Inkjet Printing on Wood

greatplanes27 · 04-05-2007, 01:05 AM

I recently decided to modify a cheap inkjet printer (Lexmark Z645 for $20 at Wal-Mart) to see if it could be setup to print on thick stock. I decided to try for 1/8" wood because that would work out to 3/4" in 1/6. The hack took about two hours. The printer will take a maximum width of 3". I have been working on some layouts for US 37mm ammo crates. I have taken some pictures of my first attempt. The box is slightly to narrow and short to hold the cardboard ammo tubes that I have made, but I wanted to get some feedback on the attempt. Eventually, I hope to have it fit 20 ammo tubes with rounds from Panzerwerks. Let me know what you think of this method. Thanks

panzerwerk · 04-05-2007, 01:09 AM

we might have to trade for the shells ! looks way cool !

Sixty Driver · 04-05-2007, 01:31 AM

Spectacular results!! Now spill the beans and post a how to dang you!

pomz99 · 04-05-2007, 01:34 AM

Looks pretty good.

armourguy · 04-05-2007, 01:37 AM

great job! and a great cost effective idea. Thanks!

jfunk · 04-05-2007, 02:21 AM

That looks great! Do you have any pictures of your cardboard tubes?
Doy you have plans to make these available for sale in the future to those of us who are not as mechanicly inclined?
Thanks for the pics.

04-05-2007, 02:43 AM

cool idea that worked out great!

greatplanes27 · 04-05-2007, 03:50 AM

Thanks for all the positive replys. I am posting a few pictures of the ammo tubes and decals. The tubes are made out of four layers of brown craft paper. I cut strips to 1/2" wide and wrap them around brass tubes. When the layers are glued together, they are removed from the tubes. It works fairly well and is quick to do. I have made over 100 tubes. I am trying to get a die made to make a better metal end. Pop cans are about the right weight of metal to make the ends, but I would like more detail. The 37mm rounds in the pictures are from Panzerwerk and are great. They fit the tubes perfectly. The decals are printed using water slide decal paper from Testors. The tubes need to have the decals applied and then they need to be varnished.

If there is enough interest, I will get another printer and modify it so I can do a photo tutorial. When it is done, it will probably be up for trade or sale. I may also do a tutorial on making the tubes if members want it. Thanks again.

Germanbilly1 · 04-05-2007, 03:50 AM

I just retired my old printer, A little show and tell?
GB

Sixth Vanguard · 04-05-2007, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatplanes27";p=&quot

...
If there is enough interest, I will get another printer and modify it so I can do a photo tutorial. When it is done, it will probably be up for trade or sale. I may also do a tutorial on making the tubes if members want it.

Definitely interest here

Leatherneck · 04-05-2007, 07:48 AM

The crates and the tubes look great!

Nice work all around!

battlezone · 04-05-2007, 10:52 AM

Brilliant!

Mark.

mutt71 · 04-05-2007, 06:03 PM

I need some of the crates and the Ammo tubes. Are they available?

von tunzelmann · 04-05-2007, 07:50 PM

What size are the ends of the tubes you need?
I may be able to punch you some metal discs
Richard

SgtRock · 04-05-2007, 09:32 PM

Great stuff and thanks for sharing. I am interested as well for any future products that come out of this.

greatplanes27 · 04-05-2007, 10:06 PM

Thanks for all of the responses. My wife picked up another Lexmark printer today for me. She works at Wal-Mart and after the discount, the printer is $18. I will start a photo tutorial tonight and I hope to have it posted on Saturday. Thanks again.

Sixth Vanguard · 04-05-2007, 10:32 PM

What a trooper. Thanks!

greatplanes27 · 04-06-2007, 04:06 AM

One last update. I resized the originals to fit the ammo tubes. I also discovered that sanding the balsa with 220 grit before running it through improved the precision of the printer. I think I am about ready to make some boxes. I will finish the tutorial on the printer mod before I start making boxes. Thanks for looking

jfunk · 04-06-2007, 02:27 PM

Those look fantastic! I don't suppose you could be talked into making some extras for sale could you?

Leatherneck · 04-07-2007, 07:48 AM

Those really do look sharp!

Kimblee_Clone · 04-14-2007, 04:40 AM

Wow, those boxes are amazing! You could start a little on-the-side business printing those for different nationalities! I know that if I had any tanks, than I would buy ammo boxes for them! Have a guy driving a kettenkrad around with the ammo boxes in the back...

04-05-2007, 01:05 AM	#1
greatplanes27 Rifleman Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 66 Images: 36	Inkjet Printing on Wood I recently decided to modify a cheap inkjet printer (Lexmark Z645 for $20 at Wal-Mart) to see if it could be setup to print on thick stock. I decided to try for 1/8" wood because that would work out to 3/4" in 1/6. The hack took about two hours. The printer will take a maximum width of 3". I have been working on some layouts for US 37mm ammo crates. I have taken some pictures of my first attempt. The box is slightly to narrow and short to hold the cardboard ammo tubes that I have made, but I wanted to get some feedback on the attempt. Eventually, I hope to have it fit 20 ammo tubes with rounds from Panzerwerks. Let me know what you think of this method. Thanks __________________ "Tanks are Mighty Fine Things" by Wesley W. Stout Chrysler Corporation, 1946

04-05-2007, 01:09 AM	#2
panzerwerk Division Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 6,153	we might have to trade for the shells ! looks way cool ! __________________ "It's a Space Peanut"

04-05-2007, 03:50 AM	#8
greatplanes27 Rifleman Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 66 Images: 36	Thanks for all the positive replys. I am posting a few pictures of the ammo tubes and decals. The tubes are made out of four layers of brown craft paper. I cut strips to 1/2" wide and wrap them around brass tubes. When the layers are glued together, they are removed from the tubes. It works fairly well and is quick to do. I have made over 100 tubes. I am trying to get a die made to make a better metal end. Pop cans are about the right weight of metal to make the ends, but I would like more detail. The 37mm rounds in the pictures are from Panzerwerk and are great. They fit the tubes perfectly. The decals are printed using water slide decal paper from Testors. The tubes need to have the decals applied and then they need to be varnished. If there is enough interest, I will get another printer and modify it so I can do a photo tutorial. When it is done, it will probably be up for trade or sale. I may also do a tutorial on making the tubes if members want it. Thanks again. __________________ "Tanks are Mighty Fine Things" by Wesley W. Stout Chrysler Corporation, 1946

04-05-2007, 03:50 AM	#9
Germanbilly1 Brigade Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: High Desert ,CA Posts: 3,197 Images: 12	I just retired my old printer, A little show and tell? GB __________________ Meine Ehre heisst Treue!

04-05-2007, 07:48 AM	#11
Leatherneck Brigade Commander Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,315 Images: 28	The crates and the tubes look great! Nice work all around! __________________ Green side out! Brown side out! Run in circles, scream and shout!

04-05-2007, 01:31 AM	#3
Sixty Driver Battalion Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,981 Images: 5	Spectacular results!! Now spill the beans and post a how to dang you!

04-05-2007, 01:34 AM	#4
pomz99 Company Commander Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 1,105	Looks pretty good.

04-05-2007, 01:37 AM	#5
armourguy Company Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: east coast USA Posts: 830	great job! and a great cost effective idea. Thanks!

04-05-2007, 02:21 AM	#6
jfunk Company Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 613 Images: 13	That looks great! Do you have any pictures of your cardboard tubes? Doy you have plans to make these available for sale in the future to those of us who are not as mechanicly inclined? Thanks for the pics.

04-05-2007, 02:43 AM	#7
Guest Posts: n/a	cool idea that worked out great!

04-05-2007, 10:52 AM	#12
battlezone Battalion Commander Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ohio Posts: 1,343	Brilliant! Mark.

04-05-2007, 06:03 PM	#13
mutt71 Company Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cape Cod Massachusetts USA Posts: 820	I need some of the crates and the Ammo tubes. Are they available? __________________ Expect Nothing, and you will NEVER be disappointed.

04-05-2007, 07:50 PM	#14
von tunzelmann Rifleman Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 94	What size are the ends of the tubes you need? I may be able to punch you some metal discs Richard

04-05-2007, 09:32 PM	#15
SgtRock Site Admin Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Joysey Posts: 1,199 Images: 27	Great stuff and thanks for sharing. I am interested as well for any future products that come out of this.

04-05-2007, 10:06 PM	#16
greatplanes27 Rifleman Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 66 Images: 36	Thanks for all of the responses. My wife picked up another Lexmark printer today for me. She works at Wal-Mart and after the discount, the printer is $18. I will start a photo tutorial tonight and I hope to have it posted on Saturday. Thanks again. __________________ "Tanks are Mighty Fine Things" by Wesley W. Stout Chrysler Corporation, 1946

04-05-2007, 10:32 PM	#17
Sixth Vanguard Board Flunky, aka Site Admin Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,411 Images: 29	What a trooper. Thanks!

04-06-2007, 04:06 AM	#18
greatplanes27 Rifleman Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 66 Images: 36	One last update. I resized the originals to fit the ammo tubes. I also discovered that sanding the balsa with 220 grit before running it through improved the precision of the printer. I think I am about ready to make some boxes. I will finish the tutorial on the printer mod before I start making boxes. Thanks for looking __________________ "Tanks are Mighty Fine Things" by Wesley W. Stout Chrysler Corporation, 1946

04-06-2007, 02:27 PM	#19
jfunk Company Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 613 Images: 13	Those look fantastic! I don't suppose you could be talked into making some extras for sale could you?

04-07-2007, 07:48 AM	#20
Leatherneck Brigade Commander Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,315 Images: 28	Those really do look sharp! __________________ Green side out! Brown side out! Run in circles, scream and shout!

04-14-2007, 04:40 AM	#21
Kimblee_Clone Rifleman Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kitchener, Ontario Posts: 10	Wow, those boxes are amazing! You could start a little on-the-side business printing those for different nationalities! I know that if I had any tanks, than I would buy ammo boxes for them! Have a guy driving a kettenkrad around with the ammo boxes in the back...

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