Sunday, January 17, 2010

PROJECT: PPW. DAY 9

Today got off to a late start. Bed time came at about 5:15 AM. I had been up for ALMOST 23 hours. Late this afternoon, I attempted to cut my templates out of a piece of Plexiglas. Things did NOT go well. I used a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade (finer teeth than a wood blade). I got a few pieces to come out in 1 piece but the edges were not smooth, a little sanding should have fixed it, but no, sanding just melted the Plexi. Another thing I found is that if I used a slow speed the plexi melted and if I went fast the plexi cracked. There was NO happy medium. I now have a floor full of cracked plexi and melted plexi chips!! Got any salsa?

Back to the drawing board on that. May find some sheet acrylic (thicker than the Plexi)and try again with a fine-tooth band saw.

I then decided if I print my foundations on my printer by ironing freezer paper to the back side that would be quicker than creating the foundations by hand. STRIKE TWO!!! I still have muslin and freezer paper stuck in my printer.

Argh! I think I need to go sew for a while... That'll make me feel better..

Until next time.

Questions and comments welcome.

10 comments:

  1. Some days your better off staying in bed.

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  2. You gave me a smile with this post...as I thought I was the only one who did things like this and tried to keep doing them.
    thanks.

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  3. Geez, Greg - sounds like you had a rough day. But I admire you for trying!

    You'll probably have better luck with the acrylic. (As an aside... I know a guy who laser cuts acrylic if you need it. Well, I don't know him personally, but I have his shop address if you want it.)

    For printing foundations to fabric... I haven't had luck with the freezer paper method or preparing my own fabric for printing, although I know some have. One tip would be to put masking tape on the leading edge of the paper - if you're going to try again! I guess every method has its pros & cons. Maybe Raymond should get you a set of stamps! :)

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  4. Did you try printing those on a laser printer? (ouch) If so you probably ruined the printer.
    Cutting plexiglass into any shape other than a rectangle is VERY difficult.


    Might I suggest plasticized cardboard. (or cover cardboard with contact paper and then cut your shapes from it)

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  5. Greg, Greg, Greg . . .

    Here's the link to the company I got my metal templates from: http://www.ardcotemplates.com/ . . . a 1/2" seam allowance was built-in; I can use my rotary cutter with them; and the set was less than $30.

    As for printing foundations on your printer, I've been asked why don't I use that method. I'd rather not think of the threads, lint, etc. that could damage my printer (not to mention the permanence of toner or ink) . . . besides ink cartridges ain't cheap. I found a non-woven product called Perfect Piecing by June Tailor (http://www.junetailor.com/) that's supposed to work in printers or copiers (and it's thin enough to trace through) . . . I haven't used it because it comes in packages of 8-1/2" x 11" sheets, and I wouldn't want any of it to go to waste (maybe I'd print one 6" square and two 3" squares (plus seam allowances) per sheet to use it efficiently).

    For now, I'm sticking with my somewhat labor-intensive low-tech method . . . ideally, I'd like to find a company to print them by the thousands, but I can't justify the cost for just myself.

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  6. You didn't have a great day, I see. Tomorrow will be better. The best foundation paper is Carol Doak's and it works perfectly each and every time.
    Micki

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  7. Don't you just love when nothing goes right? It is very difficult sometimes. Greg, I have nominated you for the Lemonade Stand Award because you have always been very supportive and I love reading your blog. Congrats!

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  8. Sorry your day went badly. I haven't copied any photo's on fabric yet, but I have several friends that have. One of the fabric sheets is the best, the others aren't so good. Let me check with my friends on this and I'll get back with you. That is if you haven't given up. :)

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  9. Bummer about your plexiglas templates not working out. Do you have access to a band saw? I borrowed my brother's to make me some templates out of plexiglas one day. He was helpful and scribed the pieces for me. He tried to be even more helpful and used a Sharpie so that I could see the cutting lines. I couldn't see the scribe marks then. It still worked even though the templates were off by a hair or two. I used a good ole' emery board to file the edges where it had rolled up from cutting it...lesson learned at former job working as a punch & mold maker. BTW-The blade that I used was a wood blade. Might have been a finer wood blade...so I was told.

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