Q: I need to put a brand name on my guitars. I’d like to use a stencil or ink stamp under the clear coat. What do you think?
A: Either will work, provided you choose the right medium for your stencil or ink stamp. What’s important is to use a paint or ink that is compatible with the finish below and above it, but not one that uses the same solvent, or the stencil or inked area is likely to spread and get blurry. There are a lot of options. For opaque ink stamp work, waterbased acrylic artist or craft paints will do just fine provided they are not applied too thickly. For stencils, you can spray on another color from an aerosol. If the finish is lacquer, you can use the same lacquer for the stencil, since it is compatible and will dry quickly enough to not create blurring problems. Beyond that you can order decals, rub on transfer numbers, use silk screening, or a host of other means to add your brand name.
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