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This may sound pretty basic, and I know many of you probably use jigs moreso, but I'm still building in very small numbers. I was thinking about making some patterns from a set of plans I have. Mainly sides etc, question is?? Is the best way, to cut them from the blueprint and trace onto the pattern material? What material is best and practical for patterns? I was thinking hardbaord? Maybe sheetmetal, but that would be more dissicult to work with?
Thanks in advance

I like to use a clear material so you can see through them to help you position on the best part of your wood.

I use 2/3mm Acrylic sheet then you can just lay it on your plan and trace onto the acrylic.

I prefer "lexan" or polycarbonate. Same thing. They work much easier
than acrylic and don't melt like it does. Plastic supply stores sometimes
sell scaps of lexan and acrylic for very cheap.

Mike

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

I like to keep my blueprints, so I use really thin paper to trace the pattern. Glue that to the pattern sheet with some spray 3M glue, then cut the pattern out to the line. I suppose a bit of error can creep in that way, but just looking for a smooth outline for the guitar, not a pattern that is exact to 1/100" (which you can't do anyway, since the paper of the blueprint may change size with humidity).

I just use no void ply, but I like Russell's acrylic suggestion.

What's the best way to machine Lexan? Also, is there a clear, thin vinyl that's heavy enough to trace, but something to be rolled up for storage?

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DES - Shepherd, MI

Darin, mylar or vellum works great for that. Art supply stores will have it.

What Mike said. I use lexan for my templates. I buy mine at a plastics shop, just rummage through their scrap bins till I find the size I need.

I transfer the outline to a piece of paper big enough for the template, then cut the paper out to the outline. Then I scribe the exact outline onto the lexan with an exacto knife.

I cut the pattern close to its exact dimensions on my bandsaw and then use a 1-1/2" drum sanding bit chucked up in my drill press to sand down to the lines.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

[quote=Darin Spayd]What's the best way to machine Lexan? [/quote]


     I have found that using very slow speeds, light pressure and just a touch of cutting oil work great on cutting acrylic. It melts very easily at high speed, but a router can be used, of course, it's just not as clean of a cut.

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Lexan here, some out of UHMW because I can get scraps at work. I have made some out of 1/4" plywood, but like the lexan better.Jimmie D38920.5380208333

Where can I purchase Lexan or polycarbonate-best and cheapest?
Thanks,

I made a new acrylic template ( couldn't get anything else locally,,,,, Lexan,,,, isn't that a car ?? ), to acommodate my newer rounded tail version of my existing pattern .
I already find the see though thing to be handy.

I must make mention of my original drawing. I purchased some U-Beaut tracing paper to make my plan . The tracing paper has a plastic look about it .Yeh,, that'll look cool , I felt . So, I set to , and finished with a really neat and tidy plan. I stood back admiring my handywork with an air of pride .Now that's a great start to this project , I thought to myself.

By chance , acouple of days later , I lay my new template on my fabulous drawing to find a 1/4 " difference . Now I know that paper can grow and shrink with humidity changes , but I didn't expect that much. Makes this " fabulous drawing" very unfabulous .

Just thought I'd mention it to others .

Hey guys !,,,,,,,,,be careful out there


Cheers Kiwi

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Paul and Billy, It's been a couple of days since I've been here. Just wanted to say thanks for the input!

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DES - Shepherd, MI

Thanks Todd

[QUOTE=KiwiCraig]
By chance , acouple of days later , I lay my new template on my fabulous drawing to find a 1/4 " difference . Now I know that paper can grow and shrink with humidity changes , but I didn't expect that much. Makes this " fabulous drawing" very unfabulous .

Just thought I'd mention it to others .

Hey guys !,,,,,,,,,be careful out there


Cheers Kiwi[/QUOTE]

Craig,

Didi you use quartersawn of flatsawn acrylic

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

,,,,,,,,,,,,,Brazilian !


Regards ,Kiwi

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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[QUOTE=Michael McBroom]
I transfer the outline to a piece of paper big enough for the template, then cut the paper out to the outline. Then I scribe the exact outline onto the lexan with an exacto knife.

[/QUOTE]

Michael, when you say you "transfer the outline to a piece of paper", do you mean that you just trace it, or --?

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

I draw or trace everything to a piece of vellum, then stick it to my template material (lexan or 1/4 in. service tempered hardboard) with spray adhesive. then just cut close to the line, and finish with files, scrapers, and sandpaper.

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

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[QUOTE=Todd Rose] [QUOTE=Michael McBroom]
I transfer the outline to a piece of paper big enough for the template, then cut the paper out to the outline. Then I scribe the exact outline onto the lexan with an exacto knife.

[/QUOTE]

Michael, when you say you "transfer the outline to a piece of paper", do you mean that you just trace it, or --?[/QUOTE]

Hi Todd,

Well, I was a bit vague on that because I've done it a few different ways. Yes, I've traced outlines onto paper from a set of plans. I also have a plywood template of the ex-Segovia '37 Hauser, that I cut from a template that a friend of mine has, and then transferred the outline from my template onto lexan. And I've also used the 'half-pencil' trick to make direct tracings of a couple of guitars I own onto paper.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live