Can anyone post a link or give any tips on the proper way to template with a set of french curves? I’m trying to create some of the templates from the How to Build a Surfboard book… when im connecting the dots i cant seem to template the whole rail with one smooth curve. instead i end up with subtle humps in the outline…
Seems like it should be simple but somehow i can’t see where i’m going wrong.
French curves are too small to use on a blank or to use to make a template. I went through the same thought process when i started shaping. I would draw on graph paper some sweet outlines using french curves, but had to do all the conversions to the template. Then i tried to find oversized, gigantic french curves, then i realized, that is exactly what i am trying to make myself (the template) so…They do have bigger ones called ship curves i believe but i’ve never used them. At a certain point you’re eye becomes the best tool.
template fave boards and practice to smoothe out cut edges
these are your -"YOUR ‘’ curves
the execution of these curves are unique to your personal moment on the
eternal timeline.the subsequent templates will be surely better.
some worse,
immersion in the quest for curve perfection
is an on going quest.
forgive youself your shortcomings
straighten out bumps with block backing for sand paper
hitting high spots.
flexible ‘‘blocks’’ are appropriate
graph paper and other short scale approaches
are like masturbating snails with tweezers
for artificial inseminating experiments
template full size boards with
,my favorite,masonite or perhaps fiber board
in another culture lumber store
by product made of sawdust and glue
…no wood grain hang ups.
luck is not a factor
good crafting to you
allow yourself to
accept your successes
as well as your shortcomings
the more you do it the better you will get…
…ambrose…
the french have no corner on curves
let’s see some SAsolitude curves
archiologists of the 23rd century will fight over them.
FRENCH curves eh ?
I heard they are tres dangereux , monsieur !
“dangereuses”, Ben.
Ah, those damned Frenchies with their masculine or feminine words!!!
Think over it: the word “curves” had to be feminine… and not all of them are dangerous, believe me… Well, it depends what you mean by “danger”…
go to this site.
http://www.macnaughtongroup.com/yds_drafting_tools_order_form.htm
you can get them individually . the whole set is $350 or something and half of them are no good for boards anyway. the high thirtys through about fifty are good for templates.
first get an architects scale rule.
if your making say, a six foot board use the 3" scale. that means that three inches is equal to one foot.with the three inch scale you get down to 1/8 " accuracy.
3x6= 18 so draw a 18 inch line. mark you wide point number, nose and tail dims. and then conect the dots with the curves. when you find a shape that looks good you can take pretty accurate dimensions at every six inches .
then you go to you masonite . you just reverse your scaling. draw the dots out full size on the masonite . the tricky part is conecting them full size. youll have to use battens and youll lose a little of the accuracy but this technique gives you a good idea of the shape your creating before you start wasting time and materials just shooting in the dark.
its good for doing foils too if your cutting your own blanks.ill try to post some photos tonight.
A shaper I know uses semi-circles of all sizes for templates (Didier DAMESTOY, TOY SURFBOARDS). Any of you have experienced those? I always used my eyes to draw my own curves.
or, you can go the digital route…
when i want to try something out, without wasting wood, or paper, i use the aps3000 software(www.aps3000.com) and, then you can see the outline as it develops, as well as tweak it around as much as you like. then, just measure every 6" and transfer to wood template with a batten, or flexible piece of lathe.
hope that helps,
Another suggestion – buy the Shaping 101 video. It’ll be the best template money you ever spent.
uhmmm-
see, I am a boatbuilder/boat carpenter by real trade, and there are lots and lots of the tricks of that trade that are applicable to this.
First off, the french curves or even ship curves - forget them. In boat work we work with battens- strips of thin and nice-grain softwood that we bend to the curve. It makes a nice, smooth…what we call in boat stuff a ‘fair’ curve. In a boat design, or a ship, the naval architect ( NA) uses battens to draw his curves at scale, then he takes offsets - which are height and width offsets from a centerline base point, usually to 1/4 inch.
Then it goes to the shipyard. The loftsman takes those numbers, lays them out full scale, connects the dots with a batten and adjusts to cut the frames. 'Cos sometimes the numbers are not quite there.
Now, this is how we do it on 200’ boats…
Instead - look, no surfboard is that big that you can’t lay it out full size with the curves done with a batten and maybe some light weights ( whales, we call 'em ) or simple light nails into plywood. Do a search for ‘boat lofting’ - 'cos i am kinda tired just now and not really up for describing the whole thing.
hope that’s of use
doc…
Can anyone post a link or give any tips on the proper way to template with a set of french curves? I’m trying to create some of the templates from the How to Build a Surfboard book… when im connecting the dots i cant seem to template the whole rail with one smooth curve. instead i end up with subtle humps in the outline…
Seems like it should be simple but somehow i can’t see where i’m going wrong.
when you get to the bottom rocker curve and want a natural french curve in the tail rocker line try the TinklerTail it will bend like a batten smooth and perfectly from a straight planning tail rocker to infininite rocker curves up to 2 1/2 inches of rocker and also twisting into spiraling french curves as needed while surfing and it is custom tunable for the surf and your style needs on the day . go to WWW. SURFSYNDICATE.COM FOR MORE INFO ON TAILS and curves for PERFORMANCE.
…lay it out full size with the curves done with a batten and maybe some light weights…
That’s exactly one of the things that the Shaping 101 video shows you how to do. Video demonstration included.