Easy Patterns and Templates

Today I offer you a great trick for working with extremely precise cuts like scroll work and detailing from a template or drawing. Whether you are working from a purchased plan or are creating a fancy design from scratch for a customer, sometimes one of the hardest things to do is to copy out the details onto your work piece. So, I am going to share with you a great way to do this.

If the pattern you want to replicate on your work comes from a book or pattern pack, or even downloaded off the Internet, you can quickly transfer that image to your wooden stock by doing the following extremely simple steps. Take your pattern to your local library and photocopy the pattern on their laser copier. If you have a laser printer you can even do this at home. Make sure you use the scale feature to make it the right size. If you need you can also flip the pattern in the process (most photocopiers can do this). Once you have your copy take it back to your woodworking shop and lay it, face down, on your stock. Grab your iron (yes, the same one you use on your clothes) and on a low heat iron the back of the paper. The iron will melt the ink and transfer a perfect copy onto your wood.

If working from something you have done by hand, you may need to scan it into your computer and fix it up a bit with a graphics program. MSPaint is good enough for most projects. I have used MSPaint to make patterns, enlarge them, or to make perfectly symmetrical patterns from a half image. For those with more computer mastery you can download a great free program called GIMP. It is like MSPaint on steroids. (I use GIMP as my primary art tool on my computer.)

Using this photocopy and iron technique you can make multiple perfect copies of any pattern. The only thing left is a careful hand on whatever tool you plan to use to cut it out, whether it be a scroll saw, a jig saw or any other machine..

The Woodworking Holiday and Wainscotting with a Biscuit Jointer

I just got back from my summer vacation. If you have been following the blog then you probably noticed the big gap in posts. It was a good break. Yet, as so often happens, I went on holiday from this job only to find myself working at another.

A friend of mine pulled me in to do some wainscoting on his house. It wasn't a big job and it didn't take long. What is of interest though, is that this is the first time I have done wainscoting with a biscuit jointer. Last time I did some wainscoting it was of a style that didn't accommodate the use of a biscuit jointer and the time before that was before the biscuit jointer was a 'common tool'.

I like the biscuit jointer. I always have. From the first time I saw it used, to my first cheap jointer, to the top notch machine I wield now. I like it. It is a good machine that makes very specific woodworking practices super easy.

This was no different. The wainscoting was a classic rail and stile pattern with a cove trim and flat oak panel. Simple, elegant, and beautiful. From the word 'go' I knew I was going to use the biscuit jointer on this project. I made some design decisions around the fact. When it finally came time to do the project I was absolutely delighted. The biscuit jointer came through for me again. It made quick and accurate work of both the end joints on the rail and stile and the corner face joints.

If you are thinking of putting some wainscoting in your home I highly recommend getting your hands on a biscuit jointer. You can always get one from us at Woodtoolstore.com