My spray adhesive is broken

[Roberta Moreton]

I no longer use the blue tape. Easier to use some mineral spirits to take the pattern off if needed. I do use packing tape over top. I keep scotch tape nearby, just in case.

[Lucky2]

I use Elmer's spray glue, I've used it for years and I've never ever had a pattern lift on me. There is a shelf life to these types of glue, I don't recall what it is but there is one. So, maybe you people are buying old outdated glue. When it's time for me to buy a new can of spray glue, I always buy from the back of the stock. The store clerks are supposed to rotate the stock, this means they are supposed to put the new stock (glue) in this case to the back of the shelf. I don't know if the store does rotate their stock, but I know I've never had an issue with any spray glue. So, maybe I'm onto something, try buying your next can by picking from the back of the shelf. I do this with most things I buy, I have done for years, ever since I was a store clerk. Back then, I was taught that glue and other types of woodworking products do have a good before date also.

Len

[kmmcrafts]

Elmers actually has a few different types of the spray adhesive... well two that I know of.. The first one my wife purchased wasn't too bad but it was only in a 4oz can.. I don't recall what it was called now..   nor do I know what the one I bought is called.. While the first can wasn't nearly as good as the 3M 77 it was tolerable.. also was over $4 for that tiny little can.. When I went back to get more I seen two types.. one was around $8 and one was $6.. I got the $6 can thinking it was the same as what I had.. while I don't think the $8 can would be worth it because you have to spray it on quite heavy to make it work.. the 3M stuff is sooo sticky that just a quick light spray will do good.. I get more issues of the nozzle clogging more than anything with the 3M 77.. and having sticky fingers for a day or so... but now I seen where someone said to soak it in mineral spirits.. I tried soaking in lacquer thinner for a day and it didn't touch it.. so I might try the mineral spirits..  

[SCROLLSAW703]

i've used elmers spray glue in the past & never had any issues. But i couldnt get it here when i needed it, so I bought a can of "weldwood" spray glue. It even has a lemon scent It works better than the 3M, & stays put. a little mineral spirits on a rag cleans it off your hands. 

[lawson56]

Well.I use Carbon Paper.

[amazingkevin]

20 hours ago, JMB said:

I have been using the popular method of covering my wood with blue painters take and then spraying the back of a paper pattern to affix to the tape.  I am having problems with the pattern coming loose, a lot, while I am cutting.  

I have tried spraying one side, spraying both sides, putting the pattern on when the adhesive is still very wet and allowing it to dry for a minute or so to get tacky.  I can't figure out any way to do it differently and the pattern is not fastened very securely using any of those ideas.

I am using Elmer's multi-purpose spray adhesive.  I have done some searches and haven't found any specific complaints so assume that is it as good as the other brands.

Any suggestions?  It is pretty frustrating.  The patterns loosens and I have to put glue from a glue stick under it and then let it dry.  Then I start again and another area pops up.  The pattern appears to be fastened and isn't coming loose until I start cutting.

Thanks for your help.

John Birrell

loctite has been my go to spray adhesive,heavy weight or medium but not low tack.

[KurtP]

I tried the Elmers once and had the same issues. The pattern kept lifting, I didn't even finish the can before I went back to the 3M. 

[Fab4]

Let me throw a wrench into all this spray talk

For me, what works with good results

Painters tape

Dollar store Glue sticks, glue just the paper pattern and apply to the tape

Cover with clear tape and I'm good to go

Sound like a lot of prep work but when you do it all the time it doesn't take long to prep

I do have spray adhesive but no set up to spray anywhere 

Fab4  - Things that mane you go M-m-m-m--m???

[hawkeye10]

16 hours ago, JMB said:

WOW!

23 responses in the first 8 hours.  And all helpful and thoughtful.  

It looks like the main problem is that I am using a product that has a brand name, and should be a quality product, but isn't.  I see many responses detailing problems with Elmer's and nobody saying that they like it.  I will quickly change to 3M and discard the Elmer's.  Easy enough. It is $3.99 a large can in our area and the 3M is about three times as much but if it works, it is well worth it.

If I still have some problems, there are several other good suggestions I can try.  So far, I have been happy with the rest of the system I use and if I can get the paper pattern to stick to the tape, I think I will be happy.

It cost less than $6 to try the shelf paper. I really do think you should try it. You will never go back to painters taPE.

 

https://grocery.walmart.com/product/3000332729

[buck_lake]

I use LePages glue stick on top of the blue tape....not messy and seems to work fine....low cost too

[Iguanadon]

22 hours ago, hawkeye10 said:

It cost less than $6 to try the shelf paper. I really do think you should try it. You will never go back to painters taPE.

 

https://grocery.walmart.com/product/3000332729

I literally just ordered 10 rolls this morning from Walmart with free shipping.  Amazon doesn't have it any more.  They have other widths, but not the 12" which is what I need.  I'm afraid that maybe Duck is going to discontinue it???  So I stocked up. Although I go thru a roll in less than a month.

[ike]

I am using Krylon spray, It's not as good as 3m but it is a lot more convent to buy from Michael's at 40 or 50 off It  cost about $4.50 a can. I do have a little riseing but I have a glue stick and when that happens I use Elmers stick  glue. I have one at my saw. Sometimes the stick glue is a little harder to remove from the wood but it's not bad.

IKE 

[CharleyL]

If you print your patterns on paper with a laser printer or Xerox type photo copier, the toner (ink) is really a high temperature wax. You can print a reversed image on paper, use tape to attach one edge of it it face down to your board, and then heat the pattern with a clothes iron to melt the toner and transfer the image to the wood. By taping only one edge of the pattern, you can lift it frequently without loosing the alignment to check and see if you missed any spots. Mineral spirits removes the toner from the wood very well after the pattern has been cut out. I've been told that Wintergreen oil can be used instead of the iron for a "no heat" method of transferring the pattern, but I haven't tried this. My iron is a folding compact travel iron that I picked up at a flea market and use it only for this purpose..

For my compound cutting (most of what I do now), I print the patterns on paper with the laser printer and then use stationery store type rubber cement to attach the pattern directly to the wood. This works well for compound cutting, because all of the pattern comes off with the scrap wood, so there is never a need to remove any of it with solvents. I do get an occasional lift off if I haven't used enough rubber cement or if I have  glued the pattern to the wood and then not cut it for months after attaching the pattern.

For very intricate 2D cutting I frequently  use Applique Film, which in many ways seems to be the ideal choice for scroll sawing and carving patterns, except for it's cost.. It is a clear slightly frosted Mylar 8 1/2 X 11" sheet that comes with a peel and stick backer. It prints well in a laser printer, and the sticky backside allows it to be peeled off and re-attached to clean wood several times without loosing it's stickiness, which is great when trying to align several small patterns to each other.. For small patterns I use Photoshop to put as many copies of the pattern as will fit on one sheet, to minimize waste. Almost nothing of the glue remains on the wood when this film is peeled off, but I always wipe the finished work with mineral spirits to be sure there is no glue left. I have never had a pattern lift off during cutting that was made on this material.. Unfortunately, it costs about $1.00 per sheet, so it isn't the best choice for everything. I do relief carving as well as scroll sawing and found this material to be ideal for making the relief carving patterns. It is "Chartpak  DAFR8 Applique Film" and it is available through stationery and art supply stores, although most do not keep it in stock, and will order it for you. It's also available on the internet through many sources..

Charley

 

 

[JMB]

PROBLEM SOLVED!

I got a can of 3M77 last night at Home Depot and found it wasn't as expensive as I was expecting.  Less than Wal*Mart at $9 for the big can.  I tried it today and it is wonderful.  It is plenty sticky where the Elmer's was not and I did some cutting to make sure it would stick and cutting is fun again.  Don't have to hold the pattern on with my spare fingers as I cut.

Since lifting of the pattern was the problem, I have filed the Elmer's in the bottom of a trash can and will use 3M in the future.  I will also get some of the peel and stick shelf paper as that seems to be a universal solution.  I pay less than $3 per roll for 3M blue painters tape at Sam's Club so that isn't an issue.  The peel and stick sheets sound like they would be easier for some pattern sizes.

Thanks for all the comments.  My life is much better now.

[Montserrat]

my go-to method has become the removable glue stick... no spray can, no flammable gases, no bad smell.  I put the glue stick on the paper, paper on wood, packing tape over it, and off I go.  Afterwards it comes off like a champ.  

 

Just thought, I throw my 2-cents in here!