I need to transfer the scaled-down drawings of various parts (Adirondack chair) onto the actual pieces of wood from which I’ll be building my templates. In the past, I’ve placed the wood under carbon paper, which was under the drafting paper. This method was difficult for me: It was hard to line the straight edge of the drafting paper precisely to the straight edge of my wood. As an alternative, I’m thinking of just laying out a 1″ square grid directly onto the wood I’ll be using for templates. Then I can simply draw the design directly onto the wood.
Is there a better way of doing this? What’s the best practice for this type of drafting?
Thanks for your thoughts!
– Bill
Replies
I make a template by transferring the paper drawing to cardboard or thin plywood (1/8 inch), cut it to shape and use that to trace onto the wood. The cardboard or plywood are more durable than a paper template. And if you need a mirror image piece you just need to flip the template over.
Thats exactly what I do and it works for me.
Thanks for your reply. For the paper drawing, do you use the poster-size graph paper (1" squares)? Do you use carbon paper to transfer the paper drawing onto the cardboard/thin plywood? For curves, do you just draw free hand, or do you use the French curves sets or something else? I just want to make sure I'm not missing something that would make this important step a little more accurate and easy.
Thanks.
- Bill
If the drawing is on a piece of paper and you have no way of going to Kinko's (or equivalent) to have them enlarge it, you could try using a pantograph. The proportions can be changed to whatever it takes to make the part(s) in whatever size you want.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
I use CAD to lay out the template parts. I have access to a wide bed plotter so size is not an issue. If you only have an 8.5" x 11" printer you can print it out in pieces and tape it together.
Cut your templates out of light card-board and trace onto timber. they can be used as often as you need them
For repeated projects, I like to use 1/8" tempered hardboard for templates. One of a kind, cardboard is the only way to go.
Billy -
Here's one approach which isn't inexpensive but virtually foolproof.
Once you get your full size drawing to where you like it, take it to an engineering printing company and have them make 1:1 copies of it. Then using spray type adhesive, spray the copy of the orginal drawing and while the spray adhesive is still tacky, apply it to the piece of wood you intend to cut out. Just cut along the paper pattern lines through paper and all. When done peel the paper off the finished piece.
I don't know to what extent the risidual spray adhesive would affect the type of finish you're using but a light sanding and I've not had a problem with it.
I do the same thing, I work out the full size piece on paper, for curves I have a bendable ruler, but use a French curve also, or a coffee-can lid, whatever gets me there.
But then I use the spray adhesive and glue the paper to a template of cardboard or Masonite and cut on the bandsaw. I can further refine the curves by sanding the template.
Best Regards,
David
If your drawings are in a CAD file, see if there is a blueprint company in your area. They may offer printing at reasonable rates.
When doing a similar project, I drew the parts directly on 1/4" luan ply, then rough cut and faired the ply to use as templates. No transfer errors, no adhesive spray, no special trips to the copy center.
That's very similar to what I ended up doing.
To wrap up this discussion, here's what I did:
Laid out 1" squares on half inch pine boards, which were already the rough dimensions for my templates
Drafted the design directly onto the pine boards, using mostly French curves
Cut out the shapes, using jig saw
Smoothed cuts, using drum sander
Having unsuccessfully attempted transferring blueprints onto wood via carbon paper, I found this method to be quick, easy, and especially accurate.
Thanks to everybody for their input!
- Billy C.
BillyC,
I use some Hallmark christmas wrapping paper...its laid out in 1" squares on the reverse side. Cut out and glue to 1/4" and to the band saw...
I found the spray adhesive full size parts onto either 1/2 inch plywood(any type you would use on a piece of furniture - stay away from CDX) or MDF. Results in durable template that will take sharp detail and can double as a solid bearing guide for a pattern router bit or shaper cutter.
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