swampyankee

I posted this on the beginners board but I think there might be more people cutting their own kits on this board so I'll repost it here.

I'm cutting my kit from the plans and am using the tracing paper glued to the wood method. I find that there's a certain amount of shrinkage between tracing from the plans and gluing the tracing paper to the wood. This shrinkage isn't consistent across the board, so I'm getting a tad frustrated with this method.
I've heard of the method of copying the original plans and cutting the parts from the copy. Or cutting templates with cardboard.
Can anyone tell me which is the superior way of doing this? Between either of the above mentioned methods or another method altogether.
Thanks

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

I always make a copy of the plans and then cut out the templates and stick them to the wood with a light coat of spray adhesive. With a little bit of practice you will be able to guage just how much adhesive to use to keep the template stuck down while cutting but still easy to remove when you're done. That was my preferred method.

Chad Veich

dhal22

i use as much spray adhesive as i want. i just dip a cotton ball or rag in rubbing alcohol and wipe the template until saturated. the template then just peels off.

ticketec

My Feedback: (2)

Another old school trick that i used to also use apart from the ones above, was to photocopy the plans, ribs etc, and then using the wifes iron, or a covering iron for that matter, turn the printed side down onto the wood, and then pass the iron over the top a few times. This is just a repeat of the printing process but in reverse, so that when you heat up the paper it deposites the ink onto your balsa so then all you have to do is follow the line!!

Having tried both, i still just used some 3M77 spray adhesive and stick the photocopy's on to the balsa.

Good luck

Thanks

dave

ZERO-322

My Feedback: (2)

Old school trick you say ? Genius ! I love that idea ..... personally I would trace from the plans and then with carbon paper I would retrace them onto the wood , but I think I am going to try the above method next time I am cutting from plans

swampyankee

Thanks gents, gives me a good selection to have on hand.