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Todd Todd is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Aug 2006
Posts: 20
Default uggggguh, pattern making. Any tips for the frustrated?


ray lunder wrote:
On 4 Oct 2006 07:26:17 -0700, "Todd" wrote:


I guess there's a reason why you cannot simply lay your cap stock
directly on the combing and trace onto the stock.


I tried that first. The stock kind of rocks a little as I change body
position and my pencil changes angle as I draw anyway. I probably just
need more practice. Plus by the time I make an imperfect band saw cut
and try to sand it all true things have gone south.


Sometimes I use a couple of bags of lead shot on top of my stock to
hold it in place in difficult situations. Sash weights may work as
well. I know what you mean about holding your pencil straight. I've
shaved a flat face on one side of the graphite point and wood leading
to the point so that I can have a positive surface to steady the pencil
with on occassion. I also keep a supply of short stubby pencils handy
for difficult spots.

You may be able to fine tune the curve once it's mounted onto your
combing, either temporarily of permanently, by first applying masking
tape to the combing to protect it from scratches and then sanding your
work piece with 80g sandpaper to within a hair's breadth, then going to
finer grits. You can sand the masking tape almost through if your
careful, w/o scratching the surface below.