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What is the best way to cut large curved designs on monokote? I was thinking on a cardboard template to guide the Xacto.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

That would help. I would suggest spraying it with a very light coat of spray adhesive to keep it from moving.

And, of course, be careful not to cut into the cardboard

Kow

I prefer using poster board. It's easier to cut patterns into, and because it's not as thick as cardboard, it's easier for me to follow the tip of the blade.

red head

Be sure to use a SHARP blade !!!! ENJOY !!! RED

Alex7403

i was thinking doing it with a plate (like you eat from) or a tray...

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Disposable?

acarter

if you have a scroll saw and really want to get precise, you could cut out some 1/4" plywood in the pattern you need, at least you wouldn;t have to worry about cutting the wood

Austin

Alex7403

No not disposable,
if I understand you want the same curve on all trims, you can mark on the back of a plate the arc that you want, put the plate upside down over the monokote and cut it.
This way you don’t cut into the cardboard and the curves are perfect.
You can use also bigger tray with a different arc or smaller plates.

good luck

Alex7403

And if you need it twice as a mirror image maybe to put two monokotes with the non transparent side facing each other not two layers!!! But same face.
This way even if you make a mistake in arc, you have the same mistake on both of them and they are the same and its not a mistake, its a design. [8D]

plugin

Ok I get it, but the problem is that I want a really big curve that changes radius so it yields a more complicated problem. I need to cut the red monokote for the following design:

OzMo

My Feedback: (3)

Posterboard template and fine point marker to make exact cut line then cut it with a VERY sharp blade or a GOOD scissors.
Also the OLFA cutters with the nice round blades (must be used on a cutting mat) that you can get in walmart sewing section are REAL sweet for monokote cutting.

A fresh pair of scissors from the sewing section is a good stocking stuffer get a pair for the wife too!!

Alex7403

My idea In this case:
Maybe to cover big part of the blade with tape, then create the pattern from a cardboard and with two layers of monokote to get a mirror image cut the monokote.
If you leave just a millimeter of blade exposed it will make a cut without cutting into the cardboard.

Bax

My Feedback: (11)

If you layer two pieces of MonoKote together, topside to topside, so that you cut mirror images, stick them together with temporary double-sided Scotch tape. It will hold the pieces well, but easily strip off when you're done. Put the tape along the cutline, and cut through both pieces of covering and the tape. That way, the covering won't move as you cut it.

Cutting on a large piece of glass also works very well, but it will dull the knife blade quickly.

plugin

I solved the problem using a french curve set. It worked like a charm.

http://www.fineartstore.com/cgistore...IozjvjKW2G.692

opjose

Yup another alternative is one of these:

[link=http://www.islandblue.com/store/product/5668/CTHRU-CALIBRATED-FLEXIBLE-CURVE/]Click ME![/link]

somegeek

My Feedback: (2)

Woah - I haven't seen those since my high school drafting class... but just a few days ago I was wishing I had one of those plastic eliptical templates. Think I know of another gift idea for Christmas.

somgeek

Alex7403

i'm glad it worked out

plugin

opjose, I thought about using one of those too, but I handled it at the store and found that it would be a bit complicated to hold it in place when applying pressure for cutting. I think these rulers are fashioned more for measuring curves than for creating profiles around them.

opjose

I've used them as guides as I had a couple on hand.

They work fairly well if you place them flat on the work surface.

orthobird

My Feedback: (1)

anyone know where I can get these plastic guides or templates? or what they are called so I can search for them. I too want to cover my airplane with Monokote, and there are some curves in it. this is the last one I covered, and it was mostly done with a cardboard template, but I was not totally happy with the results.

opjose

Google for "French Curve Set" and you'll find a bunch.

rlipsett

I usually flip the monocote upside down and use a marker on the release plastic on the bottom of the monocote. if I have small intricate cutting to do I use spray adhesive to the release film of printed templates. I cut on cutting boards for big things but use glass for small intricate cuts and when I have to use the press and seal release method to maintain spacing on designs

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

Many times I have cut durable templates from aluminum siding trim rolls. Its cheap and if you polish the edges the razor blades slide along nicely. For really irregular curves I pin a .032 diameter of piano wire to the shape of the curve I am looking for then use it as the guide for the razor blade. I only use single edge razor blades they seem to hold up better and for me buying them in bulk are cheaper than the #11 blade.

Dennis

jester_s1

I make a cardboard template on the plane, then mark the Monokote with a sharpie.Then I cut it on a plastic cutting board. The plastic makes the blades last longer, although they never last very long anyway. I've found that trying to follow a template on the Monokote usually results in mistakes as I tend to press into the template or will drift away in an attempt not to press into it. But the black sharpie line is easy to follow for good results every time.

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

When I did the graphics for my Pitts I posted how I laid out and cut the curves for both sides of the fuse using the piano wire system. Start at post #35 http://www.rccanada.ca/rccforum/show...t=48254&page=4

Dennis