeee]

I bought a sheet of stencil card from my local art shop for a couple of pounds, it took me about half an hour of relaxation with a scalpel and voila, it's done about 8-9 boxes and is still going strong. If you have the small size boxes I could pop the stencil in an envelope and post it to you if you return it to me after you've used it. Let me have your address if you're interested.

 

For the paint I just got an end of line can of spray from the bargain bin in my local car accessory shop as I wasn't worried about the colour.

 

Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

Why is it that when you're out for a walk carrying a map everyone asks if you're lost?

[+Lost in Space]

Use this free font: http://simplythebest.net/fonts/fonts/crass.html

 

and print onto ink jet transparency film, and cut out.

 

Works wonders!!

[The Cuthberts]

Thanks Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee for the offer and Lost in Space for that invitation for me to mutilate myself. I will try cutting myself first.

 

Results on an ammo can near me shortly !

 

Andy

[Browser]

Having been in the military and stencilled many signs etc, here is the method that we found to work the best:

First of all we did indeed use a set of interlocking brass precut letters that we held in place with masking tape. Next take a small piece of foam rubber and roll it (Swiss roll style) and secure it with tape. Then trim the foam to a point with scissors. Using a small quantity of paint on the foam point, apply gently to the stencil and repeat until done.

This should work equally well with a card stencil IMHO.

 

Browser

[Moss Trooper]

I just use a pre-printed sticky lable..

 

At 315 for 6 quid it can't be bad. will admit that mine needs updating a bit.

 

Moss the Boss... Sorta

[+Pharisee]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Browser:

First of all we did indeed use a set of interlocking brass precut letters that we held in place with masking tape....

---

 

I use a set of brass, interlocking stencils that I got from RS Components. The part number, for a 1" high A-Z set is 312-2872 and they were priced at £11.25 + VAT per set.

Like Browser, I hold them in place with masking tape but then give them a quick spray with a white aerosol.

 

John

Age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability

[The Cuthberts]

I have used the stencil font and have cut out all the letter segments that have straight edges. It's going quite well and with no injury so far. I have used standard card from WH Smiths.

 

Takes a bit of time but that's probably because I have the dexterity of a bowling-ball.

Thanks Again

 

Andy

[+Team S-J]

I downloaded a suitable free font off the web. Printed what I wanted onto a transparency then cut the letters. I then sprayed a very small amount of photo adhesive on the back to "hold" it to the surface to be sprayed then sprayed the colour I wanted. The stencil gets a bit messy after one or two applications but can be wiped clear. As the layers builds up it gets stronger. The only problem I had was the cross bar in letter A's that are quite small so cut them to be bigger than printed. Oh, the other problem was over spray which resulted in the garden bench now having silver patches.

[+SimonG]

I just write on the box with a tip-ex pen. It's easy and it works, but it doesn't look as good as the stencil method.

 

What's your favourite thing?

[+stu_and_sarah]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Team S-J:

Oh, the other problem was over spray which resulted in the garden bench now having silver patches.

---

Overspray can travel further than a migrating albatross*

 

Stu

 

(*May not be true)