Aleks Melnyk No.398 Metal Stencil, Alchemical Symbols, Small Stencil, 1 PCS, Template for Wood Burning, Engraving, Crafting, Scrapbook

Nicely produced, robust template. Works for my art projects.

Works great for my wood burning projects

No complaints! I enjoyed the smooth edges for clean lines. I used painter's tape at the top and bottom to secure the stencil more overall while working. (Painter's tape seemed easy to remove without too much leftover gummy residue.) Great quality stencil - clean and smooth! Will last years to come

My favorite part of this Alchemical Symbols metal stencil is that the names of each symbol is right underneath each one. I tested the stencil with a couple of my favorite markers, a standard fine marker, and a fine (as can be) chromium marker. The standard marker worked well but the chromium marker did not. Since the chromium marker is liquid based it bled under the stencil even though I held it down to the paper until it was dry. I tried the test twice holding it down for two minutes (a lot longer than it took to dry) to make sure it wasn't that I took the stencil off the paper too soon but it still bled under the stencil. The chromium marker also left some residue on the stencil that I have not been able to clean off completely. I am sure it is the chromium and it is possible I need a special cleaning solution. The standard marker did not leave any residue so cleaning was not an issue. I tested the stencil with two of the paints I have used in the past as a textile artist. Gouache and Acrylic. For sure gouache used as watercolor will not work as it is totally liquid and will bleed under the stencil. But one can use gouache right out of the tube without water. I used a small FR4 flat brush and painted over one of the symbols covering the whole symbol so all you could see was a blob of paint. I let it dry and then lifted the stencil off. It left a perfect impression on the paper and did not bleed. The gouache cleaned off the stencil really well as gouache is water soluble. As for acrylic it reacted very much the same as the gouache. Since I have used acrylic paint before, and know brushes need immediate cleaning with water, I removed the stencil but it was too premature and it did leave a small blotch from the movement on the finished image, so letting it dry completely, which does take longer than gouache, is a must. The acrylic paint washed off the stainless steal stencil really well also. My last test was with a ball point pen. The thinness of the stencil does not have any leeway for mistakes as it keeps the pen straight and does not allow a pen to slip. I even tried it left handed with both the ball point and standard fine marker without a problem. FYI, I cannot say what using other medias (like oil paint) will react like but I am sure that it will clean off the stencil with no problem, as long as it is cleaned immediately and not left to dry completely. I highly recommend this Alchemical Symbols metal stencil for the various medias I used for testing.

Great for crafts

I teach a book workshop all the time and these metal stencils are great! IF you use a fine tip marker don’t move the stencil it will smear. I use a soft lead pencil first then go over it with pen and then erase Love them!

This is I feel is really excellent. Not only is the symbols great but it has the meaning of each symbol. Now the grandkids are telling me what they represent. Lol

Very nicely made from metal, which will last much linger than plastic. Easy to use for tracing onto paper or wood.

Beautifully made Great quality

je recommend!!

I'm a mix media artist, and I use stencils with modelling paste and spray paint. The symbols are a bit small and too close together so difficult to just use one symbol. Ok with a thin nibbed pen, which I then went over with relief guilding paste, and then added foil. That worked, but yeah wish the symbols were more spaced out. Well made though.