perezidentualwood Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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 perezidentualwood and Phantom Scroller 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sorcier Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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 perezidentualwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonR Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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 Scrolling Steve and perezidentualwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perezidentualwood Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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. perezidentualwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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!!! perezidentualwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkey Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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. perezidentualwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young_Scroller Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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 perezidentualwood and tomsteve 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawk Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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 tomsteve and perezidentualwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton717 Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 I hot glue the edges of mine too. I cut generally no less than 3 when stack cutting, using 1/8" Baltic birch. perezidentualwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 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 and Young_Scroller 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perezidentualwood Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Great advice everyone! Monday is gonna be fun day i guess! Thanks everyone! This place rocks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky2 Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 (edited) 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 perezidentualwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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