Improper measurements will have a big effect on your cone’s result. It’s a good idea to put extra effort into making the circle as round as possible. For your disk shape, you can also use a compass, or trace a round object, such as a lid or container.
Use a compass protractor to pinpoint the centre of your disc if you’re unsure where to place your dot. If you’re using a protractor tool to outline the disc to begin with, it can save you time to make the centre dot before you trace the disc around it. You can also draw your own triangle wedge using a ruler and pencil.
Unfurl the paper and try again if the sides don’t meet properly at first. Don’t make firm creases in your paper. Your cone should be rounded.
One straight piece of tape will give your cone the best stability. Multiple pieces of tape inside will make a mess. It is helpful to have one hand applying the tape while the other holds the shape of the cone.
Slight errors can make your cone lopsided, or, worse still, too short to tape around. Similarly, you can make the same process work with a half-circle. A half-circle will result in a smoother top. [2] X Research source If you don’t want to make measurements yourself, triangle templates are available. Make sure you’re using a template with one long side and two shorter sides of equal length. [3] X Research source
If you’re having difficulty rolling the corners together, it may be that you didn’t cut your triangle out wide enough. The far corners are the opposite ends of the wide triangle. Hold the first corner roll in place while you roll the other corner. [5] X Research source One hand should be used for each corner.
If there are excess lengths of paper jutting out from the cone shape, it may be that your original sheet wasn’t an even shape. If this is the case, you can keep moving forward by cutting off any excess with a precision knife. So long as you have an even base for your cone, people won’t be able to notice mishaps you had in the process of making it. It’s a fairly quick process, so it pays to do it a few times until you get it right.
If for whatever reason you don’t have enough paper to fold over, you can get over this issue by running a strip of tape across the base, from the outside to the inside of your cone. Try squeezing or loosening your grip on the cone if the folding slot isn’t apparent enough.
The loose edge can be taped down as well.
Printer paper is fine for purely decorative cones. It offers a lot of potential to be coloured or drawn on. A thick construction paper is best if you’re making party hats. [8] X Research source Parchment paper is a good choice if you’re making a funnel to bake with.
If your funnel hole isn’t big enough, you can try to cut it again. Keep in mind, however, that the higher you cut up the cone will result in an exponentially bigger funnel hole. It’s best to keep your funnel cutting careful and restrained.
Draw a pattern in with pencil first if you’re worried about making mistakes. It may be easier to draw your pattern on the paper before you make it into a cone.
