Tips and Tricks

Materials

• You can apply laserable transfer paper to inexpensive wood to make it easier to cut. I recommend TransferRite 582U paper, which can be applied to 1/8" Baltic Birch available from many sources. Use a flat, smooth object (such as a roller, ruler, or even a plastic card like a credit card) to apply from the center to the edges. This works well enough, but watch it carefully; when applying to unfinished wood, the paper may not adhere well enough to hold with detail work.
• Did smoke or soot stain your wood or acrylic? Use isopropyl alcohol to dissolve and remove the residue.

Construction and Assembly

• Get together your construction toolkit:
  • Glue: Wood glue or white craft glue for wooden pieces, and acrylic adhesive for acrylic pieces
  • Toothpicks, for applying glue in hard-to-reach places
  • Q-Tips, for removing glue in hard-to-reach places
  • Craft knives or razor blades
  • Plastic razor blades, useful for scraping off backing material
  • Wood clamps, for holding pieces while the glue is drying
  • Wood files for removing splinters and rough edges
  • Sandpaper
• You can adjust designs to use serrated tabs, allowing the pieces to be pressed together with a hammer or mallet. See Dan's post on the Glowforge Owners Forums for more details.