What Weight Of Tracing Paper Do You Recommend?

[Domino]

I'm just getting started and the tracing paper that came with my Tandy kit is running out. I need to get some more and there's a variety of gsm values to choose from. Is there a particular weight range that's recommended?

[pete]

If you plan to transfer to leather then don't waste your time with tracing paper. It "dissolves" when you get it wet. Use tracing film from Tandy or Springfield.

I have a few patterns that I did transfer to leather but I got a 3yd. roll of clear shelf paper at the Dollar Store (for a dollar!) and covered both sides. Made half a dozen belts from them and they are still good.

pete

[Domino]

I thought the better quality tracing papers ie vellum were waterproof? My problem is that it's available in a range of weights from 100gsm to 200gsm, and being in sealed boxes I can't judge by feel

[dirtclod]

You can try asking Kevin at Springfield Leather he might, might not tell you the weight they have. Won't cost anything to send a email anyway.

[Cyberthrasher]

I use the cheap tracing paper from wal mart every day - no dissolving problems here. It's light and doesn't wrinkle up as bad as the Tandy stuff did. Now, I would like to get some real Vellum paper, but can't afford it. So, if you were going to get some, I'd say something in the 60 - 80 lb area would be about right. I'm not sure how that translates to gsm. I have a 60 lb drawing pad here that says 89 g/m, so maybe 100? But, then again if you press really hard, the heavier the better. I don't press as hard because I like to be able to change my mind on the design one final time before I cut.

[Domino]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards getting a 100gsm A4 pack.. That'll go through my printer so I might be able to skip the pencil tracing step - though waiting for the ink to dry on vellum might take longer than tracing it would

[Cyberthrasher]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards getting a 100gsm A4 pack.. That'll go through my printer so I might be able to skip the pencil tracing step - though waiting for the ink to dry on vellum might take longer than tracing it would

Well, if you're going to do that then you might want to get the clear transfer sheets instead. Then you can save them and re-use the design. But, I'm at a point right now where penciling it helps me regain some of my unused art skills and also gets me more familiar with working the design.

[Domino]

I'm just getting started, and with so many tools on my shopping list, it's hard to justify spending so much on six sheets when I can get 50 for a third of the price. Plus I was surprised that there wasn't already a discussion on the various merits of different types of tracing paper here.

So if instead of taking advantage of others knowledge, I end up having to find my own answers to share, that's ok. At least there'll be a search result for gsm (grams per square meter) next time someone has similar questions

I've dug into it a little deeper and found one of the paper mills has a technical support department, so I've emailed them explaining what I want to use the paper for. I probably won't get a reply until tomorrow now though.

[Cyberthrasher]

I'm just getting started, and with so many tools on my shopping list, it's hard to justify spending so much on six sheets when I can get 50 for a third of the price. Plus I was surprised that there wasn't already a discussion on the various merits of different types of tracing paper here.

So if instead of taking advantage of others knowledge, I end up having to find my own answers to share, that's ok. At least there'll be a search result for gsm (grams per square meter) next time someone has similar questions

I've dug into it a little deeper and found one of the paper mills has a technical support department, so I've emailed them explaining what I want to use the paper for. I probably won't get a reply until tomorrow now though.

Well, I did the same search (minus gsm) when I first ran out. Search for something like transfer paper or something and you'll get lots of results. A lot of people use the clear shelf paper available in most places like walmart or the dollar store (some reason I couldn't find any in mine). Other people just say Vellum paper with not discussion on weights. I'm not sure why those transfer sheets cost you so much. Just to be sure we're on the same page, you were looking at the overhead projector sheets right? Like I said earlier, I have absolutely NO problems with the cheap lightweight tracing paper. It was $2 for a 40 sheet pack. I'd say just get yourself some of that and then start making things. You can focus on higher quality paper later if you're not happy with the results for some reason.

[Domino]

Well, I did the same search (minus gsm) when I first ran out. Search for something like transfer paper or something and you'll get lots of results. A lot of people use the clear shelf paper available in most places like walmart or the dollar store (some reason I couldn't find any in mine). Other people just say Vellum paper with not discussion on weights. I'm not sure why those transfer sheets cost you so much. Just to be sure we're on the same page, you were looking at the overhead projector sheets right? Like I said earlier, I have absolutely NO problems with the cheap lightweight tracing paper. It was $2 for a 40 sheet pack. I'd say just get yourself some of that and then start making things. You can focus on higher quality paper later if you're not happy with the results for some reason.

I guess gsm must not be as prevalent a measure in the USA - over here in Europe it's only children's paper that doesn't mention it. It's used as the standard for matching the paper handling capability of printers to paper as well as for choosing appropriate paper.

We aren't on the same page about overhead projector sheets - I thought you meant Tandy's transfer sheets, thanks for clarifying

[Cyberthrasher]

See, I knew there had to be something funny there. Here's the good stuff. Still a little spendy at $0.20 a sheet, but it will last.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-PP2500-Plain-Copier-Transparency/dp/B00004TS5I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1332172557&sr=8-2

My children's tracing paper I'm using says 40 gm or something like that and it will definitely melt in a printer. But, like I said, I use the tracing with pencil to my advantage to understand the design and what the cuts are going to be a little better.

[benlilly1]

In my opinion...tracing film is the only way to go. It can be reused time and time again. Also when you use the stylus you can tell exactly what you've traced by the impression.

[Domino]

Thanks for the tips everyone, that and this thread http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=34118 have given me a lot of options to consider. I've not heard back from the paper mill..