Hippopotamus Christmas Tree Ornament: Removing the Patterns

 

Handmade wooden hippopotamus Christmas tree ornaments on a Jorgensen portable workbench in the process of having the patterns removed by wetting the paper patterns with mineral spirits.
 

My Ornaments

For this project, I am using shipping labels for the patterns. Half-sheet shipping labels are the perfect size for the hippo ornament project and require only minor trimming to fit the maximum number of hippos on each board. While I could attach one hippo pattern at a time to fit more on a board, that approach is very time-consuming. 

I created the patterns using Inkscape, setting the page size to match the label dimensions to determine the best arrangement. Once the arrangement was finalized, I changed the page size back to standard letter size and copied the patterns to the bottom half of the page. All my patterns are printed on a Brother laser printer.

The best method I have discovered for removing patterns after cutting is to soak the paper label with mineral spirits. After letting it sit for a couple of minutes, the patterns come off easily without damaging the wood. While I can peel off the patterns without using mineral spirits, the adhesive tends to pull some wood fibers off. The only downside to using mineral spirits is that you need to let the pieces dry before applying glue or finish.

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