Can anyone help - trying to find out how to make mesh stencils

[Jdsantos]

Hello,

I am new to the forum, so hello everyone!! I am a cake decorator based in Cheshire, UK. I'm looking to branch out and sell cake decorating stencils. There are 2 kinds of stencils in the market- acrylic and mesh stencil - both of which I would like to make and sell. Acrylic I now know how to make, but I am at a dead end with mesh stencils. Mesh stencils are almost fabric-like, a bit like a very finely woven net. I have spent hours online trying to find out how they are made, and I think the closest process is silk screen printing- where they use polyester monofilament (or mesh). However, the amount and kind of chemicals used in the process doesn't seem compatible with food safety. Ultimately, the mesh stencils I want to make need to be food safe. No one seems to make mesh stencils (for cakes) here in the UK, but they are available in China and the US. The reason I want to make them is because as a start up business, I will be selling low volumes initially and can't afford to buy wholesale from China or anywhere else. I'd post a photo of a mesh stencil to show everyone, but I don't know how to on this forum.

I'd appreciate any help at all in figuring this out.

 

[Countrymun]

Hi
Sorry if this isn't helpful - I am afraid I know nothing about stencils or cake decorating but 3D printing seems to be the in-thing at the moment.
Sunderland University has a new venture called the Fab Lab (should find it on google) where they recently invited local people to go in with their idea. I really don't know if that is feasible but if so, there are probably places in your area offering similar help with technology to small businesses.
Why do you have to buy wholesale in huge quantities from china at first? I often see chinese sellers on ebay offering small quantities of items with free shipping. Take a couple of weeks to arrive but worth thinking about.
Is anyone currently selling the mesh stencils on amazon.com rather than the uk site? If so, send a question to seller saying you are interested in the product but worry about food safety so can they tell you what materials are used? Try to find an expert online - eg websites on cake decorating and ask how the stencils are produced etc.
Try alibaba or DH gate etc to see if they offer what you are looking for in an affordable quantity.
HTH

 

[Jdsantos]

I have contacted a china seller and asked about whether they could produce it for me and in what numbers. Hopefully I will get somewhere with them. I have also contacted a UK based company although I'm not completely sure the technology they use is applicable. I am a member of some forums so I'll see if anyone there knows anything- that's fab advice actually.

Thanks! Hopefully I'll get somewhere sometime.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Sorry if this isn't helpful - I am afraid I know nothing about stencils or cake decorating but 3D printing seems to be the in-thing at the moment.

While not trying to self-promote, I sell 3D printers and they use PLA plastic, which is often used for food containers and food packaging - so would assume (but don't guarantee) that they would meet food safety standards. So it could be an option, if you only want small quantities.

 

[Jdsantos]

Thanks Ashley Price. I'm not sure whether 3D printers is what I need. The product I'm trying to make is 2d- it is basically a stencil (but a more specialised stencil, if I'm making any sense?).

 

[Ashley_Price]

Yes, I do understand what you're looking for. You could either "print" it yourself, or I assume the other way they are created is through laser cutting.

If you do a search on the internet you can see that lots of sites offer stencils you can 3D-print yourself.

 

[prophet01]

Hello,

.....Ultimately, the mesh stencils I want to make need to be food safe. No one seems to make mesh stencils (for cakes) here in the UK, but they are available in China and the US. The reason I want to make them is because as a start up business, I will be selling low volumes initially and can't afford to buy wholesale from China or anywhere else. I'd post a photo of a mesh stencil to show everyone, but I don't know how to on this forum....

A quick search brings up these
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/MVM-5006-Fondant-cake-decorating-Lace_60475444451.html

Assuming this is a legitimate advert they only require a minimum order of 50 No. max cost $500. If you can't pay that for stock I'm not sure you have much of a business.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mesh-stencils-for-airbrushing-or-royal-icing-/112259367365
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mesh-stencils-for-airbrushing-or-royal-icing-/112259367365
This crew are already importing and selling the same product.

 

[Jdsantos]

Thanks Ashley. I'll have a look at 3d& laser printing.

 

[Jdsantos]

Hi prophet. Thanks for having a look for me. I am familiar with the ebay seller as I bought a mesh stencil from them. I know who makes those stencils in China and have contacted the manufacturer directly- at least I hope they are the manufacturer. They only make less than a dozen designs, and what I would like is to design my own and make them/have them made.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Thanks Ashley. I'll have a look at 3d& laser printing.

If I can help, just let me know.

 

[14Steve14]

I would imaging that they could be cut with a good laser cutter, but they would probably need to be cleaned up a bit as the cut edges may not be food safe. It would also depend on how fine you want parts of the stencils as lasers can only cut so fine. It may take a while to find a good material to use as well. They may also be cost prohibitive because of the time it would take to cut out a really fine stencil, but until you ask, you dont know.