Roughing out

[Mr._Munchkin]

Question: When I go to make a blank on my bandsaw how can I keep my pattern there when it is inevitably cut into many pieces with the waste wood. In other words, how do I use the side view after I cut it off with the front view?

[Kenny_S]

I use clear packing tape to tape it back together and tape it back on the blank.

Safety First!

Ken

[ibrewalot]

Are you taping the pattern directly on the wood? I've always just laid the pattern on the wood, traced around it, then cut the trace lines. That way my pattern is no more the worse for wear for many tracings (the bandsaw doesn't get near it) and the cuts are exactly where they need to be since the pattern/trace line doesn't move.

- Brian

[FatEddy]

I do like Brian, trace the pattern onto the wood. Then after I cut one side I use double stick tape to put the necessary pieces back on. I've read that rubber cement also works, but have never had any luck with it. Another meithod used by some is to use small nails in the waste area (be careful where you put them, they'd be unkind to blades).

There is a much simpler way to do a blank: Make sure the initial block is a least 1/2 larger than pattern on all four sides. Cut the most complicated side first BUT stop cutting 1/4' from cutting all the way thru. Then cut the other side doing the same thing (stopping short) Then snap one of the sides off and you can lift out the finished pattern. You will wind up with a nice shipping container! I also take one of these to a show and people are amazed when I lift off a side and take out a blank. When I am finished using the container I run each side piece thru the bandsaw at 1/4' thick, then sand lightly. Two of the pieces can be used as a pattern. You can use a v tool and make an intarsia from the other two and paint, and bore a hole for an ornament (holiday) or I rather give them out to little folks at a show and let them paint it themselves. Big Al

[mdallensr]

I ran into the same problem with love spoons (I wonder if that will trigger the 'thingy' deal again?). Now, I cut the profile (side view) first, leaving the waste attached near the bottom of the bowl. Then I cut the outline. The waste that is still attached stays to support the handle of the spoon during carving (to keep the spoon flat). My last step is to carve the bottom (outside) of the bowl and the waste detaches at the very end.

[Mr._Munchkin]

THANK YOU! Now I won't botch my blanks so badly

Another way to resolve this problem is to use hotglue and put a couple of dots of it on the 'waste' piece and press it back together. When you get the other side cut out, just use a screwdriver or kitchen knife to pop the two parts apart.

Donna T

Hmmmm...all of this is very interesting reading. I've never used a pattern, and have often wondered while looking at them how one would cut out all sides on a band saw. I can see there are many ways to go at it, just as in everything else in this carving world of ours. I'm going to have to try this, of course - I try everything at least once to make a mess of it and move on to something else!! Anybody have a good 'starter' pattern for someone just learning to use them? I don't care what it is...I just want to see how it works!

Teri (always amazed at the ideas floating around this place)

[Callynne]

* * I don't use purchased *patterns, I draw up sketches of what I want to carve, front, back (that's easy, reverse the front) and the side views. *I use carbon paper to draw the front on my wood. *I used to draw all the sides but it didn't take too long to realize I cut it all away so it didn't help any.
* * What I do now is cut the side view drawings out, that way I can keep holding them up to make sure I'm taking off the right amount of wood. *I also trace off small details, for instance, the Father Christmas I'm working on now has a small rocking horse toy tied to his belt. *I traced around the horse on my original 'front view' sketch, cut the little rocking horse out and can hold it up to my carving to get a better idea of his size, it's easy to trace around him too. *
* * Don't know if any of this helps but it works for me. *Oh yeah, another thing I couldn't do without out are my calipers, they really make keeping things in proper proportion a lot easier. *Good luck! *Callynne