stack cutting question

[NRscroller]

Hello
I want to make some small easter ornaments with 1/8 bb plywood. I have never stack cut and what is the easiest way to do it. do I just wrap 3 in packing tape and glue the pattern on top and go for it or what?
Thanks
Bill

[Charlie Dearing]

Many people do it that way. Some adhere it right to the wood and use a heat gun or mineral spirits to get the pattern off (when adhered with spray adhesive). I, personally just trace the pattern directly to the wood with transfer/carbon paper.

[wjbclocks1]

I hot glue around the edges to hold the stack together, Then I put blue painters tape on the top piece then spray glue tthe pattern and put it on the stack.

[Rolf]

I put blue tape on the top layer, put the pattern on that, assemble the stack. I have a pin nailer (pneumatic nail gun that fires small pins) and put one in each corner.
small nails will do the same thing.
I do it on an anvil so that the points don't go through.
It is the easiest and fastest method for me. I have clamped the stack and hot glued the edges but I do too many stacks for that to be time efficient. If you are doing just three infrequently then I would tightly tape the edges with Blue tape.

Make certain your blade is square to the table!.
Lots of options.

[f250]

I put the stack together, wrap it in clear packing tape and glue the pattern onto the packing tape.

Tom

[Okie]

I use hot glue and glue all over the he way around the edges then bloe tape to attach the pattern, I normally will cut 5 pieces at once .

[markdavd]

There are a lot of good ideas, but for someone just beginning to stack cut, I suggest wrapping the stack in blue tape. Then glue the pattern to the top. That way you don't need to heat your glue gun or charge your air compressor and run the hose, etc.

Blue is better than clear packing tape or even tan masking tape because it comes off easy and you will see if you missed a spot. I used clear until I found a spot of tape during finishing. It was a lot of work getting that spot to match the rest of the stain.

[Rolf]

Mark you are right about the clear tape right on the wood, that has bit me in the butt just once, don't use it any more.
4 simple nails in the corners is also easy, as you say no air, heat etc.

[JackM]

I do basically the same thing as Rolf, but add brads in a few of the waste segments. Also sand the top piece with at least 220 grit and give it a couple of shots of spray shellac before applying tape. This stops the wood particles from lifting when removing the blue tape.
Jack

[f250]

Keep on talking people, although I am old and mostly stuck in my ways, hearing how you all do it might get me to trying some new things.

Worst that can happen is I go back to my same old ways right?

Tom

[Stoney]

I have used most of the methods mentioned but lately I have been using little pieces of double faced tape to hold the members of the stack together. It doesn't take huge pieces of tape. I have some 1/2" wide that works well. In most cases I cut the tape around 1/2" to 5/8" long and place it close to the corners. It's easy to separate the pieces with a thin putty knife. This method works well for stack cutting portraits and also would work well for ornaments.

[Jim McDonald]

I am a hot glue stacker with blue tape on top. But for only three pieces of 1/8", I would be comfortable with wrapping the stack in blue tape.

[Bad Wolf]

I did a somewhat more complicated method when I was doing Christmas ornaments last year:
I wrapped blue tape around both sides of each piece, then applied spray adhesive between layers. I also sprayed adhesive to the top piece, and attached the pattern with that. I then put clear tape over the pattern, to keep it clean, and to lubricate the blade. The blue tape comes off cleanly, and the pieces didn't move at all.

[Rolf]

And now you have a nice solid stack!
When I first started scrolling I used double sided tape between layers. After I destroyed some very delicate cutting getting it apart, I went to tacks in the corners. I tried many different techniques and found that 1, I want the pieces together as tight as possible. This makes for fewer fuzzies on the inner layers and supports the very delicate areas. 2, Easy separation after I am done cutting. With pins in the waste areas or hot glue on the edges, or tape around the whole thing. All of it falls away on you final perimeter cut. 3, no solvents, heat guns or glue residue to mess with.
All we are trying to do is keep the stack aligned!.

[f250]

So does the painters tape lubricate like the packing tape?

Tom