Making your own Printwood

Phugoid · Post by **Phugoid** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:13 pm

When I build a kit design, but not from a kit (ie from old scanned plans off t'internet) then I normally print out the paterns on paper, then use 3M "Spray Mount" to attach the paper to the balsa then cut through both and peel the paper off later on.

But I ran out of Spray Mount, so I tried a method that I read about. This means printing the parts out onto paper with a laser Printer/photocopier (NOT inkjet) placing the paper over the wood and then using Mrs Phugoids Iron to melt the toner to the balsa, and guess what? it works a treat! It does bow the balsa a little but I simply ran the Iron over the back and it went flat again.

Just thought I'd pass it on as it's simple and as cheap as chips.......

Andrew

ADW 123 · Post by **ADW 123** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:23 pm

I would like to hear more details about your new method. It sounds appealing.

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 5:19 pm

You can use other things to make printed wood.

However, you MUST use a laser printer. INK JETS will not work. Trust me I have tried about even known solvent on ink jet print outs and got nothing to work.

Acetone, alcohol and heat will transfer the ink off the paper to the wood.

I still use post it note glue and cut out the paper templates and stick them to the wood and start cutting. You get almost no glue residue like the spay glues.

ADW 123 · Post by **ADW 123** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 5:20 pm

What is a laser printer???

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 6:20 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_printer

ADW 123 · Post by **ADW 123** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:26 pm

oooooo. I can print/scan at school, so ill try the method. so i just press the paper down (ink side down) to the woood, and then rub pure acetone (ive got lots of that) on the back of it, and the ink will come up onto the wood?? if this is correct, sounds like ive been waising my time cutting out things the way i have!!!

Phugoid · Post by **Phugoid** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:19 am

The Advantage of using the laser printer/iron method id that there are no chemicals involved, the heat of the iron does the trick.

On the one I tried, I even flipped the image in my Graphics package at work, so when i printed it the letters and numbers came the right way round. It looks EXACTLY like the original you'd have found in the kit...

I'll Post some pics later, I do wish that the forum would be updated to allow direct posting of pictures, it's a real pain in the bum otherwise...

Andrew