I want to make some patterns that I can use over and over again
What is the best material to make them from??
I need to be able to trace around these patterns for cutting
Allan
No expert here, but I took over making motorcyle seat covers from a beer drinking upholsterer and he used Budwieser cardboard cases to make patterns Needless, to say, he bought by the case! ;D They worked nicely me! I have also used 1/8" luen and waterboard for permanent patterns.
Allan,
I'd be interested in answers to this too. I've just been using 4 mil poly from Lowe's Home Improvement. I know some on here use clear plastic that is heavier and it would stand up better to continued use.
For some small patterns, I use some plastic sheet material that came from a hobby store. It is stiff and thicker like poster board and is easy to trace around the edges by running your pencil along the edge, unlike 4 mil poly which is too flimsy. It is not clear or even easy to see through at all. It would not be good for making a pattern, but you could trace a pattern on to it and it would work fine. It comes in sheets the size of poster board.
I use clear vinyl, It's flexible and takes the shape of your form just like the material used to cover it. It's durable in the fact it doesn't tear or rip. You can mark on it with a marker and it doesn't rub off or transfer to the material being used.
For example on seat foam, I'll draw my design, seams, and reference marks out on th foam, usually only patterning half of the seat, the I'll lay down the clear vinyl and smooth out any wrinkles pulling it snug and then just trace all of my marks from the foam underneath onto the vinyl
They are pemenant too, If I know I may need it again I'll roll it up and put it in a cabinet untill I do. Two years ago I made seat upholstery, rudder, and skid fin covers, cockpit covers and air intake, and exhaust plugs for a local hydroplane race team (check out missmadison.com sometime) They called up a year later and needed some more covers made, so I just pulled out my old patterns and delivered a finished piece to them ready to go.
Kyle
For patterns that I have set up for many repeated uses I have transferred my clear vinyl patterns to hardboard and cut them out on the bandsaw. Only a little time invested and a 4 x8 sheet of hardboard doesn't cost much. Using the hardboard patterns then makes for very quick material layout.
I only do this for work that I'm real sure I will have lots of repeat business on.
I think the size of your pieces would determine the best material - also the number of pieces you plan on storing. My patterns all remain in 4 or 6 mil poly sheeting (they don't make luan in 20 x 30 foot pieces as far as I know). I think if you have small pieces but plan on storing lots of them, the thickness of the material would have to be considered. The problem I see with cardboard/posterboard is that the edges will get compressed over time and sharp points or fine details will get bent and distorted unless you handle them with kid gloves.
In the "rag biz" the patterns are transferred to "oaktag", a manilla-colored, lightweight cardboard. Marks that show where adjoining pcs. are to line up are notched in. Typically, the centre point of any curve or longish stitching run is notched. "Back pcs." are double notched at the centres. Patterns are hung on hooks with holes punched through the pcs..
Be careful using clear vinyl for patterns (more specifically the clear, rolled plastic used for windows in marine canvas). It will shrink over time.
For things like awning sides/returns, by all means fire up the band saw... you know the most commonly used heights and projections are not going to change. And cut your frill (valence) patterns the same way... they're all based on standard width goods and you can just slap them down and trace them out. Badabing, badaboom!
I use PVC window material and some ladies i have sewing for me
from time to time use the card like bobbin uses.
Rich
Allan:
If you have a hobby shop close buy, pick up some foam core boards. They are cheap, can be cut easily with an exacto knife and can be used over and over again.
Cheers mate,
Chris
If I know I'm going to use it a few times, I'll do it in thin chipboard. Then it can be recycled later if I stop using the pattern. My patterns for clear vinyl covers for Ford truck seats (they weren't used in a year or so) are now the side panels in a 32 Ford.
If I have a pattern that will be used only a couple of times I make it on heavy paper. We do all the upholstery for an amusment park (rollercoaster upholstery! Has it's ups and downs!) and have many many patterns for all the various rides. For the last few years I've been transfering all the old paper/vinyl patterns to HDPE sheets ( high density polyethelyne). It comes in various thicknesses we use about an 1/8". It cuts easily with a light score and then snaps off cleanly. I write any info on with a sharp awl then rub chalk in the scratches. The board is black and the scratches hold the chalk 'permenantly'.
Quote from: Peppy on July 22, 2010, 03:51:31 am
If I have a pattern that will be used only a couple of times I make it on heavy paper. We do all the upholstery for an amusment park (rollercoaster upholstery! Has it's ups and downs!) and have many many patterns for all the various rides. For the last few years I've been transfering all the old paper/vinyl patterns to HDPE sheets ( high density polyethelyne). It comes in various thicknesses we use about an 1/8". It cuts easily with a light score and then snaps off cleanly. I write any info on with a sharp awl then rub chalk in the scratches. The board is black and the scratches hold the chalk 'permenantly'.
Where do HDPE sheets come from? Never heard of them. Are they used for something else too?
I've got alot of patterns for my boardcovers, I use 3mm sheets of craft wood( the stuff on the back of most modern cupboards) If you go to your local hardware, they use the 3mm sheets as cover sheets to protect a pack of sheets, they charge me $5 for a 2400mmx1200mm sheet usually in near perfect condition
HDPE is High density Polyethylene
or polythene.
Rich
http://www.roechling-plastics.us/rochling.asp?id=268&category=6
I think it's what they make yogurt containers out of. I use it for all kinds of things, jigs, gauges, guides, templates and what not. We also make bellows for stone quarry saws with it, and it's why we have it laying around. It's hugely useful, though and I couldn't do without it.
covers that I make repeatedly I use my normal 6 mil shrinkwrap for also and I roll them up on empty canvas roll cardboard tubes. theese are for repetitive covers for dealors I work with and outboard motor covers ill save the patterns.
hehe nice avtar Mike ..
what did you do ? mess up the local sherrifs canvas ?
Quote from: Peppy on July 22, 2010, 06:27:24 pm
http://www.roechling-plastics.us/rochling.asp?id=268&category=6
I think it's what they make yogurt containers out of. I use it for all kinds of things, jigs, gauges, guides, templates and what not. We also make bellows for stone quarry saws with it, and it's why we have it laying around. It's hugely useful, though and I couldn't do without it.
Is this the link for the source?
Quote from: hdflame on July 23, 2010, 10:03:39 am
Is this the link for the source?
Ya, thats where we get it. I think we order from simplastics? A division of roechling I guess. I think they have minimum orders and such. I'm not the order guy. I just do the work. One thing I noticed, our sheets are 36"x49". They don't mention that size on the website.
Starboard is also an HPDE. Cutting boards are HPDE. The Ultra or UHDPE is denser and costs a lot more. I bought a sheet aof HDPE at a plastics supplier for some seat bottoms that get wet all the time. 1/2" $140. Holds a staple really tight. Probably work great for patterns if you got thin stuff or end lots. Real slippery stuff, though.
Like Saddleman; if I want to re-use the pattern alot I use cheap wall panelling. It doesn't take up much room the,the edges don't get compromised and I have just reminded myself how much faster they are than a soft template. I'm on the last volley of 40 some bar stools for a bar here in Brandon and made myself a paneling template for one piece but am using soft patterns for the other pieces. It is so much faster to trace something that doesn't need to be flattened or held or coddled to keep it put.
June's comment on size kick started my last two brain cells. You're smaller parts can be cut out of the centre of the template for the larger pieces. I like to drill a hole in the "corner" so that I can tie and hang the set together and try to remember to label them well along with any special notes or dimensions (i.e border is 5"X 65")
Quote from: Darren Henry on August 30, 2010, 06:45:36 pm
Like Saddleman; if I want to re-use the pattern alot I use cheap wall panelling. It doesn't take up much room the,the edges don't get compromised and I have just reminded myself how much faster they are than a soft template. I'm on the last volley of 40 some bar stools for a bar here in Brandon and made myself a paneling template for one piece but am using soft patterns for the other pieces. It is so much faster to trace something that doesn't need to be flattened or held or coddled to keep it put.
June's comment on size kick started my last two brain cells. You're smaller parts can be cut out of the centre of the template for the larger pieces. I like to drill a hole in the "corner" so that I can tie and hang the set together and try to remember to label them well along with any special notes or dimensions (i.e border is 5"X 65")
I'm going to Lowe's Home Improvement this morning to buy some luan to make some patterns. I like the idea of cutting smaller pieces out of the middle...hadn't thought of that! What do you use to cut them out with? I was going to just use a jigsaw with a fine wood cutting blade. I've also thought about getting a bench mounted belt/disc sander to smooth out the edges. For now I think I'll just do it by hand.
When you said wall board, I assume luan would work as well, or is it something special about wall board?
QuoteWhen you said wall board, I assume luan would work as well, or is it something special about wall board?
I'd never heard of luan until I met you folks a few years ago. It's not common up here and not just every small town lumber yard has it. wall paneling ( "y'all remember the 70's ? It ran from the shag rug right up to stiple ceiling in every danged room. 8). ) is worth an hours work at minimum wage for the stuff you'd hang. Half that for scratched,broken, too ugly to sell. and common as dirt.
Quote from: Darren Henry on September 01, 2010, 06:36:38 pm
QuoteWhen you said wall board, I assume luan would work as well, or is it something special about wall board?
I'd never heard of luan until I met you folks a few years ago. It's not common up here and not just every small town lumber yard has it. wall paneling ( "y'all remember the 70's ? It ran from the shag rug right up to stiple ceiling in every danged room. 8). ) is worth an hours work at minimum wage for the stuff you'd hang. Half that for scratched,broken, too ugly to sell. and common as dirt.
Luan is easier to find now than the cheap paneling. When we first got married....29 years ago, we went looking at mobile homes. All of them had wood paneling back then, no sheetrock like these days. There was so much formaldehyde in that paneling, that if you walked into a new mobile home, your eyes burned and you could hardly breathe.
No wonder people had asthma and breathing problems and kids with birth defects. We didn't think the gov. would allow manufacturers to use something harmful! Boy, were we wrong!
QuoteWhen you said wall board, I assume luan would work as well, or is it something
Quote
No wonder people had asthma and breathing problems and kids with birth defects. We didn't think the gov. would allow manufacturers to use something harmful! Boy, were we wrong!
Haha Yeah, we were all much younger and more naive back then weren't we... :'(
I got the luan and cut out my patterns today. It's going to work fine. I used a fine metal cutting blade. It left a pretty smooth edge. Most of the splintering rubbed off with my fingers.
Peppy, I checked out that link for the black plastic. Wasn't sure exactly what I was looking for, so I guess I need to call them.
Yesterday I went by one of the upholsters in town to see what they used. I don't think they make any permanent patterns...but I did get a line on some black 4X8 sheets of plastic for patterns. I think it might be the HDPE that you were talking about. He said a salesman had just came by a couple of weeks ago and had some black plastic that could be used for patterns or door panels. I contacted the salesman and he's gonna call when he comes back through. Hopefully it's the stuff you're talking about.
Do you remember how much it is? I think he told me it was about $40 for a 4X8 sheet and it came in 2 thicknesses.
BTW, I noticed that Röchling Engineering Plastics - East, is in Dallas, NC...about 3 hours from me.