I'm moving into making wood lam bows (followed by composites if all goes well) and will need to use templates to trace/draw the back profile onto the glued up limbs. I draw the profile in autocad and print it out full size. I can then stick the print out directly onto the limbs or can glue it to a stiffer base material to make a reusable template. I think I prefer the reusable template for the next couple designs at least. What do people recommend for the template base material?


Thanks,
Mark

You can use plexiglass or thin mdf. Thin plywood works as well as long as it's good quality.
Dave.

Use a .040/.050 piece of Glass, wont swell, and will keep it's shape

Quality plywood is cheapest.

I use 1/6" g10 for templates and 1/4" aluminum for my pattern jigs

One more template question - do you guys use a full length template or a half length one that you just flip around?


Mark

Maybe I went overboard but I have full length profile templates made from aluminum.

If you freehand it One half and flip it. I guess if you can get CNC made full length can work.

 i use a piece of formica...  go half length and you can use it on different length bows...

I use Formica in one piece, but all I make are one piece wood longbows.

Quote from: Stagmitis on November 23, 2020, 08:50:02 PM
Maybe I went overboard but I have full length profile templates made from aluminum.

That works if you have worked out exactly what you want and will make mostly the same bow, but I am not at that stage at all.

Quote from: Shredd on November 24, 2020, 09:35:11 AM
i use a piece of formica...  go half length and you can use it on different length bows...

That's a good point in favour of the half length one.


Mark