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I've been using MDF for all of my templates. Lately I've been thinking about moving them to something more permanent. I think the thick arylic that StewMac uses for their body cavity templates. But I'm not sure if that would be good for me to make, since they are laser cut.

So what's a good solution given this criteria:

1.) Clear plastic, so I can see the piece beneath
2.) Workable with woodworking tools, or workable without the need of specialty tools
3.) Readily available in sizes for guitar templates in low quantities.

What has everyone found that has worked for them?

Lexan I hope!

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I am in the process making lexan templates and the tips here (viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=48547) are great!.

lexan is a bit pricey, but you can get small sheets (18 x 24 @ 3/32" or 0.93) for about $20 at home depot. I'm hoping it's thick enough...

I bought a cheap awl for $6 at the local hardware store to do the tracing.The marker is staying OK, but i wish it were darker.
Here's what it's looking like.



The area where there is no text is a plain sheet of paper inserted under tthe lexan and on top of the plan to show that the lines are coming out decent...
i'll probably just use stickers for the detail text.

The .090" polycarbonate material we use has proven to be very durable and relatively inexpensive - it can be bent double without shattering (please do not try this with acrylic!), and even after multiple trips to the concrete shop floor and being tossed around lumber yards during wood scouting trips, the templates work well and show no unusual wear. For body templates to be used for routing, we use 12mm/1/2" MDF and use a separate .090" polycarbonate template for layout to minimize parallax error.

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A constellation only takes shape when one maps the whole.
- Beth Brower

You can find plexi and polycarbonate scrap for sale on ebay

If you're using acrylic, you want to use cast, not extruded. The cast has a higher melting temp. +1 for sourcing on eBay.

I like the polycarbonate from Home Depot. It might be branded Lexan, I'm not sure. They also sell cheaper acrylic. it is ok but does crack easier.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Lexan is very expensive, and plexiglass is too brittle. I contacted a plastics shop, San Diego Plastics and they sold me the right stuff at a great price. I don't remember the name of it. But any plastic shop should be able to tell you and have it in stock. The 1/8" thick sheet is perfect.