I want to stencil a design on my pickguard!! How?

[FearMeWithMyLP]

Hey everyone!

 

I have a Telecaster (orange with black pickguard) that I want to stencil some crazy yet random designs on it (think of a paisley pickguard design, but with my own character to it). I'm wondering how I would go about it with regards to

 

*any certain type of marker I should use (white or grey artwork)

*anything I can use to coat it with when I am done to preserve the art

 

Has anyone ever done this or have any ideas as to how to do it?

[radioclash]

Since you're doing it on a flat surface, the sharpest and easiest way would be to use masking film (frisket).

 

Stick a sheet of the plastic film to the pickguard, draw on your design and then cut it with an Exacto (make sure not to cut too deep and into the guard). Peel out the cutouts.

 

Spray with the Krylon that's designed to bond to plastic.

 

Done.

[fastvfr]

Given the softness of most pickguard material, I'd suggest taping the adhesive plastic cover material, with its backing still on it, onto a glass tile or something on which to do the cutting.

 

Then clean the pickguard carefully with rubbing alcohol, put the template in place, mask off everything else and hit it with a coat or two of Krylon Fusion spraypaint.

 

Then just let it dry.

 

Pretty simple! Just make sure you don't use TOO much paint; a thick layer is more likely to flake off.

[Cowinacape]

For a more lasting design, terrapin.com might be helpfull for you, they do up custom images on guards.