Hello everybody,
What would be the best wood to use for template? I read an article that advised to use two materials, one being 1/8″ thick Masonite for one offs and 1/4″ thick for production.
Is masonite a brown hard material that is in Home Depot?
Does one off mean that the template is used for one time only?
Is both materials available in Home Improvements Centers like Home Depot?
Does the materials come in different sizes or am I limited to specific size? What is the right thickness to use for templates?
What is right choice of wood for one time templates and which one is for all the time?
Thank you.
Replies
Yes, it's the hard brown stuff. It comes in two flavors tempered (which is smooth both sides) and regular (which has a screen pattern on the reverse). It comes in 4x8 sheets, but the big boxes likely sell smaller pieces cut from the larger sheets. Masonite isn't the only game in town either. Lots of templates are made from plywood in various grades and thicknesses.
The thickness you want depends on how the template is used. Does it guide a tool, or just reproduce a drawing? There is no one answer as to which is best.
I like to use medium-density fiberboard (MDF) because I find that it machines a little more cleanly than high-density fiberboard (of which Masonite is one brand). MDF is also smooth on both sides, whereas Masonite is usually textured on the "back" side.
At my "local" Home Depot (a mere 50 miles away), they have 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" MDF in full 49" x 97" sheets, as well as cut down to 2' x 4'.
The thickness is a tradeoff--thinner material is easier to handle because it's lighter, but it's also more fragile and floppy. 1/4" is the thinnest that I use for templates and such.
-Steve
I use the 1/4-in thick white faced mdf, made for cabinet backs, for templates for short runs. It machines well, to a good tight edge. And, since it has a white surface it is easy to do the layout drawing directly on it. One of the few things I keep my old drafting gear around for.
HomeDesperate and Lowes both have had it in the past. If they stock it, it will be near the Melamine particle board.
If they sell off cuts and culls, check to see if they have any in the bins before you buy the whole sheet. I used to find sizeable pieces every Sunday at the Home Desperate by the old house. People would leave the offcuts, after they used the two free cuts to get a piece the size they needed for the weekend project on Saturday.
For long term templates I have always used polycarbonate, (Lexan), offcuts from sign companies. It is used for the translucent front panel on back light signs. They end up with quite a bit of scrap when they do sign faces with it. When I was in Vegas, I had a couple of sources due to the high number of signs there. I haven't tried to look around here yet though, and will probably have to buy more if I ever need it.
I cannot tell you what is 'right/correct' to use but I use 5X5? floor underlayment ply. Very few gaps in the layers and is 'sort' of reasonably priced. One sheet will make a lot of patterns!
As I recall it is about 1/4 inch thick. Plane old hardboard works well also.
Edited 10/8/2007 12:52 pm by WillGeorge
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