Shim-mask stencil

Abstract

A masking stencil to protect the surface surrounding a high spot to be abraded which, due to its minimal thickness and resistance to abrasive action, allows the abrasive to work over the stencil resulting in the requirement of a sufficiently fine abrasive to finish the process after stencil removal, that damage to the surrounding surface is reduced.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A masking stencil comprising a sheet of flexible, abrasion-resistant stainless steel, the masking stencil having a plurality of apertures therein, the apertures having been formed by chemical etching and the stencil having a thickness from 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A masking stencil as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the stencil is square. 
     
     
         7 . A masking stencil as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the stencil is 120 mm square. 
     
     
         8 . A masking stencil as claimed in  claim 5 , in which four apertures are provided through the stencil. 
     
     
         9 . A masking stencil as claimed in  claim 5 , in which two circular apertures of different sizes are provided through the stencil. 
     
     
         10 . A masking stencil as claimed in  claim 5 , in which two oblong apertures with rounded ends of different sizes are provided through the stencil. 
     
     
         11 . A method of abrading or slicing-off a high point of a surface, comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a stencil comprising a sheet of flexible, abrasion-resistant stainless steel, the masking stencil having a plurality of apertures therein, the apertures having been formed by chemical etching and the stencil having a thickness from 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm,   b. locating the stencil with the high point being positioned within a selected aperture,   c. passing a blade or abrasive tool over the stencil,   d. repeating step (c) until the high point is reduced to the height of the stencil thickness.   
     
     
         12 . A method of abrading or slicing-off as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 e. locating a second stencil, having a larger aperture than the first stencil, with the high point being positioned within the aperture,   f. passing a blade or abrasive tool over the second stencil.   
     
     
         13 . A method of abrading or slicing-off as claimed in  claim 12 , in which an abrasive is used in steps (c) and (f), and in which a finer abrasive is used in step (f) than in step (c). 
     
     
         14 . A method of abrading or slicing-off as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the apertures through the stencil are smaller than the dimension of the blade or abrasive tool. 
     
     
         15 . A surface repair kit comprising a stencil comprising a sheet of flexible, abrasion-resistant stainless steel, the masking stencil having a plurality of apertures therein, the apertures having been formed by chemical etching and the stencil having a thickness from 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm, and a blade or abrasive tool. 
     
     
         16 . A surface repair kit as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a second stencil having larger apertures than the first stencil. 
     
     
         17 . A surface repair kit as claimed in  claim 15 , in which a first abrasive tool and a second abrasive tool are provided, the second abrasive tool having a finer abrasive than the first.