3 Tips for Cutting Shapes From Industrial Cardboard
Cutting shapes from industrial cardboard requires a few considerations worth noting.
But first a quick word about cardboard👇🏾
When I say ‘industrial,’ I’m not talking about an empty Amazon box. Nor am I referencing a shoe box nor most any box you might readily have at home.
I’m talking about *THICK* cardboard; like really thick and so sturdy you can barely bend it.
I source most of my industrial cardboard from a recycling dumpster located just behind my art studio’s building. I’m sooo lucky that two very busy restaurants in the same plaza as my studio toss out piles of industrial-grade cardboard each and every week!
I hope you’re just as lucky but no matter where you obtain your industrial-grade cardboard, here are my three (3) quicks tips for carving out cardboard shapes 👇🏾
1) Keep your (sharp) cutting tools close
Be sure to have several scissors (large and small ones) and box cutters (with extra blades) on hand because you never know when during the cutting process you might need to switch from box cutter to Xacto knife or to scissors (or vice versa).
2) Twice or thrice
Because industrial cardboard is pretty thick (not to mention it’s not the smoothest material, especially if it’s corrugated or creased), your carved shape won’t always cleanly snap itself free from just one cutting pass. So be prepared to go over your shape’s outline several times, as needed.
In my own experience, there’s been times where I’ve had to go around my shape at least twice; and in smaller, more delicate areas I’ve even had to do a lighter, third pass as well.
3) Sand after cutting
With a sanding block (usually about the size of a dishwashing sponge), lightly sand the outer edges of your cardboard shape after cutting.
This is necessary because the cutting process does create some frayed areas that’ll need a gentle smoothing.
If at any point during the sanding process, a small part of the cardboard’s layers start to separate, simply use a strong adhesive to carefully adhere them back together.
Also, try angling your sanding block slightly, especially as you sand curved areas. This helps achieve the smoothest edges and cleanest finish.
Please share this post with anyone interested in extracting shapes from industrial-grade cardboard.
Yours in cardboard cutting adventures 🙏🏽
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