I was thinking about doing a reverse lam, full length cloth inlay on bottom of my log. The only problem I see facing is trimming the cloth even along the lap line. How can I sight through the cloth to see where to trim with the razorblade (when it gells after I lam the cloth)? Anything else to consider? Thanks- gill
someone here told me to tape it off,lam and then use a flashlight under the board when cutting. you can see the tape line very well. worked for me!
I was thinking about doing a reverse lam, full length cloth inlay on > bottom of my log. The only problem I see facing is trimming the cloth even > along the lap line. How can I sight through the cloth to see where to trim > with the razorblade (when it gells after I lam the cloth)? Anything else > to consider? Thanks- gill Gill, the best way for fabric and opaque lams is to be trimmed is, one, let it go off nice and crisp, two fold a crease into your razor blade, say about 5-10 degrees. This will allow you to hold the blade and still have it be flat to the surface. Take the salvage edge of the cloth, run your fingers under it until you have it loosened up to where it is stuck to the foam. It should now be nearly 90 degrees to the rest of the board. If it is sufficiently set up, it will be still soft where the tape ends and quite firm on the foam. Fold the cloth ouwards and insert the tip of the blade into the intersection of the two angles. I gently pull the cloth towards me, this keeps the blade from trimming away from the cut edge and leaves a neat edge. When you get to the ends of the nose and tail it will be neccesary to cut straight down, but do this slowly and look at where the tape edge and the foam are and run the blade right there. I am lifting up on the trimmings at this time, gently and finish off at the tips. If you follow these instructions, it shouldn’t turn into a disaster for your first attempt.
JR, thanks for the light tip. And Jim, thank you for the detailed explanation. I am confident that with both of your help it will be successfull!
someone here told me to tape it off,lam and then use a flashlight under > the board when cutting. you can see the tape line very well. worked for > me! I have used a mechanics light with a 100 watt bulb, even on opaques and have been able to see the lap line easily.