Transfer Patterns/letters...

[ICALL2MUCH]

OK, so I have done some searching around this site, and it seems that all you have to do is print something out, and then go over it with a hot transfer stick and it will go over to the wood??? Sounds way too easy to be true...

Thanks,
Willie

[mdallensr]

Too good to be true is correct, but you're not too far off. You can heat-transfer a pattern to wood by placing the pattern face-down and ironing the paper. The pattern must come from a copy machine or a printer that uses toner (laser printer), not an ink-jet printer. You also need a hot iron, and there is a special but simple ironing tool do do the transfer. Our friend, instructor, and ambassador for carving, Dennis Moor of Chipping Away, offers the complete heat transfer kit.

http://www.chippingaway.com/WoodCarv...ransferKit.htm

This technique is really useful for patterns with a lot of detail such as relief and chip carving. It works best with a flat, clean and smooth wood surface. If your pattern isn't complicated, it's probably quicker to trace it with graphite or carbon paper. If you're going to carve a bunch of identical items such as song birds, it may be best/quickest to make a cardstock template for each view and trace around the templates. Mike

[woodbutcher]

I use good old carbon paper for all my transfers. On occasion I will use an overhead projector.

[Anthony Filetti]

...carbon paper is my choice too, its cheap and easy!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

You don't really need a lot of heat and don't waste you money on one of those "heat " machines........when turned on they keep getting hotter and hotter and will char your pattern......dummy that designed that had never heard of a heat control I guess! I have also used acetone, damp rag and wipe across the back of the pattern, takes some practice and most times not a real complete dark pattern but enough you can fill in the blank areas. I prefer graphite paper to carbon paper.

[BobD]

Acetone or lacquer thinner have worked for me. I also prefer graphite paper because I can erase it; carbon paper is wax based, and you need to carve it away.

I've also been known to do the scroll saw trick and use spray adhesive to attach the pattern directly to the wood.

Bob

[ICALL2MUCH]

I alreasy have a "transfer" wand that goes to one of my woodburners, this is the same thing right? Looks the same to me.

[ICALL2MUCH]

Where can I get the graphite paper???

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

office supply store, or staples, or walmart....etc

[Eddy-Smiles]

Willie... Be careful when you're shopping around for graphite paper. Some brands are more expensive than others. Michaels sells Walnut Hollow and they want an arm and a leg for it. Walnut Hollow comes one each 12" x 24" piece to a package. Somewhere along the way, I'm not sure whether it was at Michaels or Joann's - could even have been at Hobby Lobby, I found graphite transfer paper under the Susan Scheewe (Weber) brand name with 6 each 8-1/2" x 12" pieces to a package and the reason that I bought it was that I couldn't believe how much cheaper it was than Walnut Hollow. There is probably some intentional difference but for my woodburning and carving purposes I haven't noticed. The Susan Scheewe brand appears to be intended for use with watercolors, acrylics and oils and claims to be wax free. The Walnut Hollow brand gives no claims or uses but inasmuch as they specialize in expensive (cheap) carving supplies who knows?