What is the best way to do this?

I don't know if there IS a BEST way......there are several that I have used and all seem pretty sucessful.

First, just trace it on with the old standby carbon paper (both views)

Second, instead of that inky carbon paper, try the hobby shop transfer paper. It is a bit more expensive but doesn't have that waxy inky stuff, only a pencil-like carbon mark.

Third, use a ponce wheel to run over the pattern. This will leave a bunch of holes in your pattern and little teeth marks to indicate the pattern on the wood.

Fourth you can spray the back of your pattern with tacky adhesive and stick it right onto the wood before cutting it out on the band saw or coping saw.

Hope this helps.

Al

[Anthony Filetti]

I find that carbon paper works very well since it leaves a dark enough line for old people like myself to see. As far as the ink goes if you cut it right you will obliterate it with the saws kerf. Another advantage is that it's cheap and lasts damn near forever.

[jamesfa]

i will usually glue the front & side view to my block of wood
and then bandsaw both.or i will glue the pattern to some thick cardboard cut it out and then draw it on the block of wood and then saw my blank. i will do it this way if i feel i may want to make more than one

[Donna_T]

Okay, here's another way
If you are transferring a pattern to a flat, smooth piece of wood....like for a relief carving....you can photocopy the pattern and iron it on--ink side down next to the wood. I just use my regular household iron on high --moving it back and forth--checking to see if it is transferring--until the whole thing is transferred. There is a little gadget that looks like a stub-nosed wood burning pen that sells just for this task, but you know us carvers--we'll look for another way to do it to save a few bucks that we can then spend on wood or other tools!

The only problems I've found:
1. If you forget and iron the ink print side--you'll muck up your wife's iron and mama will hurt you.
2. Sometimes it takes several minutes of 'ironing' to get the pattern transferred clearly.
3. When you photocopy and then turn the pattern ink-side down, you get a reverse pattern. You can resolve this by first photocopying it onto a transparency--then you can photocopy it from either direction...depending on which way you want your design turned.
4. If your wood isn't smooth, the pattern doesn't transfer well--the little bumps and lines in the wood will prevent the process.

Try it. It works well for flat chip carving patterns too.

Donna T

Yup, Donna, that's one I forgot about! Instead of using Ma's iron (I learned better, much sooner on) my cheapo woodburning pen has a wide domed transfer tip that works real well.

Al

[BasketballJones]

After photocopying or tracing the pattern, I place it on the wood and trace over it again with a ballpoint pen. It indents the wood. I then retrace the indentation on the wood with a pencil and make my depth markings. I use a desklamp so I don't go blind. I ventured into this method after I smeared the carbon paper and made a mess cleaning up a carving.