Form/Template Building Tip

[EzellH93]

I'm undoubtedly not the first person to do or suggest this, but after failing multiple times to hand-sand a template perfectly curved and smooth, I decided to try a different approach.

Basically, the profile of the bow was drawn out in Adobe Illustrator, and then printed and taped to a 1/2" piece of plywood. I then used a 1/4" piece of pvc trim and bent it as seen.

The plan is to then use the pvc as a guide for the router to hopefully cut out a perfectly curved template.

Thoughts?

[Bvas]

I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work.

My only suggestion would be to run the pvc and form well beyond where you plan the tips to be. That way you can also make longer bows with more reflex off the same form if you choose to.

[EzellH93]

@bvas

Thanks! I'll make sure to add some length to the cut. Definitely makes sense.

[kennym]

Check your template against the drawing, seems like that will change the radius of the curves a bit if memory serves correctly. 

[EzellH93]

Kenny,

You're right! After I tried this once, I noticed that the template wasn't quite the same. I guess the distance between the router base plate and the bit caused the radius to translate differently.

I'm going to instead use the pvc as a guide for a flush trim bearing instead of the router plate, which should fix the issue. We'll see!

[kennym]

 

[Shredd]

 Not only make your form a little longer but make it about 2" deeper... That way it leaves you room to tweak your design or change it completely if you want... Once it has proven itself you can trim the excess off...