Rolling Paper Cylinders of Any Size

27 April 2015
68

Rolled cylinders are common in paper modelling. Forming a neat tank barrel or a mast for your first ship can take time. Let's learn how to roll them. This guide brings together methods described on Russian and international modelling sites.

First, a few terms. A solid cylinder has no empty space inside: its core is filled with rolled paper. A hollow cylinder is a tube with an empty centre.

Rolling Solid Cylinders

Small solid cylinders are often needed in models. Wrap a paper strip around a suitable round object, such as a toothpick or knitting needle. Remove it and keep rolling to tighten it and reduce the diameter. You can roll it between your fingers, or, for very small pieces, against the tabletop.

Important

Suitable rolling forms include toothpicks, knitting needles, pen refills, paintbrushes, plastic tubes, drill bits and sections of telescopic antennas.

Important

Lightly dampen the back of the paper with a wet brush to make it easier to roll.

Rolling Hollow Cylinders

Many models contain hollow cylinders. Some can be shaped simply by drawing the paper over the edge of a table or under a ruler. Others need more careful preparation.

Method 1

Choose a round form of the required size. Wrap the paper strip around it. Lightly moisten the back of the strip so it rolls easily without damaging the printed surface.

Press a ruler as close as possible to the round form, holding the paper against it. Keep the ruler in place while drying the paper with a hairdryer.

Once dry, the paper will retain the cylinder's shape.

Slide a piece of card under the paper next to the form. It will protect the surface during the next cut.

Place the ruler alongside the curve and trim away the excess with a sharp craft knife.

Use a stiff brush to tuck the paper edge beneath the form.

With the ruler and sharp knife, trim the remaining excess. You can apply glue first to avoid staining the finished side later.

Press the edge together gently with your fingertips so the cylinder is not crushed. The rolled paper cylinder is ready.

Method 2

Tape a strip of thin paper to a round form. Mark where its edge will lie after rolling.

Place the slightly damp model part to the right of the mark. Roll the layers together around the form and leave them to dry.

When dry, the part holds the required curve. Join its edges with an overlap or edge to edge with a paper strip glued inside. This produces a neat hollow cylinder.

The same method works for long, thin tubes. Choose a suitably narrow round form and wind a strip of paper around it.

Place the damp model part over the paper strip and roll the layers together. When dry, remove the part and glue its edges to form a hollow cylinder.

This method can produce cylinders of almost any diameter.

Conclusion

Rolling paper cylinders takes practice and patience, but you can do it.

If you know another method, share it in the comments and we may add it to this guide.

How do you roll paper?

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