On a previous order for a thousand tokens engraved both sides using proofgrade medium maple, I found that pulling the mask before engraving and cleaning with an alcohol soak for a few minutes and rubbing with a rag was far faster than weeding both sides of 1,000 pieces.
Well, that customer returned and wants 3,000!! As a result I found myself looking to streamline the process. I just discovered that household ammonia cuts that stuff all but instantly, no soak - just a wipe!
Far faster than alcohol and even acetone.
I pinned an old face towel to my steel table with rare earth magnets, wet it with ammonia, and a quick drag, flip and repeat - Done with both sides in about 5 seconds.
A little rough on the mucus membranes, so do it under ventilation or outside if you can.
Another tip. It bothered me to throw all that mask away that I had paid for, so I pull up a few inches of the mask and roll it off the proofgrade using the commercial roll I had bought. Waste not…
Happy Forging!