Spend your time carving, not drafting.
This is a really cool way to get intricate and accurate patterns onto
flat wood.
This is a very cheap process if you already have a computer and printer.
You can size patterns to fit a particular piece of wood.
If you screw it up it only costs you time to re-sand your wood and run
another print.
The ink is water based and does not sink deep into the wood.
1. Draw your design in the computer.
You will want only line art, no shading.
Vector drawing programs will probably be best, such as Adobe Illustrator
or CorelDRAW.
You can scan in a photo of anything you want to carve, a face, a chip
carving, words, etc.
‘Import’ the photo and use it to trace over.
This is weird, if you have letters flip them over in the computer just
before you print.
They will be fine on your wood at the end of this process.
2. Prepare your wood.
Use 220 grit sandpaper to give your wood a little ‘tooth’.
I planned some wood and it was too slick for this process.
3. Print your line art in an INK JET printer, NOT a LASER printer.
Print on clear plastic, buy sheets for Overhead Projectors at any office
supply store.
Here is the secret - buy sheets for LASER printers.
Why would you put laser sheets through your ink jet printer?
The ink does not dry.
This is the ink you are going to be pressing onto your wood.
If you look closely at the plastic sheet when it comes out of the printer
you will see the small droplets of ink sitting on the surface.
4. Have your wood dust free and ready.
Carefully take your plastic sheet from your printer and slowly place it
on your wood.
You have quite a few minutes to do this, the water based ink does not
dry very fast.
Turn your printed plastic sheet wet side down, if you have lettering
you will see why we flipped the letters earlier.
Take your time to line it up before you touch it to the wood.
Pin it down with a couple of your fingers.
Do not let it move.
Simply rub the plastic with your finger or a soft cloth.
The wet ink will transfer right onto your wood.
If the plastic sheet moves while you are pressing the ink onto the wood,
simply sand your piece of wood and do it again.
5. Clean your plastic sheet under running water and dry with a soft cloth.
You can use this sheet over and over, nothing else to buy.
If you have any suggestions or questions, please get in touch with me.
John Teisberg
Phone: 651-645-9299
This article can be found at www.itsimplyworks.com/woodcarvers
Thank you.
© John Teisberg 2004
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