Long term templates? What do you make them out of?

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
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I have a few sheath templates that I want to create out of a more sturdy material than card stock.

What do you all use to make a template out of a material that is a bit more robust.

TF
 
I've been thinking of doing the same with my most used Busse patterns instead of constantly remaking the manilla folder stock pieces.

I was thinking of finding some plastic folders at Goodwill or a garage sale. Flexible yet soft enough to easily work with.

Anyone have anything better they use?
 
I saw a man on Youtube use thin Micarta. He could then use his template as a cutting edge.

I was thinking along these lines as well.

TF
 
I use sheet PVC. It is the very same stuff as the "NO Hunting", "For Rent" etc. signs in your friendly Walmart or hardware store. I bought mine in a 4'X8' sheet from a commercial sign maker. It can be drawn on and erased and it cuts easily with an exacto #11. By comparison the signs in the stores are much much MORE expensive than buying it from a sign maker.

Paul
 
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I have a unused xray film sheets that is tough and makes a great template. The nice thing about it is you can fold it and see through it. You can't tear it apart with your hands. I use it for various projects. The hospital has gone away from using it at the present time. Glad I got some extras.
 
I use plastic stencil sheet. I draw my templates with a CAD program,so all I do is print them off onto sticker paper, then peel and stick it to the plastic stencil sheet. Then I use an exacto knife to cut out the templates. I do this with alot of my most common templates, otherwise everything is printed on cardstock.
 
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For any template that doesn't need to be flexible, I like to use sheets of 1/8" 'foam core.' It's just thick enough to make a good guide edge for marking the leather.


Stitchawl
 
Man - all GREAT ideas!

Stitchawl - do you mean the board that has two harder edges with the foam sandwiched in the middle?

TF
 
I use vulcanized fiber sheet, same as what is used for knife handle spacer material, at .020" or so thick. Not super cheap, but very durable and cuts easily with scissors.
Mark
 
Talfuchre said:
Man - all GREAT ideas!

Stitchawl - do you mean the board that has two harder edges with the foam sandwiched in the middle?

TF
Click to expand...

Yes, that is exactly what I mean. As it someone sandwiched a sheet of foam between layers of manila folders. I can buy it with one surface as an adhesive sheet, so it's easy to affix printed paper to it, cut it to size with an X-Acto knife, and have sharp, clean edges to guide a modeling tool or pencil. At art supply stores, it's sold in all different thicknesses.


Stitchawl
 
Most of the old timers I learned from used thin copper sheet, I like thin plexi-glass (1/8" or so) after trying several other materials - not as easy to cut out but it seems to last forever and it's thick enough to guide the knife with - big plus for me is it's transparent so I can see what's underneath during lay out
 
Foam core board is great stuff.
I work with it every day.
A step up in durability (with the same construction concept) is Gator board.
Both the board and sanwiched foam is a little sturdier.
Not sure if is available in 1/8" though.

For 99% of my foamcore cutting I use a snap off Olfa blade.
The X-Acto is for thin stuff and detail work.


Plexi would make a super template.
Just a word of caution for those that aren't familiar with cutting a long a plastic edge (plexi template or triangle)
The knife can & will grab the edge of the plexi. There is very little resistance and the knife will speed up and skate where it wants once it is on top of the triangle or template.
When a new guy comes to the job we all compare scars and 'knife wreck' stories.
Same goes for inexpensive aluminum rulers, always go for steel.

I don't make enough of the same sheath to warrant templates, so mine are all still in the manilla folder stage.

Hope that helps.
 
For ones I do not use often I just use thick paper stock, to be more specific usps flat rate mailer envelopes make great patterns. Anything that gets used more than a couple times a week and I will just get a die made, 10 minutes of cutting something out vs 30 seconds.
 
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