Gawdzilla Report post Posted January 16, 2011 When I need some stiff cardboard I use the packaging from a case of sodas. If you have the "flat pack" you have about two square feet of cardboard to use. Also, when I need to put pressure on a piece to allow glue to dry I use a ziploc full of pennies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Randy Cornelius Report post Posted January 16, 2011 If you go to your local feed store, every pallet of feed will have a stiff cardboad piece on top of the pallet before the sacks are stacked on it. Its about 3 feet square. I find they give them away. Some are even waxed coated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suze Report post Posted January 16, 2011 don't forget cereal boxes.... oh and that old encyclopedia set -- the one you never open anymore cause you got "the net" work great for holding flat things flat to dry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawdzilla Report post Posted January 17, 2011 don't forget cereal boxes.... oh and that old encyclopedia set -- the one you never open anymore cause you got "the net" work great for holding flat things flat to dry One volume, a layer of foil, the item to be pressed, another layer of foil and the second volume. Crank down the bundle with wire ties. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mendedbowl Report post Posted January 17, 2011 One volume, a layer of foil, the item to be pressed, another layer of foil and the second volume. Crank down the bundle with wire ties. I believe you've just redefined the meaning of "book press" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suze Report post Posted January 17, 2011 snicker -- love it and with the encyclopedia's coming out on disk it is just sooo hard to get enough of them to hold anything down..... and I don't think an e-reader would do much good either. sometimes you need a good old-fashioned BOOK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bkingery Report post Posted January 17, 2011 Years ago when I was doing alot of woodwork I would actually put projects between books and the park my car on them for a few hours. Worked great. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcn Report post Posted January 22, 2011 Something I have used and works well is linoleum. It is easy to cut and work with. The back is usually white and smooth so easy to draw on. Go to your locale flooring store and ask there installer if they have any left over pieces or scraps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Double U Leather Report post Posted January 22, 2011 I with Randy. I've been using the cardboard from feed pallets for years. They're big enough you can use 'em for chap patterns, and the cardboard is stiff enough that the edges stay good for a long time. And, I use them for stiffeners in smaller projects like photo albums and such. Can't beat 'em in my estimation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Menolly Report post Posted January 22, 2011 I use file folders. you can get a box for $10 and make quite a few patterns. They tape together easily too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joe59 Report post Posted January 23, 2011 Go to cost-co or sam's club. They use heavy cardboard between the stacks of paper towels and toilet paper. The employees are more than happy to have you take it away. It comes in pieces about 4' square. Also old x-ray film is great for stiffeners, small patterns and a backing when tooling thiner leathers. The rubber cement cleans off with ease and the film can be used over and over. JOE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawdzilla Report post Posted January 23, 2011 Of course one would never use the free flat-rate envelopes and boxes from the USPS for anything other than their intended use, would one. No, seriously, I mean that. Well, unless there's an emergency, of course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGGUNDOCTOR Report post Posted January 23, 2011 I would surprised if you could get x-ray film withthe price of silver so high. They can reclaim it off of the old x-rays. The pieces used on pallets are called slip sheets, we used them at Jelly Belly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joe59 Report post Posted January 24, 2011 I received my xrays from a vet. They were ones he couldn't read or the animal moved ect...... Most of the Dr's offices and hospitals have gone to digital print outs but the old films are out there if you look. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightwolf Report post Posted February 14, 2011 I am not certain if this is 100% applicable, but I will share it anyway. I just brought an air gun and compressor this past week, and in playing aorund I found one of the neatest things to use to make templates used for spraying was a plain white sheet of styrene. I was able to find it at a local hobby town in the model railroad section. A 12" x 36" sheet was about $3.25. I found it rather fun to work with, just scratch it with a blade (I used an exacto knife set) and then you can bend it and it snaps making a very nice straight line (assuming you cut a straight line) I was also surprised by how well I was able to curves to add detail. I'll include a couple pictures of what I sprayed using the template. I plan to use this to experiment with dying designs on leather with the air gun. I personally just really like the stiff plastic feel of styrene for holding a pattern. This is the Horde symbol form Warcraft I used to make a shirt My wife's design sprayed on her shirt.....she has a thing for angry koalas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Razz Report post Posted February 16, 2011 I am not certain if this is 100% applicable, but I will share it anyway. I just brought an air gun and compressor this past week, and in playing aorund I found one of the neatest things to use to make templates used for spraying was a plain white sheet of styrene. I was able to find it at a local hobby town in the model railroad section. A 12" x 36" sheet was about $3.25. I found it rather fun to work with, just scratch it with a blade (I used an exacto knife set) and then you can bend it and it snaps making a very nice straight line (assuming you cut a straight line) I was also surprised by how well I was able to curves to add detail. I'll include a couple pictures of what I sprayed using the template. I plan to use this to experiment with dying designs on leather with the air gun. I personally just really like the stiff plastic feel of styrene for holding a pattern. This is the Horde symbol form Warcraft I used to make a shirt My wife's design sprayed on her shirt.....she has a thing for angry koalas Do you know what is the thickness of these sheets. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nod4Eight Report post Posted February 23, 2011 I like the vinyl floring scraps myself. Most of my work is in chinks and chaps so the bulky pattern doesn't bother me. I write any info I need to remember on the back, its free and I like that I can store it flat or roll it up. And its very durable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites