Thread: What do you cut your templates from???

Ken Wraight uses tin but he has the gear to cut it (the mongrel).

I have used thin aluminium sheet, shim brass, 3mm MDF and the plastic packaging that you can't get into

I found shim brass (about .020) good because it is reasonably strong and you can cut it with scissors.

I forgot one thing that I used to use a lot of.

Heavy gasket paper. I don't know whether you can even buy it now but Repco (when they weren't a lolly shop) used to carry it.

It cuts easily and is exceptionally strong.

Thin ply, plastic that has covered carpet samples, cut open plastic milk bottles in fact anything that might work.
cheers,
Jim

Hi guys,

are you talking about templates for lathe work? If so, I don't have any! What I do is make the first item, sit it on the apron and just copy using just my eye. After a bit you will be surprised at how close you can get doing it this way. But really, I Texta the design on my fence with the original for reference. I keep the original as my pattern.
If you look at furniture through history you can see pics of guys working green in the bush with piles of components next to them, You don't see any patterns laying around do you!
Ps, , if you can put up with my posts, you must be a pretty good bloke! Don't take any crap from whatsisname, OK!
And TTIT! What kind of user name is that? I Googled it and found myself on some porno site!!! For hours

Cheers...Oddjob1

Originally Posted by TTIT

Anyone got any ideas for something better than Coco-Pops packs that isn't too hard to get hold of????

ps need healthier diet with better packing

Maybe "Just right"!ddjob1

i mainly buy a few sheets of thin cardboard from the news agent next door .
when i was younger and doing a lot of mechanical stuff i used up my share of cornflake boxes to make gaskets though ..
i also use the lids and the sides from 4 litre ice cream tubs for many things , the lids make good pallets for mixing glue on.

I'm using the cereal packets
plus the odd larger lego box

did manage to scrounge some 3mm or 5mm perspex type stuff. Was thinking of using it after I make one or two Longworth chucks

what's wrong with masonite or even 3 mm mdf


In any event what would be wrong with painting the edges of the corny cardboard with varnish or somesuch, would have to increase longevity

Originally Posted by Oddjob1

Hi guys,


Ps, , if you can put up with my posts, you must be a pretty good bloke! Don't take any crap from whatsisname, OK!
And TTIT! What kind of user name is that? I Googled it and found myself on some porno site!!! For hours

Cheers...Oddjob1

?

Forgot to mention the reasons I like the idea of the PVC sheet...
1. Easy to mark/draw on (I think!)
2. Flexible to fit inside forms, under lips etc.
3. Easy to cut with knives and my compass knife for really accurate arcs.
4. Frosted/white for good contrast against timber.
5. Edges won't fray with use.

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

..............what's wrong with masonite or even 3 mm mdf
In any event what would be wrong with painting the edges of the corny cardboard with varnish or somesuch, would have to increase longevity

See reason 3.

Originally Posted by Oddjob1

........
If you look at furniture through history you can see pics of guys working green in the bush with piles of components next to them, You don't see any patterns laying around do you!
And TTIT! What kind of user name is that? I Googled it and found myself on some porno site!!! For hours.......

I use templates where accuracy has to be better than you can eyeball - like my entry in 's 50mm challenge. ( post #69 here)
Once you're finished with the , try a search for Turning Trees Into Toothpicks

Originally Posted by

..................I found shim brass (about .020) good because it is reasonably strong and you can cut it with scissors.

Fits most of the criteria but the cost of it is a bit steep for one-off projects.

Try old xrays

I have never used templates on production turning of legs etc but sometimes in one off complex copying jobs I have had to.

Originally Posted by Oddjob1

Hi guys,

are you talking about templates for lathe work? If so, I don't have any! What I do is make the first item, sit it on the apron and just copy using just my eye. After a bit you will be surprised at how close you can get doing it this way. But really, I Texta the design on my fence with the original for reference. I keep the original as my pattern.
If you look at furniture through history you can see pics of guys working green in the bush with piles of components next to them, You don't see any patterns laying around do you!
Ps, , if you can put up with my posts, you must be a pretty good bloke! Don't take any crap from whatsisname, OK!
And TTIT! What kind of user name is that? I Googled it and found myself on some porno site!!! For hours

Cheers...Oddjob1

You can buy template material made from thin plastic sheet at sewing shops

Vern,
I have used ice cream containers and their lids. I also have acquired some long (about 250 long) plastic containers the specialist ice cream shops use. You can write on them with fine textra pens and they can be cut with scissors. There may also be some plastic packaging available from a hardware store. I have also used opened out soft drink cans.
Jim