Gretchen R

I should correct my explanation above. If you use packing tape over the pattern, you do need to peel the packing tape off and the top layer of paper will come with it. If you don't use packing tape, you don't need to take off the top layer of the pattern paper. Just moisten it with mineral spirits and peel it off with a chisel or a metal spatula.

I haven't seen anyone else mention this pattern attachment method. I photocopy my patterns onto an adhesive label, Avery TrueBlock Shipping Labels, 8 1/2 by 11 size, which you can buy in packs of 25 for about $18 at Staples. If I have several small patterns I cut them apart and arrange them so they fit on a sheet of printer paper and that's how I store them, and then when I want a pattern I just photocopy the master onto the label. It's self-adhesive so I stick it right to the wood. When I'm done cutting, first I peel off the top layer of the paper (it comes apart very easily). Then I dampen the whole thing with mineral spirits and use a sharp chisel (because it's flat, not because it's sharp) to peel off the remaining layer of paper/adhesive. It peels off cleanly, quickly and easily, and leaves only a bare minimum of residue behind, easily removable with a quick wipe of mineral spirits again. I have even stuck a pattern to a work piece and then forgotten about it and come back a year later (after I found it again) and the pattern still stayed on perfectly while cutting and still came off cleanly with mineral spirits. You don't have to peel off the top layer of the paper when you remove it, but I think it works better if you do. This has worked great for me for some years now and I recommend it.