How do i stack cut a portrait?

[perezidentualwood]

Ok folks, i have been doing portraits for a little over a year now but only one at a time, i just got a request for 3 of the same person, i have no idea or have never tried to stack cut a portrait! How do i keep ann the pieces togetherand keep all the small parts from breaking off?

[edward]

What I do is cut  the wood to size of the portrait, I use 1/8" BB use blue painters tape and wrap them around the stack of 3 which will hold them together, then use spray adhesive then adhere the pattern to the wood, I find this works for me, others may have different ways. I use a 2/0 blade. Just my opinion.  edward

[Sorcier]

I do the same as Edward, but I also wrap clear packing tape around the entire piece, just as I do with the painters tape.  This helps hold the pattern in place and I am told lubricates the blade and keeps it cooler.  When the piece is done, it comes off with the painter's tape.

 

Ward

[DonR]

I do the same as Edward also. If your client wants 3, you probably should stack at least 4, just in case. Sometimes the bottom one has to be sacrificed. It has happened to me only once but I have heard that it does happen.

Don R

[perezidentualwood]

Awesome guys, i guess im gonna give it a go! But are the smaller parts such as parts of the eyes or teeth stronger with a stack cut or easier to break off?

[LarryEA]

Look at doing three like it was just one.

Using 1/4" (Luan,BB or ply pressbd).

Hot glue them together on corners (throw away spot)

Do the delicate cuts first. 

 

^{_{More detail:}}

I use "Glad Press & Seal" (You can see thru it),  roll it on the wood.

Attach pattern on Press&Seal w/spray glue

Top with packing tape.

Stack four if you are concerned about breakout. 

[LarryEA]

Awesome guys, i guess im gonna give it a go! But are the smaller parts such as parts of the eyes or teeth stronger with a stack cut or easier to break off?

Neither. I think it's the thickness of the wood that determines how delicate some cuts are. not necessarily stacking.

One problem with stacking it not having the blade and table "squared". If you are not at 90⁰ , then the bottom and

top will not match. Causing delicates to break out.

When the table and blade are at 90 degrees and a sharp blade, all will be well!!!

[Sparkey]

I also tape the three pieces together but with clear box tape. Make sure you don't push hard enough to make the blade bend when stack cutting.

[Young_Scroller]

I sometimes just use a bunch of brad nails in the waste pieces, this usually holds it together pretty tight, just put at least two or three in the final cut so it doesnt pivot

[Hawk]

Well, I take a whole different approach. If I need 3 I cut  5 then toss the bottom and top one, because the top one has the pattern and the bottom most of the time has plenty of tear out.. I stack 1/8" baltic birch together then hot glue the edges. I use a Flying Dutchman Polar 2/0 with the saw going as slow as it will go., The Lincoln in my profile was done this way.

The other factor is not to push to hard and bend the blade too much like Sparkey mentioned.

 

Enjoy...Chris

[Clayton717]

I hot glue the edges of mine too. I cut generally no less than 3 when stack cutting, using 1/8" Baltic birch.

[amazingkevin]

OK folks, i have been doing portraits for a little over a year now but only one at a time, i just got a request for 3 of the same person, i have no idea or have never tried to stack cut a portrait! How do i keep all the pieces together and keep all the small parts from breaking off?

Well i guess I'm the odd one out,as my way is completely different.I don't want fragile small things jumping around so i spray glue all of the stacked projects on top of each other,gluing tops and bottoms and press them together ,and or stand on them to get a good adhering of all projects.When i'm finished cutting i spray a mix of mineral spirits and acetone all over and everywhere and let it soak n good.Then i look for an opening that is coming apart and spray more mix in the crevice and gently separate and spray at the same time till one by one the are all separated from each other.Once that's done gently cleaning and spraying till all the glue is gone.Some times i make an aluminum foil tray to soak each project in for easier cleaning and removal.

[perezidentualwood]

Great advice everyone! Monday is gonna be fun day i guess! Thanks everyone! This place rocks!!

[Lucky2]

To stack cut I use 1/8"bb, first I cut the wood to size, then I sand the face of each piece. Then I use spring clamps to hold the layers together, next I work my way around the perimeter with a glue gun. The nice thing about using a glue gun, is that the glue can be removed easily. After gluing things together, I apply the pattern using spray glue. Then I drill all of the holes for blade insertion, after that, I sand the back piece to remove any whiskers. Lastly, I proceed on to the cutting of the pattern. How you remove the pattern is up to you, you must be used to doing that part. Especially if, your attempting to stack cut portraits.

Len

Edited January 9, 2016 by Lucky2