Cutting Patterns

[educatedcobbler]

use pattern paper of 250/440 gm , it is best for making any kind of pattern

[Ed in Tx]

In keeping with the idea of recycling I have used cardboard boxes from cereal and other things like Cheese-Its. The cardboard is fairly heavy and is free since we ate what was in the box. Have even used Coke or other drink cartons for smaller things. If I don't have any of those handy I have bought poster board.

For initial patterns I have used brown shopping bags (a relic these days).

[Chavez]

Hi again!

Funnily enough... I've downgraded to using wing dividers and a ruler!!!

Cutting patterns accurately was a pain and then after the pattern was transferred to leather lines were getting distorted, etc. Too much work for poor results...

Chavez.

[phlegmaticdog]

As mentioned before by Leatheroo, X-ray film is a great medium for designing and saving patterns. It is strong, yet flexible and easy to cut. Since it's thick plastic it lasts virtually forever. About half of each sheet is transparent which facilitates tracing. Hospital X-ray departments throw away many sheets every day during start-up and calibration of the machines. If you have a friend in the medical field they can make inquiries, If not, a few kind words to an xray technician will enlist him/her to your cause. (you might even make a key fob in exchange and have a friend for life).

[Treed]

Local feed stores are a great place to pick up free sheets of heavy cardboard from. They get them from orders of sacked items that come in on pallets, the cardboard is used to cover the wood so that the sacks don't get ripped. Large sheets, heavy, last for ever and free.

Bobby

[lightningad]

Cutting patterns accurately was a pain and then after the pattern was transferred to leather lines were getting distorted, etc.

Hi Chavez...I have just started using a round knife to cut my leather and find its fantastic for reducing the distortion problems. I had exactly the same issue and think its because most knives are pulled through the leather, stretching it as it goes. The round knife is pushed through and if its sharp enough (keep on honing!) it seems to pass through like butter. Plus you have the option to rock the blade and get a scissor like cut.

My round knife came from Leprevo in Newcastle. Surprisingly, they just describe it as "Saddlers Round Knife" - yet when it arived i was very pleasantly surprised to find its made by Geo. Barnsley & Sons in Sheffield, who are supposed to make very good tools! The Leprevo price is half what you would pay for a knife at Tandys!

I wish i had bought one months ago.

adam

[Skidder]

^{A couple thoughts. If I'm doing something that I will only make a couple of, I use poster board to make the pattern and then trace around it. If it's a one time good deal, I use plastic tracing film like you can find at Tandy. If it's something I want to make a lot of then you can get plexiglas, cut it on a bandsaw or by hand then sand the edges smooth. It has less tendency to shift when tracing around it. If you use some around 1/8" thick, you can dampen your leather, put down the plexi then tap around the edges to leave an impression to cut along, trace around it, or simply cut along the plexi.}

[Vikti]

I came across this video a couple of weeks ago and it works pretty good for me except I use 90-100 lb manilla paper or posterboard instead of the bag stiffiner that they recommend in the video.

Damon

[billymac814]

I use Manila folders for most of my patterns. If its something that ill be using alot I use these thin cutting board things I found at Ross's. they are slightly thicker than a Manila folder and the last batch I bought had a non slip surface on the bottom which keeps it from sliding around. I also use these to glue leather onto that ill be tooling, the glue comes off easily when I'm ready to remove it.

[cmantz]

I don't know how many of you have cutters out there to cut your templates. But for those that do you might want to consider a product called Sticky Flock. It is used for making rhinestone templates for apparel. The nice thing about Sticky Flock is it is fairly thick and it has a sticky back that is repositionable and won't leave a residue on your item.

Another option is oil board. Some people have mentioned cutting this in their cutter. I have not tried it but I have cut it in my laser. MUCH less expensive than acrylic. You can get oil board from Uline.