I used to use a single tube rail marker, but I could never get a good line. I could do better with a freehand line. Thus the two tube tool. Pics below. Also, since I am showing off my tools, there is a two tube lap cutter that I am really pleased with. I don’t do a lot of cut laps, but this baby is so easy to use. You just insert a new single edge razor blade and tighten the wing nuts and you are ready to cut a perfect line. If you also use it to cut your tape line before cut lap laminating, you can later cut the lap without even seeing the tape. You know where it has to be under the glass. The two tubes keep your cut very tidy while going around the curves. You’ll still have the issues at the nose and tail.
You can see the edge of a single razor blade sticking out between the two blocks of wood. The
wing nuts tighten it down. The two PVC pipe sections provide the almost foolproof guide for going
around curves. The masonite strips just give a glide over the board surface.
(I cut the crap out of my finger this afternoon on the razor blade I left in after the picture. Dang.)
Let me know how it works for you. I have another LB to do and I am going to both cut the tape line for the cut lap and cut the lam with it. I’ll let you know.
They’re really cheap, but take some getting used to. Once you’re mastered them, however, they’re unequalled. Unlike most tools, the more you use them, the better they work. Plus, it’s one less damn piece of equipment you NEED to to your thing. Where’s that roll of tape now…
But I think many of us don’t have steady hands or eyes to match that…
I just saw a similar tool at a buddies the other day, with a pizza cutter type blade. He used it for cutting tape for pinlining. It had the advantage of slightly indenting the tape into the foam which helps against pigmentbleeding in the foam! I like this kind of tool and will be making one soon as my decorative skills are… well surrealistic?? I mean the freehand messy pinline looks ok, you know that real home-made look to it… You can see some bleed along the stringer and well the outline pinline looks like I needed a drink eh…
the board awaits a fill coat here, the nose and tails especially…
Get an old board, some cheap tape. Tape it over and over and over. Doesn’t take as many times as you would think. At first, nearly impossible, but quickly gets better. Plus, if you can do it at all with cheap tape, the good stuff will make it way easier. Really, it works.
Not RIGHT OR WRONG, just another way to get it done, and something to think about. In general, I prefer fewer tools and steps to get the board finished, even if it means I have to learn some difficult skills along the way and be very careful how certain things are done. Just my preference.
Howzit Greg, It’s all in the technique, if you watch somebody who knows how to do it right it’s not as hard as it seems. But it does take some practice to get the technique down.Aloha,Kokua
I used to struggle with getting a good tape line for cutlaps. I would labor over this for hours until I got it as close as I could, and then even then it was still a bit off.
My current level of OCD, coupled with my atists eye have not made for a nice comnination in simply letting me "settle’ with a tape line that isn’t damn close to symmetrical and perfect.
Practice and practice and practice. Best way is to getyour hands on a real production beauy with PERFECT cutlaps. tale that board and hae at it with a few rolls of tape.
IMPORTANT…The tape I use is 3m green automotive detailing tape. 1/8" thick. I struggled likj ehell with 1/2" maskign tape and even the 1/2" green 3m tape is still kinda a bare. But the the thin tape lets you really bend the it around the nose and tail section. Sure you have to add another section of tape, but you ahve to do that even with the the thicker stuff.
Try ther thinner tape and practice on the priduction board with good cutlpas and maybe a pin stripe to guide you. Jst follow the lines on the board until you get a feel for how your hands, body, head and eyes all ahve to work together in unison to become proffecient.
If you can get good at this skill it will translate into many other aspects of shaping. Primariyl walking with the planer. Consider it sorta cross-training for shaping.
Thanks for sharing that mate. Now when i get to work tonight, i know what i will be doing. Just a question, If you have that tool, why do you need to use tape for cut laps??. Couldn’t you just lam the board, then use the pre set tool to cut the laps when they’re dry?,
Thanks for sharing that mate. Now when i get to work tonight, i know what i will be doing. Just a question, If you have that tool, why do you need to use tape for cut laps??. Couldn’t you just lam the board, then use the pre set tool to cut the laps when they’re dry?,
Curious noob
the tape keeps the laminated cloth from bonding to the foam (if first lam) or previous lam (if not first lam).
lay tape…lap onto the tape…cut when cured…pull tape and the glass on top of it.
All true. My problem as a garage dweller is that I don’t get to do it often enough to get good at it just using my free-hand. I need a crutch. Can’t stand a wavey line. If I’m going to just make 10 boards a year, I want them to be good ones. Maybe great looking ones.
For me it is the same with rail bands. I 've seen elite shapers mow without any lines or marks on the foam for guidance. JUst counting the strokes and eye-balling it. Me, I need to disect the bands and draw lines to follow.
I’m glad the tool is well received. The two tube thing is what does the trick. Near perfect curves everytime. (everytime you take your time and do it right).
Hey Greg. Wish I’d seen this thread a couple of days back. I have just set the first lam on the deck of a HWS and though cutting the lap went OK, this would have made it way easier. I’m now off to the garage to make one before lamming the bottom later on. Cheers Greg
Howzit Beerfan, For some it just comes naturally, my mom was an artist and when I was young I knew I had it in me but was terrible at free hand painting. When I started doing tape offs I found that was where my artistic niche was and love doing taped off paint work. Aloha,Kokua
