|
Post by h0meralm1ghty on Jan 17, 2019 7:31:58 GMT -9
Hello all. I need advice on a couple of things. One, what type of glue does everyone use to glue together their paper mini's? I've been using Elmer's extra strength stick glue but doesn't seem to stick. Two, what's the easiest way to cut out mini's without buying a full on cutting machine? I have an x-acto knife and scissors but seem to get uneven cuts and frayed paper ends. Any advice is appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by cowboyleland on Jan 17, 2019 8:03:21 GMT -9
I print my minis on cardstock, and for that any pva (white) glue I have tried works fine. I pour a bit out onto a dish and let it thicken to avoid the moisture wrinkling the paper. I also let it dry under a stack of books. You can use a gluestick but that does seem to delaminate after a few (or several) months. As for frayed paper, it seems like your blade might be dull. I sharpen my exacto blades with a gadget that was designed for kitchen knives. Cuts down on the waste.
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Jan 17, 2019 8:40:32 GMT -9
I've been known to use a sharpening steel on my blades, too. Any time the blade starts to drag. Not a sharpening stone which actually grinds the edge, but a steel which straightens the edge.
I keep 67 lb and 110 lb cardstock around. You learn by experience which performs best for different applications.
As far as glue, my go-to glue is Aleene's Tacky Glue, though I have had good experience with Elmer's Craft Glue. Most PVA (white) glues have too much moisture which will tend to mess up the paper unless you take extra care
My favorite knife is my Olfa with snap-off blade tips.
|
|
|
Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Jan 17, 2019 9:05:33 GMT -9
I print minis on matte photo paper, and use Super77 spray glue to glue them together. Work with ventilation, if you go the spray glue route - don't breathe that stuff.
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Jan 17, 2019 14:42:13 GMT -9
|
|
shep
Eternal Member
Red Alert! Shields up! LENS FLARE!!!
Posts: 1,260
|
Post by shep on Jan 17, 2019 17:32:58 GMT -9
|
|
|
Post by whisper31 on Jan 20, 2019 12:57:40 GMT -9
For me, I've used purple glue stick, pva glue, clear glue, rubber cement, super (CA) glue, and a few others that I forget what they were. As for paper, mostly 110lb cardstock works the best for me. You should also save your soda pop cases/cereal boxes as these make excellent backing/basing/support material. I have an Xacto knife and got about 1200 #11 blades for about $20 US or so, so I just pitch them when they get dull.
The main thing is to find out what works best for you and run with that. Don't be afraid to experiment and see which combinations work for you better in your environment as humidity and temperature affect your figs to an extent.
I would use scissors for gross cutting and your knife for the fine cuts and detail work.
|
|
|
Post by h0meralm1ghty on Jan 24, 2019 7:38:09 GMT -9
So I switched to Scotch brand glue, thank you for that suggestion OldschoolDM, it worked perfectly. Also switched to my other cutter that is a break away to sharpen and worked beautifully. It's amazing how much of a difference a sharp blade makes. Just not sure why my x-acto knife is so dull when the knife and blade are brand new.
|
|
|
Post by Punkrabbitt on Jan 24, 2019 9:42:07 GMT -9
Xactos go dull almost instantly when used for paper-cutting o.0
|
|
|
Post by nolabert on Jan 25, 2019 7:32:06 GMT -9
h0meralm1ghty I know a lot of people have chipped in here, but I use Scotch Tacky Glue. I just spread it around with the applicator tip. I do use a roller/brayer to put an even amount of pressure across the mini and this also helps to spread the glue out. I cut with X-Acto blades, using the #11 blade and buy 100-pack X-Life blades which seem to last longer than just the regular ones. The 100 pack costs about $35 from Artist and Craftsmen Supply, but there may be a cheaper, made-in-China, pack (I buy the made-in-USA ones).
My method of making paper minis is to print on Epson Matte Photo Paper (I have an unopened pack from Canon I haven't tried yet), spray with Krylon Satin Finish, cut rough rectangles of the paper minis, glue, dry overnight under books, then detail cut out the mini to the black border. I finally edge with a black Tombow brush pen--the brush tip makes it easy to get into tight spaces. These days I just leave a small 2-3 mm tab and base with clear Litko paper mini bases (I wish I had found these when I first started. It would have saved me a lot of time making paper bases).
I use my X-Acto blades until the tip breaks. If the blade is getting dull then I only use it for the rougher, more general cutting. For detail work, I always switch to a new blade. I've found with experience that my blades last a lot longer. When I first started I put a lot of pressure in cutting and broke blade tips more frequently. I also used cheap 110 lb cardstock when I first started. I only use the 110 lb cardstock these days for terrain that I think looks better being dull and I want to be sturdier.
I will be writing an article about all of this in an upcoming Bexim's Bazaar.
|
|
|
Post by squirmydad on Jan 25, 2019 19:02:34 GMT -9
Ooh! Open the pack of Canon Matte photo paper! That is absolutely the best and most beauteous for paper miniatures! It does have an A and a B side so pay attention when loading.
|
|
|
Post by glennwilliams on Jan 26, 2019 7:10:01 GMT -9
My glue of chocie is Elmer's Tacky Glue, EXCEPT for miniatures and any other flat surfaces. For such challeneges I use a glue stick--the dry glue doesn't warp. Only problem is you need to use your metal ruler like a squeegee to insure you get a smooth and firm seal. For knives, I stopped using Xacto years ago. At the DIY store look for Olfa single edge knives. One version has a more ergonomic yellow handle. I also have a couple of their "pucks" for blade disposal. Single edge blade strips are a lot cheaper than Xacto. Squirmy's right about the Canon photo quality paper.
|
|
|
Post by nolabert on Jan 26, 2019 7:35:42 GMT -9
glennwilliams I have an Olfa knife, but I can’t imagine using it for detail work given how big it is. I’ve found Scotch Tacky Glue to work just fine with paper minis if allowed to dry under weight. Even if they have a slight warping, I don’t see how that’s a problem since Litko bases bend the mini anyway by virtue of holding them in the slot. When I first started making minis, I never dried them under weight. I was using 110 lb card stock back then, so maybe the thicker paper helped prevent warping. I still use those paper minis. Spray adhesive just isn’t feasible for paper minis.
|
|
|
Post by squirmydad on Jan 26, 2019 11:14:37 GMT -9
glennwilliams I have an Olfa knife, but I can’t imagine using it for detail work given how big it is. I’ve found Scotch Tacky Glue to work just fine with paper minis if allowed to dry under weight. Even if they have a slight warping, I don’t see how that’s a problem since Litko bases bend the mini anyway by virtue of holding them in the slot. When I first started making minis, I never dried them under weight. I was using 110 lb card stock back then, so maybe the thicker paper helped prevent warping. I still use those paper minis. Spray adhesive just isn’t feasible for paper minis. I believe he is talking about the Olfa "slimline" version, which is what I've used for years and I love it.
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Jan 26, 2019 11:42:52 GMT -9
Exactly. You can buy blades at various angles for various work. I will never go back to Xacto
|
|
|
Post by squirmydad on Jan 26, 2019 11:48:53 GMT -9
Exactly. You can buy blades at various angles for various work. I will never go back to Xacto X-acto's are cheap and easy to find, but my experience with them was that the tips shatter/snap off too easily.
|
|
|
Post by marzman on Jan 26, 2019 16:03:09 GMT -9
For a knife, I just use a standard utility knife. The blade is strong and the blades are double ended. You can't really go wrong with the basic utility knife especially with some of he specialty blades made from DeWalt and others that are quite long lasting.
|
|
|
Post by glennwilliams on Jan 26, 2019 18:31:33 GMT -9
glennwilliams I have an Olfa knife, but I can’t imagine using it for detail work given how big it is. I’ve found Scotch Tacky Glue to work just fine with paper minis if allowed to dry under weight. Even if they have a slight warping, I don’t see how that’s a problem since Litko bases bend the mini anyway by virtue of holding them in the slot. When I first started making minis, I never dried them under weight. I was using 110 lb card stock back then, so maybe the thicker paper helped prevent warping. I still use those paper minis. Spray adhesive just isn’t feasible for paper minis. I believe he is talking about the Olfa "slimline" version, which is what I've used for years and I love it. The slimline is the all metal version, right? Not good for us older guys with older, sore hands. The one I use has a yellow and black plastic housing that is much more ergonomic.
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Jan 27, 2019 3:29:35 GMT -9
I slide a writing pen soft grip onto my metal one. Yes, the yellow and black one has a better feel, but I do better at keeping my cuts straight up and down with the metal one. Probably just me
|
|
|
Post by glennwilliams on Jan 27, 2019 6:31:52 GMT -9
I slide a writing pen soft grip onto my metal one. Yes, the yellow and black one has a better feel, but I do better at keeping my cuts straight up and down with the metal one. Probably just me young hands, you whippersnapper. And stay off my lawn.
|
|
|
Post by nolabert on Jan 27, 2019 7:08:57 GMT -9
|
|