Marsh Stencil Machines

K Stencil Ink

Designed for porous materials like cartons, wood, and paper.

Rolmark Ink

Works across porous and non-porous surfaces.

Spray Ink

Fast, direct marking solution for most surfaces.

Cardboard and Corrugated Cartons

K Stencil Ink is typically the best fit for corrugated cartons and other porous packaging materials.

Wood, Paper, and Cloth

K Stencil Ink is the right starting point when the surface is absorbent and stencil marking needs to dry quickly and hold up.

Metal, Plastic, and Glass

Rolmark is the stronger choice for non-porous surfaces where standard porous ink is likely to fail or smear.

Mixed Surface Operations

If the job moves between porous and non-porous materials, Rolmark is usually the cleaner answer than trying to force one porous-only ink to do everything.

Fast Marking on Most Surfaces

Spray ink is the better fit when speed matters more than precision and you need a quick stick-to-most-anything marking solution.

Field Use and Quick Stencil Jobs

Spray ink is often the easiest option when you want a bold mark without setting up rollers, pads, or brush systems.

Best Stencil Ink for Cardboard

K Stencil Ink is the standard choice for corrugated cartons. It absorbs into the surface and dries quickly without smearing.

Best Stencil Ink for Plastic

Plastic is non-porous, so Rolmark ink or spray stencil ink is required. K ink will not dry correctly on plastic surfaces.

Best Stencil Ink for Metal

Metal surfaces require an ink that sits on top and dries fast. Rolmark or spray inks are the correct solution depending on application speed.

Best Ink for Fast Production Marking

Spray stencil ink is typically the fastest option when speed matters more than precision and setup time needs to be minimal.

Using Porous Ink on Plastic

It will smear, not dry correctly, and fail in use.

Overcomplicating the Setup

If speed matters more than precision, spray ink is often the better choice.

Choosing Ink Before Application

Always start with the surface and marking method first.

What is the best stencil ink for cardboard?

K Stencil Ink is typically the best choice for corrugated cartons and other porous materials. It absorbs into the surface and dries quickly without smearing.

View K Stencil Ink options if you need a porous-surface marking ink for cartons, paper, wood, or cloth.

Can I use stencil ink on plastic?

Standard stencil ink for porous surfaces will not work on plastic. For plastic, you need Rolmark ink or spray stencil ink that is designed for non-porous materials.

What stencil ink works on metal?

Metal surfaces require an ink that sits on the surface and dries quickly. Rolmark ink or spray stencil ink are the most common solutions depending on application method.

What is the difference between K ink and Rolmark ink?

K Stencil Ink is designed for porous surfaces like cardboard and wood. Rolmark ink is more versatile and can be used on both porous and non-porous surfaces such as metal and plastic.

Is spray stencil ink better than traditional stencil ink?

Spray ink is faster and requires no setup, making it ideal for quick marking jobs. Traditional stencil inks like K ink and Rolmark are better for controlled, repeatable applications using rollers or pads.

Why is my stencil ink not drying?

The most common cause is using the wrong ink for the surface. Porous inks will not dry properly on non-porous materials like plastic or metal.