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Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
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Author:  Mike Franks [ Tue Aug 13, 2019 5:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
Can anyone recommend a source and material to make flexible routing templates for armrest bevel? I need a material which can be double-side taped to the guitar top and side as in Robbie O'Brien's Luthier Tips du Jour - The Arm Bevel.

Mike Franks
www.mjfranksguitars.com
Author:  Clay S. [ Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
Grainger sells 1/4 inch uhmw polyethylene plastic. It comes indifferent sizes and colors.
Author:  TimAllen [ Thu Aug 15, 2019 9:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
Another option would be drafting film, which is available from art supply stores, Amazon, etc.. It's fairly inexpensive and you can buy it in various sizes. This blurb about one brand of it is from the Blick Art Materials site:

"Grafix Drafting Film is a polyester base film with a translucent, matte drawing surface. Available in one-sided or two-sided versions, in rolls and in sheets, this anti-static film accepts ink or graphite, erases cleanly, and provides excellent dimensional stability. Since it won’t tear or discolor, it's great for engineering and architectural applications, and is highly translucent for sharp reproductions. Grafix Drafting Film can be used with most black-and-white laser printers and conventional copiers."
Author:  Pat Foster [ Thu Aug 15, 2019 10:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
TimAllen wrote:
Another option would be drafting film, which is available from art supply stores, Amazon, etc.. It's fairly inexpensive and you can buy it in various sizes. This blurb about one brand of it is from the Blick Art Materials site:

"Grafix Drafting Film is a polyester base film with a translucent, matte drawing surface. Available in one-sided or two-sided versions, in rolls and in sheets, this anti-static film accepts ink or graphite, erases cleanly, and provides excellent dimensional stability. Since it won’t tear or discolor, it's great for engineering and architectural applications, and is highly translucent for sharp reproductions. Grafix Drafting Film can be used with most black-and-white laser printers and conventional copiers."


I use this or something like it, called acetate film at our local art supply store $3 for a sheet about 18" x 24".
Author:  Clay S. [ Thu Aug 15, 2019 12:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
I could be wrong, but I doubt the drafting film comes in 1/4 inch thickness, which is about the thinnest I would run a template guide on.
Author:  TimAllen [ Fri Aug 16, 2019 10:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
Yes, drafting film would only work as a layout template. I overlooked "routing." I don't know what kind of plastic would flex for that. I'd probably bend 2-3 layers of wood and laminate them together, just because I know how to do that.
Author:  CarlD [ Fri Aug 16, 2019 11:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
Try https://www.tapplastics.com/. They should have what you need. Also, a glass place would have polycarbonate sheets in various thickness. I've used it for templates.
Author:  Clay S. [ Fri Aug 16, 2019 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
UHMW plastic is the stuff StewMac sells for teflon filler strips. In quarter inch thickness it should be bendable enough to lay on a guitar side and thick enough to use a template guide with it.
Author:  bcombs510 [ Fri Aug 16, 2019 2:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
I use eplastics.com. I bought a sheet and had them cut it up how I needed it. It adds 20 bucks for the cuts but it still cheaper than most places I looked.

https://www.eplastics.com/search?keywor ... al%20Sheet

Brad
Author:  phavriluk [ Fri Aug 16, 2019 11:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
Perhaps a visit to a craft store will produce a 'plastruct' display. They sell ABS sheets, perhaps they're big enough to do the job. I have some I bought years ago and they're .060 nearly 1/16 of an inch thick.
Author:  Mike OMelia [ Sat Aug 17, 2019 1:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
Sorry to diverge a bit, but have you studied Kent Everett’s bevel? It’s engineered into the body and does not require routing. I’ve built many. It’s technically challenging, has its pros and cons. But no high speed tooling. I have enough fear associated with binding slots and neck routing. Lol.
Author:  Mike OMelia [ Sat Aug 17, 2019 1:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates. Yes
I’m just unsure how u can make a universal template. Seems you would need to adjust for each body unless u have amazing quality controls to manage body shape.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Aug 17, 2019 1:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
I am working on one based on Kent Everett's process and, as Mike says, no routing needed. Was easy to get the shape of the bevel done with some quick measurements and a sander - not sure I see the advantage of a routing template unless you're in a production environment in which case you could build templates for each body shape from wood or whatever.
Author:  Mike OMelia [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for flexible plastic sheeting for templates.
(moved to a new thread, I felt like I was hijacking this one)
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