Contributing Member wolvenstien Posted February 9, 2008 Contributing Member Report Posted February 9, 2008 Before the crash, we had a topic going about how to make your own craftaid for carving patterns that you would do over and over.... I have gotten ahold of some exposed x-ray film and an up and down engraver.... not I just need to know the technique to do it.... Quote "The miracle is not how two adults can create a child, the phenomenon is how quickly a child can create two adults." -- VYBE Her: Hit Me Him: Do you want me to use the knife? Her: No, When you hit with a knife, that's STABBING!
Members IndianaLeatherWorker Posted February 9, 2008 Members Report Posted February 9, 2008 I was told by a friend that to make a reusable craftaid. Use overhead projector stock (clear plastic like your school teacher used) trace your pattern into the plastic. Should be able to print directly onto itsince it is available in printer paper section. Check your printer manual. I have been meaning to try it. Let me know if this helps or works. Quote
Hilly Posted February 9, 2008 Report Posted February 9, 2008 There's also a method that I learned from a Chan Geer video for designs you intend to use over and over. It also saves time in the long run. It's called making a "tap-off". Basically you carve your design as a mirror image (do not tool it, just carve it), let it dry, and then use something like super sheen or other sealer/water proofer on both sides of the leather. When it dries it will be quite hard and water-proof. You can then just turn it carved side down onto your cased leather for the new project, and tap it all over with a flat hammer, and your design transfers over onto your cased leather. It transfers in the correct orientation, and saves you the time of tracing your pattern over and over. It transfers your design as raised lines, which you carve as if they were traced on. Pretty neat idea for those of you doing the same stuff repeatedly. Quote
Contributing Member wolvenstien Posted February 9, 2008 Author Contributing Member Report Posted February 9, 2008 There was a method of using the engraver on the xray film..... thats the one I am looking for... Indiana, you mean for the ink to transfer from the plastic to the leather? Hilly, not a bad idea... those would have to be deep cuts wouldnt they? Quote "The miracle is not how two adults can create a child, the phenomenon is how quickly a child can create two adults." -- VYBE Her: Hit Me Him: Do you want me to use the knife? Her: No, When you hit with a knife, that's STABBING!
Members IndianaLeatherWorker Posted February 10, 2008 Members Report Posted February 10, 2008 Indiana, you mean for the ink to transfer from the plastic to the leather? Use transparency film(plastic). Trace on it and it will hold the scribe almost as well as craft aids. Instead of printing on paper, load your transparency film in the printer tray. You can print directly on the transparency film with your printer. Then trace with stylus onto leather. Hope that makes more sense. Quote
Members rharris Posted February 10, 2008 Members Report Posted February 10, 2008 The trouble I have printing on a transparency is when I am tracing it on to the leather the ink rubs off on my hand and I end up getting the ink on the leather. Lately I have been covering my transparency with clear packing tape. No more ink on my project. RussH Quote
Members Brandon Posted February 10, 2008 Members Report Posted February 10, 2008 Before the crash, we had a topic going about how to make your own craftaid for carving patterns that you would do over and over.... I have gotten ahold of some exposed x-ray film and an up and down engraver.... not I just need to know the technique to do it.... Wolve, Someone did mentioned LDPE: Low Density Polyethelene the last time but I don't have that. I tried on an x-ray film this afternoon, it didn't rise high enough to give you a good impression on the leather. Then I used a piece of plastic that someone from NC gave me, it did pop up a little better and produce quite a visible impression. As this is my first time trying it out ( not a pattern ), this is what I can say; if you'll to trace directly onto the plastic, you need a very fine marker pen as the engraver (mine) is pin pointed. After tracing, you turn the plastic the other way so that you're engraving a 'mirror' image. Later I found that it maybe better if I'll to trace it on a tracing paper then turn the paper around and place the plastic over it for engraving. It's almost midnight over here, too noisy to try it. If I find the time tomorrow, I'll tell you more. At the meantime, maybe our friend whom he received a piece from Verlane can tell us how he did it - Brandon Quote
electrathon Posted February 10, 2008 Report Posted February 10, 2008 The trouble I have printing on a transparency is when I am tracing it on to the leather the ink rubs off on my hand and I end up getting the ink on the leather. Lately I have been covering my transparency with clear packing tape. No more ink on my project.RussH The trouble is that you are using the wrong printer. Inkjet ink does not stay well on transparancies. I do this all the time, but I use a laser printer. I have great success. I rarely use any other way of tracing since I was told how to do this. Aaron Quote
Members rharris Posted February 10, 2008 Members Report Posted February 10, 2008 Aaron That is what I have heard. Do not have a laser printer only inkjet. So make do with what I have. Thanks RussH Quote
Members Peter Ellis Posted February 11, 2008 Members Report Posted February 11, 2008 Before the crash, we had a topic going about how to make your own craftaid for carving patterns that you would do over and over.... I have gotten ahold of some exposed x-ray film and an up and down engraver.... not I just need to know the technique to do it.... There was a thread that discussed Verlane's method for making "Craftaids" using an engraver and plastic, I think it was LDPE but as I recall there was never a mention of what weight/thickness of plastic was needed. I seem to recall one of the Clay's having started the thread. Quote Peter Ellis Noble Lion Leather
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