Soft Stencil System - Frequently Asked Questions

(By Custom Bait Shop)
(Pull up a chair, friend—let’s talk stencils.)

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1) Do you sell the material on a roll?

Nope. Each Soft Stencil System is built to order, cut per design, and crafted specifically for your bait pattern. Nothing is mass-produced, and nothing comes on a roll. It’s Custom—capital C, wink included.

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2) Will the material tear off any paint already on my bait?

It shouldn’t. These stencils have been tested, stretched, pulled, twisted, and used on more baits than I can count—no issues when the paint is properly cured.

The only times problems happen are:

• Your paint isn’t fully dry
• You’ve used unusual mid-coats, clears, or adhesives
• Your base coats just aren’t sticking well

Paint clean, paint dry, paint smart—you’ll be good to go.

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3) What if the stencil system won’t stick to my bait?

A few things could be going on:

• Temperature – If it’s too cold, the adhesive gets grumpy. Keep the room around 65°F or warmer.

• Weird mid-coats, clears, or glues – Some chemicals don’t play nice with anything.

• Debris – Dirt, dust, glitter, foil, pet hair, pizza crumbs… if it touches the sticky side, grip will eventually fade.

• Resin bait painters – Y’all have your own chemical universe. Message me first so we can match materials properly.

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4) What if my stencil rips or tears?

These are soft stencils—flexible and reusable—but they do require care. If you cut or damage one, I’m happy to make replacements, but I can’t replace damaged stencils for free.

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5) Can I make these myself on a cheap laser or plotter cutter?

You can sure try!

But remember—you’re buying:

• 2 years of testing and refining
• 25 years of printmaking and design experience
• Specialty materials and processes I’ve dialed in

You’re not just buying vinyl—you’re buying expertise.
But hey, if you want to tinker, I’ll cheer you on from the boat dock.

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6) I’m a bait painter or bait maker. Can I get my own exclusive soft stencils made?

Absolutely.
That’s exactly what the Soft Stencil System was built for.

We can design one-of-a-kind stencils that only you own—no reselling, no sharing, no exceptions. Your secret sauce stays yours forever.

Reach out anytime, and we’ll build something that levels up your paintwork for years to come.

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7) How many uses do I get out of a single stencil?

Depends on care and cleanliness. In testing, most stencils lasted hundreds of applications before the adhesive wore out.

If you:

• Keep them clean
• Keep them on the backing paper
• Keep them away from overspray and dust

…you’ll get a ton of mileage. Most stay sticky for about a year with proper care.

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8) Why are the stencils transparent?

Why not?

But really—transparency lets you:

• Align designs perfectly
• See your bait underneath
• Layer multiple stencils for advanced detail work

Some sets include multi-layer designs, so seeing through the stencil is critical.

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9) Can you stack the Soft Stencils for a single spray session?

Oh, heck yeah.

That’s one of the best features.
Stack ’em, layer ’em, align ’em—go wild with it.

Hands-free, mountable, stackable. That’s creative freedom, friend.

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10) Can I buy your digital Soft Stencil files?

No sir. No ma’am. No way.

Protecting original artwork keeps the system special—and keeps copycats from flooding the market.

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11) Are these stencils waterproof?

Yes—they’re vinyl-based, so moisture isn’t a problem.
Just avoid solvents or chemicals that degrade adhesives.

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12) How do I clean and store my stencils?

Easy:

• Stick them back onto the original backing paper
• Store flat in an envelope or bag
• Keep them out of your paint station chaos
• Keep the sticky side away from dust and pets (especially fluffy ones)

Good storage = long life.

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13) Do you offer replacements if my adhesive eventually wears out?

Yep.
Stencils naturally wear out over time, especially with heavy use. You can order individual replacements anytime.

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14) Are these safe for any airbrush paint brand?

Yes—water-based paints are always safe.

Solvent-based paints usually work, but some clears or mid-coats can affect adhesion. If you’re using a heavy solvent system, message me first.

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15) How many baits can I paint with one stencil?

That depends on bait size, paint style, and how you care for your stencils—but here’s what bait makers love most:

Each Soft Stencil sheet includes multiple stencils (usually 3 for large designs, 5 for small). With proper care, each stencil can be reused dozens to hundreds of times.

That means a single sheet can often paint a huge volume of baits before needing replacements.

Exact numbers vary by painter…
But the point is: you’ll get a LOT of work done with a single sheet.

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16) Can you size the stencil exactly to my bait?

Yes—and this is one of the biggest advantages of the Soft Stencil System.

Your stencil can be made to perfectly match the exact dimensions, curves, and even the molded details of your specific bait model.

Other stencil brands only offer:

• Generic shapes
• Generic sizes
• “One size fits kinda-sorta-most” patterns

…and 3D-printed molds?
They solve some problems but often create new ones—rough edges, imprecise fit, inconsistent results.

Your stencils from me?

Custom-fit. Precise. Tailored to your bait like a glove.
No gaps, no guessing, no fighting the shape—just perfect alignment and professional results.