my latest DIY tip to noobs

**jbo_c** · 11-09-2010, 19:43

My kids' new ping-pong table is perfect for gear marking. Just take the net down and get to work.

Jbo

**Big Jim Mac** · 11-09-2010, 20:16

I get partial rolls of paper from our printer, it's newsprint and all printing plants have these. You can buy for a couple bucks usually and it's almost a lifetime supply of paper that is about 3 feet wide. Tape a few of these together and you can make a full-size tarp pattern. To get the curve, hang it on the wall, mark three points (width and depth) and hang a string so that it intersects all three points. Perfect curve! Now you just have to draw the shape without bumping the string. Or tape it and cut alongside it. I made 1/4 of the cat tarp pattern, then flipped it to get the other sides.

**JohnSawyer** · 11-13-2010, 16:20

Originally Posted by Big Jim Mac

I get partial rolls of paper from our printer, it's newsprint and all printing plants have these. You can buy for a couple bucks usually and it's almost a lifetime supply of paper that is about 3 feet wide. Tape a few of these together and you can make a full-size tarp pattern. To get the curve, hang it on the wall, mark three points (width and depth) and hang a string so that it intersects all three points. Perfect curve! Now you just have to draw the shape without bumping the string. Or tape it and cut alongside it. I made 1/4 of the cat tarp pattern, then flipped it to get the other sides.

I like the paper roll idea, we bought my daughter a roll when she was 4 for drawing... Still haven't gone through it all 8 years later.

I'll probably hang it outside and spray-paint over the string... no bumping there!

**Big Jim Mac** · 11-14-2010, 22:19

That's a good idea using paint. You might move it with the spray though. Try a couple little pieces of tape first, might help keep it in place. You wouldn't believe how long I worked to get a curve drawn before I remembered reading about the string on a thread here. Wish I had one of those flexible curve makers...