Freezer Paper - an awesome tool

[Mahuna]

I'm relatively new to ship modeling, and lately have been cutting some pieces out from patterns for spiling, etc.  I started by using rubber cement to adhere the pattern to the wood, but didn't like the amount of mess and the residue left on the wood.  I've tried a few other glues, but they basically gave me the same issues.

 

My wife is a quilter, and suggested using freezer paper (she calls it the quilter's best friend):  draw the pattern on the plain side of the paper, put the waxy side down on the wood, and iron it onto the wood with a low-temperature iron.  It worked great!  Adheres to the wood and doesn't move around while working with it, then easily peals off with no residue on the wood.  A side benefit is that the pattern can be reused if desired, since the wax on the back doesn't come off on the wood.

 

Since this worked, I wondered how the paper would work in a printer.  I cut a piece to 8.5X11, flattened it by rolling it around a piece of pvc pipe a few times, then printed a test pattern on it in my inkjet printer (I don't think this would work in a laser printer because of the heat).  It worked great.  Now when I learn to use CAD and learn to loft frames using CAD, I'll be able to print out self-adhering patterns.

 

Frank

[st george]

Frank,

 

Thanks for sharing this tip with us. I must give it a try.

 

David

[mtaylor]

Good tip, Frank.  Is this paper something from a hobby/craft store?   I've not heard of it before.

[Mahuna]

Hi Mark:

 

Not a hobby supply, but a KITCHEN supply.  You'll find it in the supermarket section that has foil, baggies, saran, etc.

 

Frank

[edmay]

Hello Frank, what a brilliant idea,please post any more results with your printer,thanks Edwin

[Jim Lad]

Devilishly clever, these Admirals!

 

John

[tarbrush]

what a great idea, thanks Frank!

[Geoff Matson]

my wife is also a quilter and often comes up with some good ideas. Thanks for the post

[WackoWolf]

Now this is something i have to try, I hate the clean up because of rubber cement. Post some pictures if you can.

[Mahuna]

Here are some photos of the Freezer Paper in use.  

 

First, I cut out some freezer paper in 8x11.5 sheets, and flattened them by wrapping them around a piece of pvc a few times.  When the curl wasn't so pronounced I loaded it into the printer and then copied part of a plan sheet (Mayflower by Chuck, purchased from Model Expo) and printed it to the freezer paper.

 

 

Then I cut out the bulkheads I was interested in, positioned them on a sheet of 1/32 plywood, and laid a medium-hot iron on top of them for about ten seconds - done.  I can now cut out the bulkheads on my scroll saw.  The freezer paper is adhered well enough that the saw doesn't pull it off the wood.

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Frank

 

[Yambo]

It's called greaseproof paper in the UK.

[Nirvana]

Thanks for the tip,

 

Have been thinking of how to do the lofting easier, this is great.

 

Scratch built!!!

[WackoWolf]

Thank you for posting the pictures. Excellent tip. Maybe this should go into the MSW Database.

[runner63]

Interesting tip, thanks so much, sir

 

runner63

[Mahuna]

Hi all;

 

An update on using freezer paper.

 

I left the freezer paper cutouts of the bulkheads on the plywood since I posted the photo (4 days ago) because I had to leave on a business trip.  When I picked them up today I could see the paper was separating from the wood and not adhering very well.  This isn't a surprise, since I expect that the wax will revert to its normal consistency after a short while.

 

The lesson learned is simple - for best results, cut the wood as soon as possible after applying the freezer paper template.  Still better than messing with glue!

 

Frank

[mtaylor]

Excellent tip, Frank.  For some, the freezer paper may not be and option. Or alternately, change the way we work so that we do the pattern then cut as opposed to letting it sit for a day or so before we can get to it.

[capnharv2]

Here's a dumb question-is Freezer paper the same a Wax paper?

[Mahuna]

No - not the same. Wax paper is coated on both sides, so you would not be able to write on it or to use it in a printer.

 

The coating may also be different - I'm not sure on that - but you couldn't use wax paper in the way I'm using freezer paper.

 

Frank

[mtaylor]

Harvey,

It might also be labeled as "butcher's paper".  It's white, waxed on one side only.  I've not had a chance to check out the supermarket, Target, Costco, etc.... but I can see where this stuff would be way useful.

[capnharv2]

I'll want to do more checking too Mike. What I recall as "Butcher's paper" is brown.

 

I don't know, maybe I grew up in an alternate universe

 

Harvey

[Nirvana]

I'll want to do more checking too Mike. What I recall as "Butcher's paper" is brown.

 

I don't know, maybe I grew up in an alternate universe

 

Harvey

Harvey, the butcher paper I recall is brown.

Walmart has the freezer paper cheap. Look for the Reynold brand.

[capnharv2]

Thanks Per. I'll look for it!

 

Harvey

[Mahuna]

I discovered today that you can buy freezer paper pre-cut to 8.5 X 11 so that it can fit in a printer.  It comes in 30 or 50 sheet packages and is called Quilter's Freezer Paper.  So far I've seen it in Joann's and in Amazon.  It's more expensive than the roll normally found in the supermarket, but it saves the cutting to size and trying to get the curl out. 

[ndeconte]

GREAT tip Frank!

[Tigerdvr]

Thanks Frank, this fits under "work smarter not harder"

[allanyed]

Certainly much cheaper than blank label paper which I have been using exclusively for a few years now.  Will give the freezer paper a try.

 Thanks for the  tip.

 

Allan

[wedge]

handy tip,I'll have to remember it.

[Mahuna]

It's wax coated on one side only.  The other side is like a regular bond paper, and can be written on or used in a printer.

[twintrow]

Frank did you notice any shrinkage or distortion with the printed page?   I guess if you set the printer for full size it should come out pretty close?

thanks

Tom

[Mahuna]

It prints the same as regular paper, so if your printer is doing a good job with that you shouldn't have a problem with freezer paper.