Hey guys I used the 101 method for making a template with the nails and bender board. First board ok, but I think I could do better. Any ideas, I dont want to go to a surf shop and trace the shapes with paper. That would be the best way to get a nice template, but I would have to find a shop with a friend working and no customers in the store. Thanks DR
Check the archives,lots on this subject.Herb
APS3000 —> Kinko’s (or other copy center).
they’ll print you a perfect paper template of whatever you designed on APS. then, you can easily transfer it onto a more permanent template material (i.e. MDF).
The APS is a software, yes ? Thats nice, but probably expensive. I was hopng for a more traditional approach. I read whats in the archives last night. Sounds like the batton board thing is pretty popular, if you dont go to software. I’m not that good with the computer. I have to figure out how to show my first board on here, with importing a picture ??
There is lots of info in the archives on this but last week I took a new approach that was a first for me.I needed to shape a 12’0" log for a buddy of mine and having no templates this large I was at a loss.The blank was around 12’4’’ from clark foam ( I forget the actual blank number as my client got it on his own).After scratching my head I looked at the outline of the blank and it was close to what I envisioned the finished board to be.Next I took my planer and just started going around the edge of the blank until I picked up a clean line.This is gave me a good clean curve to trace.We laid plywood on the blank,traced the line and cut out the template.I now had a full template that I could lay on the blank and was able to adjust it to the dimensions I wanted.In the end I have a good 12’0" curve for my collection and it only took around an hour. RB
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The APS is a software, yes ? Thats nice, but probably expensive. I was hopng for a more traditional approach. I read whats in the archives last night. Sounds like the batton board thing is pretty popular, if you dont go to software. I’m not that good with the computer. I have to figure out how to show my first board on here, with importing a picture ??
yes, APS3000 is a software program designed by some people on this site…and it’s completely FREE! it’s a great program, and VERY easy to use once you spend a little time playing around with it.
but, if you’re looking for a more traditional method, swing by the home improvement store and find something bendable (batton, lattice, etc.). having a few extra sets of hands for this technique proves especially useful. plot some guide points on your template (nose, tail, 1 foot back from each, and center). then, use whatever bendable thing you’ve got to find a nice curve that meets all these points with a nice smooth flow. have your buddies hold it in place, trace the line, then take a step back and see how it looks.
Not saying it’s not the future of template making, but it’s just sad to see all the newbies using computers and such to draw template outlines, instead of using their eye like the old daze.
Old daze…you plot length, where and what WP, nose and tail, then draw a curve using your god given talent for seeing smooth and even curves. Then you cut and clean, transfer to bottom of skinned blank.
Nowadaze…you find a picture of a board you like, plot into computer, print, lay paper template on bottom of skinned blank, draw, cut, now ya still gotta use you eye to even out your cuts.
Then whaddaya do with pinlines? Compute another template?
Yep.Even after all these years I like to draw the outline and lean the blank up on the wall before cutting it.I do it although I have shaped the same board a hundred times.I read in an old article that the younger Pat Curren and Greg Noll used to draw full outlines on paper and tack them on the ceiling over their beds so they could check em out.It would be nice if Swaylocks could store some kind of database for templates that you could have printed full size at Kinkos or blueprint places.Any of you cybotechcomputernerds want to tackle that? I gotta go sharpen my handsaw.Later RB
i’ve done it the old fashioned way, but i’m 21 years old and i’m pretty good with a computer. a program like APS lets me play with new designs all while checking my emails and message boards at 4 in the morning. i think it’s a good thing. sure, i can find a nice flexible batton, bend it 'til it looks good, and have my buddies hold it in place while i trace it onto MDF, but APS lets me do it all by myself, and with just as good if not better results.
Dronai where do you live? If you are in Fla. I would be glad to help you out with some templates. I have a quite a few that will help you get started. I was lucky enough to have a veteran give me the same chance to copy his templates. I couldn’t believe it when he made the offer but I showed up that weekend with enough masonite to trace them all.
I agree with soulstice, another benefit of aps technology is you can get a picture of a board of the net, and make exsactly the same board by using aps…
IE:Find an original pic of a M.R. Twin Fin, ‘save image as…’ and upload it in the asp and make an outline of the same board… cool if u ask me…!
Josh.
I live in California or I’d take you up on that offer. I have alot of friends that shape for a living. But I dont want to bother them, when they do this everyday. They know I want to pick there brain, not order a board from them. Thanks for all the good feedback guys. The computer method sounds the best, If I can figure the software out. I like the old method with the batton except when I got near the nose, the rocker was throwing off my curves. I will also stare at that outline penciled on there for awhile before cutting it out. Thats where I screwed up my first board outline. As for training my eyes to see curves, I’m all for it except for one thing. The glass job I farmed out to a friends company and he charged me $183.17 !! If I knew what the board was going to look like I would have not even glassed it. So i’m going to try to glass my own till I get good enough at shaping. Thanks again, DR