Sandblasting stencils adapt to the environment they are in. Sometimes your stencils will lack adhesion and will slip off the surfaces you are trying to apply them onto. This can happen especially in winter time when the humidity in the room is lower owing to dry and cold air, and also when free-standing heater systems are present in the room.

What to do to achieve better adhesion and avoid further problems while sandblasting?

PLACE YOUR STENCIL ONTO RELEASE PAPER

After the stencil has washed out and dried, place the stencil onto release paper.

The sticky side of the stencil will remain free of dirt whilst retaining its adhesion.

Release paper offers you two important features - keeping the stencil's tacky side from becoming dirty (dust, fingerprints etc.) which decreases the adhesion, and also it's a very efficient way of storing stencils. Stencils can be kept for later application without any future application issues.

APPLYING MOISTURE TO THE DULL SIDE OF YOUR STENCIL

Our sandblasting stencils respond to the temperature and humidity of the room where they are stored and humidity in particular can vary enormously at different times of the year. 

If a stencil doesn't have the required adhesion, simply moisten it and bring the adhesion up to the required level.

How? There are a couple of little tricks which have an almost immediate effect upon stencil adhesion:

1. Breathe onto the stencil

2. Place the stencil onto a damp cloth (dull side onto the cloth) and leave it there for a while

3. Run the stencil over steam (a kettle with boiling water for example)

4. Use a handheld steam cleaner