Printing Patterns

[Emac]

I do a lot of printing. This morning as I was refilling my printer ink I thought of everyone here and thought I would share this information. Buying printer cartridges is very costly and I have been refilling mine for years. Those refill kits a Wal-Mart are costly as well when you print the volume I do. First of all I buy the cheapest HP printer I can find. Usually they are around $30 or so. I then have a liter of ink that got from www.re-inks.com. It also costs around $30. That much ink will last you for a very long time. I keep an old medicine bottle that I pour ink into and then draw it out with the syringe. I use rubber gloves to keep the ink from getting on my hands. I always make the pictures black and white so I don't use color when printing. Color is too hard to refill.

It says on the website you can get 3 to 7 refills on a cartridge. I have found that I can get many more than that with an HP 21 cartridge. I refill them until they just plain wear out.

Now if someone could give me a tip about removing the pattern from the wood after it is cut I would appreciate it. I am using a lot of sanding pads. If you can't tell, I am very frugal.

[dgman]

Thanks for that information. I don't do alot of printing but I'm sure it will be helpful for others.
As for removing the pattern, first I use a lite coat of spray adhesive. I use 3M 77 spray adhesive. Let it set for about 30 seconds or so it is just tacky like masking tape. Then apply the pattern. I apply clear packing tape over the pattern.
After I'm done cutting, I use a heat gun to loosen the pattern from the wood. Then I use a little mineral spirits on a rag or paper towel to wipe up the excess glue.

[julief]

I just take some mineral spirits and wipe it over the paper.  The pattern lifts right off.

[MadHatter]

i do the same as dan does with my patterns as well, but i use a blow dryer instead of heat gun, works for me anyway. 

[Dawie]

Learned soething new , always have trouble getting allof the pattern off after using spray glue, will give the blow dryer a try next time.
David

[ChaplainRon]

I saw the tip about using spray glue hot air and box tape to secure patterns on Steve's blog.

I spent several hours on Youtube watching every video I could find about scroll saw. That is how I learned about The Scrollsaw Workshop and this forum.

Have fun and happy scrolling.

Ron

[Emac]

Thanks for the tip on the mineral spirits. I knew there had to be an easier way. I have been printing a lot of patterns from my computer to cut. That's why I put the tip on refilling the printer cartridge.

[Dan]

I like many others use clear packaging tape, I know people who use blue painters tape also. Then spray adhesive to the back of the pattern and attach it to the tape on the wood. You do not need expensive photo adhesive. I use plain 3m 777.  I do not have much of a problem removing same unless its been some time since it was applied. Then I use a hot air gun to soften the adhesive. I have applied a sheet of sand paper to a piece of 1X12, that I use to sand the cuttings. This takes any adhesive off quickly. I have never needed mineral spirits. I like Nortons premium sand paper 150, or 220 grit. You may like a finer grit for certian woods.

Dan

[northie66]

I never use spray adhesive.  I just put the paper pattern on the wood and put clear packing tape over top.

[Judy Hunter]

I cover the wood with blue painters tape, then use plane old glue stick to stick the paper pattern onto the tape.
When I am done cutting the blue tape comes right off and no residue.

[GWhit]

I use the blue tape.  Possibly more expensive but simple.  When I'm done cutting my wife removes the tape, what could be better?
Gordon