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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: monterey on May 07, 2018, 12:18:48 PM

Title: Plexiglass thickness for templates?
Post by: monterey on May 07, 2018, 12:18:48 PM

If you have ever made a limb template from plexiglass, what thickness did you use and how did it work out for you?

Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness for templates?
Post by: beachbowhunter on May 07, 2018, 12:56:45 PM

I used 1/4" before and it worked fine. But next time I will go thinner because it costs a lot less.

Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness for templates?
Post by: monterey on May 07, 2018, 01:49:28 PM

That was my concern.  HD only has fixed sizes and even the 1/8" is kinda pricey.  Maybe an online source?  Given your esperience, do you think .093 is thick enough?

Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness for templates?
Post by: C. Johnson on May 07, 2018, 04:16:58 PM

Plexi, or better yet, Lexan makes a great template.  I have dozens of them for various things. If you plan on running a bearing against it, 1/4" is going to work a lot better.

Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness for templates?
Post by: hunting badger on May 08, 2018, 01:44:29 AM

I second Lexan! it's much better than plexi glass and won't break.

Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness for templates?
Post by: Bowjunkie on May 08, 2018, 05:48:19 AM

Speaking of that... you guys ever see those plastic boat/railroad curves used by draftsman back in the day? I have some. Most are made as a plain radius, but mine are more like part of an ellipse, very slick for laying out reflex, deflex, and recurve profiles.

Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness for templates?
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 08, 2018, 07:52:37 AM

If you are talking limb marking templates I use about .070 actionboo. And .250 plexi on my profiling jigs.

Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness for templates?
Post by: monterey on May 08, 2018, 08:51:06 AM

Limb marking templates are what I would use it for.  The action boo seems like a good idea. 

Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness for templates?
Post by: Shredd on May 08, 2018, 09:18:05 AM

Lexan....  1/16" thick...   Formica works well too...