Making Templates

Guindesigns

Guindesigns

Well-Known Member
what is a good material (stable, cheap, easy, etc.) for making templates? I've seen plywood, paper, plastic, and more I just want to know more about what everyone else is using and why chose one over the other.
 
Once I have made my pattern in 1/4 inch customwood I transfer it to sheet metal which is just the sides cut from old whiteware. (washing machines etc.)
HrzYN9sl.jpg
 
Guin, I always repurpose heavy carboard! But some of mine are sheet metal as well!! I guess now that I think about it, its whatever is handy and stiff enough to handle the particular knife pattern! :p


Von Gruff said:
Once I have made my pattern in 1/4 inch customwood I transfer it to sheet metal which is just the sides cut from old whiteware. (washing machines etc.)
HrzYN9sl.jpg
Click to expand...


Gruff, I like the idea of the old washing machine! Most folks haul them to the dump when they go but, I'd rather haul them to the recycler and get paid for them. From now on they may be missing a side when I haul them to the recycler!!
 
I use anything flat and ridgid. Scrap steel, plastics, phenolics, etc....

I've heard of someone using cutting boards from the dollar store, drops from a a fab shop / scrap yard, or just about anything.
 
I have used kydex for templates. Don't. It curls in the heat and it's too soft. I have just as good of luck with plastic sheet material. Knives that I make a lot of get transferred to mild steel or thin aluminum sheet (whatever i have). If you forge you'll definitely want steel templates, but for guys like me that just need a shape to trace onto the steel anything works. For one-offs I use manila folders. I take my drawing and glue it to the manila folder, then cut it out. That manila card stock is durable enough for several tracings with a scribe.
 
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