putrid
11-08-2008, 07:26 AM
Cardboard cones for projects like,
Cornucopias
Santas
Angels
Snowmen
Making Cardboard cones.
Instructions for making perfect or near perfect cardboard cones.
Needed things
Thin cardboard.
........Cereal, cracker box or the like. Poster board works great. However some cardboards wont work. You'll know right way if they will or not.
Glue
Protractor and pencil
Ruler
Something to dampen the cardboard with.
You want to start out by testing your choice of cardboard first. This will determined which direction it wants to bend. Your finding it's grain. Working with the cardboard's grain will make it easier to make a smooth cone. First cut a 2 x 6 inch strip. Now dampen the cardboard strip. If the cardboard will work for making cones it will curl.
Most wax or plastic coated cardboard wont work. I've found that some cracker boxes wont work either.
Significance of the curl. The curl shows you the grain of the cardboard. If you work with the grain your cones will be easier to make.
The direction of the curl will determined the placement of the cone on the flat piece of cardboard.
Now that you know the grain of the cardboard it's time to draw out a cone. How the cardboard curled will determined what direction you draw out your cone. You want the two widest point of the open end of the cone to curl up to meat each other. For most cereal and cracker boxes this means the printed side will be the outside of the cone.
Draw and cut out your cone.
Preparing to glue printed cardboard. If you ruff up the printed side it will stick together better. What I like to do is before I form the cone I determined which side will get tucked under when glued together. I dampen the printed side and use the edge of the scissors to ruff up a 1/4 inch strip of print along that side of the cone. Try to scrape up without chunking. Light chunking wont hurt. You'll know what I mean by 'chunking' when you try it.
Making the cone.
Lightly dampen the unprinted side or the side that will curl up. Do not soak or get really wet. To much water water will degrade the structure of the cardboard. Wile still damp glue along one edge and work the cardboard to a cone shape.
It takes some practice to make a perfect cone. If your going to add material or paper to the outside of the cone that little open end at the point shouldn't be a problem.
tips.
Wait till the cone is completely dry before working with it.
Wait till you've made the cone before adding paper or cardboard to it.
If you try this and have questions because I've left something out or was unclear I'll answer AND then edit these directions. Have fun!
Cornucopias
Santas
Angels
Snowmen
Making Cardboard cones.
Instructions for making perfect or near perfect cardboard cones.
Needed things
Thin cardboard.
........Cereal, cracker box or the like. Poster board works great. However some cardboards wont work. You'll know right way if they will or not.
Glue
Protractor and pencil
Ruler
Something to dampen the cardboard with.
You want to start out by testing your choice of cardboard first. This will determined which direction it wants to bend. Your finding it's grain. Working with the cardboard's grain will make it easier to make a smooth cone. First cut a 2 x 6 inch strip. Now dampen the cardboard strip. If the cardboard will work for making cones it will curl.
Most wax or plastic coated cardboard wont work. I've found that some cracker boxes wont work either.
Significance of the curl. The curl shows you the grain of the cardboard. If you work with the grain your cones will be easier to make.
The direction of the curl will determined the placement of the cone on the flat piece of cardboard.
Now that you know the grain of the cardboard it's time to draw out a cone. How the cardboard curled will determined what direction you draw out your cone. You want the two widest point of the open end of the cone to curl up to meat each other. For most cereal and cracker boxes this means the printed side will be the outside of the cone.
Draw and cut out your cone.
Preparing to glue printed cardboard. If you ruff up the printed side it will stick together better. What I like to do is before I form the cone I determined which side will get tucked under when glued together. I dampen the printed side and use the edge of the scissors to ruff up a 1/4 inch strip of print along that side of the cone. Try to scrape up without chunking. Light chunking wont hurt. You'll know what I mean by 'chunking' when you try it.
Making the cone.
Lightly dampen the unprinted side or the side that will curl up. Do not soak or get really wet. To much water water will degrade the structure of the cardboard. Wile still damp glue along one edge and work the cardboard to a cone shape.
It takes some practice to make a perfect cone. If your going to add material or paper to the outside of the cone that little open end at the point shouldn't be a problem.
tips.
Wait till the cone is completely dry before working with it.
Wait till you've made the cone before adding paper or cardboard to it.
If you try this and have questions because I've left something out or was unclear I'll answer AND then edit these directions. Have fun!