Just wondering what works good for a TD limb template. You know once you pop the limb out of the limb press and you use a template to trace the limb shape on the limb? just wondering what you guys use for a template?

I draw out by limb shape on the taped glass before I glue up the limb. Lot easier than trying to do it after the limb is glued up and bent to shape.

Benbow,
I used to do the same and this is preferred but if you glass slips at all, then it messes it up. For template, the best thing is  something flexible like a another piece of glass or even pexiglass. What I started doing is grinding the limb flat on one side on my edge sander so I knew I had a good flat square edge and then align the pattern up flush with this and clamp with spring clamps then trace. The way Benbow described is best but I need to make some adjustments to my form so that there is no chance of the glass slipping during glueup

I have a template I made out of sheet metal.  Scribe a center line on it, drill 1/4" holes in about 4 or 5 places on center scribe.  Then line up with center line on limb, clamp and mark linb.

I wrap my glued lams in clear plastic wrap before putting them in the form plus I have washers on the sides of the form to keep the lams from slipping so hasn't been an issue for me.

Thanks Guys, I will give it a try!


John 3:16

I use formica... it think it's much better than glass or sheet metal myself.

Formica here too

If I ever decide to build more than one of any certain design, I'll make a template.  What I do now is leave the tape on, draw a centerline on the back (easy cause they are ASL style) and then glue the pattern printed from a CAD program on the back.  The pattern has a centerline too, so I punch holes through it about every six inches and then match it to the centerline on the tape.

Simpler than it might seem.  Not sure it could be done on a R/D or recurve.