Plywood Templates

[Mark P]

Does anyone use Plywood templates for building plugs? I am going to pick up my lumber pile this weekend and I have been cutting up plywood templates in preparation for this. I figure once I have a template cut to a good 2D profile it will make re-production much simpler if I have a good swimming design. This will be the first batch of plugs for me. I have built a bunch of furniture and cabinets things of that nature and am very excited to start the plug line.

From weapons of bass destruction to weapons of Mass production

[ecduzitgood]

I am somewhat new to this but what I do is print out the shape I want and then using 3m spray adhesive I attach it directly onto the wood I want to cut. Then it's off to the skroll saw and I cut along the outline then sand to shape.

[Roccus]

Acrylic or lexan makes the best templates... I do however have a bunch of "sizers" I made years from 1/4" plywood years ago to check the unifirmity of the plugs I'm turning..

[Mark P]

Lexan is a great idea! I may transfer the templates to Lexan once I know they are good designs. For set up and test plugs I will probably stick with the 1/2" plywood. It is easier to set up on the duplicator.

That is a great idea with the spray adhesive. Particularly for bunker patterns and things of that nature.

[Mark P]

PS. Thanks For the ideas

[Roccus]

1/8 lexan is perfect for using with a duplicator, especialy a Vega, I probaly have 100 that I have made.....

If you look at the plug design part of my Plug building revisited 101.. you will se how I draw out a spook, well using that method, draw your plug, then glue it to your lexan template, cut ti out on a scroll saw or band saw,leaving the lines, I then use a 1" belt sander to smoothe the edgees right to the line... wors slicker than crap through a goose...

[Mark P]

That is exactly what I was thinking, and have been doing to an extent with 1/2" ply. The lexan is much cleaner and won't change in size over time. My Duplicator is a Delta. It works well with templates or round stock. I am working on a spinner (a Roccus rip off). I just figured i would spin a few different designs and then go to town once I have a couple of good designs.
I have been drawing the plugs in cad So I can maintain a file and change profiles easily.

Your finishing and design tutorials are outstanding. Thanks Again.