Stack Cutting

[BadBob]

Has anyone ever use wood glue to hold the pieces together. I tried it yesterday—just a tiny drop in each corner and clamp for five minutes. It worked like a charm.

For me, the significant advantages are:

No tape used to snag or cause the pies not to sit flat on the table.

There is no gap between the layers because I squeeze any bow or cupping out with clamps, and there is nothing in between the layers.

[Gonzo]

Off the top of my head, the only disadvantage is waiting for the glue to dry. I use a hot glue gun, and run a bead around the perimeter of the stack. I do like your idea, I will have to try it

Edited April 25, 2020 by Gonzo

[ike]

I have a nail gur( battery powered)  it's quick easy and no mess. I bought it at Home depot for $110 including tax and nails with 105 off for vetrans discount.won't go any other way.

IKE

[BadBob]

3 minutes ago, Gonzo said:

Off the top of my head, the only disadvantage is waiting for the glue to dry. I use a hot glue gun, and run a bead around the perimeter of the stack. I do like your idea, I will have to try it

If your like me there is always something else to do around the shop while you wait.

[Gonzo]

2 minutes ago, BadBob said:

If your like me there is always something else to do around the shop while you wait.

Touché. 

[BadBob]

2 minutes ago, ike said:

I have a nail gur( battery powered)  it's quick easy and no mess. I bought it at Home depot for $110 including tax and nails with 105 off for vetrans discount.won't go any other way.

IKE

I have a pin nailer and I have used it for stack cutting. What I don't like is that it takes to much time to set up. I have to get it out turn on the air compressor and wait for it to come up, nail the layers together, shut every thing down and put it away. Then there is the issue of protruding nails to deal with. In this case the pieces were slightly cupped/bowed and I wanted to get rid of the gap. Gluing and clamping does that perfectly.

[Scrappile]

The glue is a great and simple idea.  I am going to give it a try.  I usually tape around the perimeter and maybe pound some small nails in a few waste areas.  Dabs of glue would work even better.

[NC Scroller]

Hot glue gun.  No mess.  No waiting.   As soon as the glue the last corner I put the pattern on and start cutting.  If I took the time to do all those little things I want to do around the shop my scroll saw would never get used.

[Scrappile]

Ha, @NC Scroller, you say no mess.... you should see me with a hot glue gun.... strings of hot glue every where.... on everything..... I have never figured out how to use one, I guess...

Edited April 25, 2020 by Scrappile

[BadBob]

Hot glue leaves a small gap between the layers. Unless hot glue is very thin, it flexes. It's hot, which means I can't use it while grandkids are in the shop. Hot glue is messy. I have had several glue guns over the years, cheap ones, and relatively expensive ones. All hot glue guns drip. Then there is the cool down time. I have to wait for it to cool down before I can put it away.

Carpet tape works excellent it's fast, easy, and cheap, but it still leaves a gap. Using wood glue leaves no gap between the layers.

I clamp in the center first, make sure everything is aligned, and then clamp the corners.

Wood glue might not work for every case. If that happens, then I will fall back to carpet tape.

 

[Rockytime]

How easily do the pieces separate?

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, Rockytime said:

How easily do the pieces separate?

Les, I think you just glue in the waste areas. No need to separate.

[BadBob]

Yes, just put glue in the appropriate waste area. It only takes a tiny dot of glue. Remember that glue spreads when you squeeze it.

[dgman]

I can see this working for pieces that are cut from within the stack like ornaments, but not for portraits. I too do not like blue tape on the bottom of the piece because of the friction and unevenness. What I do is clamp the stack in my bench vise then apply blue tape to just the edge of the stack. If needed, I’ll use an Excato knife to trim the tape. 
For stacks other than portraits, I use a hot glue gun to tack the edges only. Years ago, I used double stick tape between layers, but it was very difficult to separate the layers without breaking something.

[Rockytime]

I guess to answer my question,  a knife would pop it open. 

[LarryEA]

Answered a question I had,,,

I found that hot glue dried too quick. Did not like taping.

So I will go with the glue and clamp idea...tks.

 

[Rolf]

I have tried all of the above.  I do lots of stack cutting especially for my Christmas ornaments. I use a Pin Nailer in the waste area. No muss and fast.

I do it on an anvil and then flip it over and hit each pin with a small hammer, to make absolutely sure that the bottom surface is smooth.

[Bill WIlson]

Just to be clear, the hot melt glue just goes on the edges of the stack, not in between the layers.  I clamp the stack with spring clamps, then run a few beads across the edges of the stack.  Important that all the blanks are the same size and the edges are flush.  I have no gaps in between the layers.  If necessary, the remnants of the glue scrape right off with a chisel, razor blade or even a sharp putty knife.

[Denny Knappen]

Well, I use something different.  As a framer, we use double sided tape on almost every project.  Works great for stack cutting.

[JimErn]

I'm part of the hot glue on the edges too.  Started using it when I started and it works well.  A razor knife or small block plane takes it off if necessary.

[kmmcrafts]

I just use tape, probably not as fast as a pin nailer.. if the pin nail gun was always hooked up etc.. but I think it's probably faster than the pin nail gun if I need to dig it out and hook it up etc.. 

When I say tape.. I mean like packing tape.. I just tape around the edges of the stack.. best if all blanks are cut to the same size.. 

Years ago I used wood screws and a cordless drill with a driver bit.. You could run the screw in until it broke through the bottom and then back it out a little so you're not scratching the table.. That was back when I always used 1/4" thick blanks. but now I use 1/8 and the screws don't hold all that great on the bottom piece.. 

[NC Scroller]

19 hours ago, Bill WIlson said:

Just to be clear, the hot melt glue just goes on the edges of the stack, not in between the layers.  I clamp the stack with spring clamps, then run a few beads across the edges of the stack.  Important that all the blanks are the same size and the edges are flush.  I have no gaps in between the layers.  If necessary, the remnants of the glue scrape right off with a chisel, razor blade or even a sharp putty knife.

My process exactly.

[Crosstimbers]

I use Aileen's tacky glue. Just a small dot in the waste areas. Dries really fast. I'm going to remember the hot glue on the edges for portraits. Good tip!

[Rolf]

We all have our own methods and sharing them on a forum such as this is really great, as it gives new scrollers ideas and options. 

Kevin, when I go into my seasonal production mode The nailer is out on my bench. Cutting  bits of tape, waiting for the hot glue gun took way too long for me. My first attempt at stack cutting I used double sided tape between each layer, not knowing any better even in the middle.  I am sure my neighbors heard me cursing as I tried to separate the stack later. I then went to small tacks in each corner, that I got from my Dad. they were great until I ran out. At that point I bought the pin nailer.  

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by Rolf