My current project requires very careful control and reproduction of the rail line; the apex of the rail as viewed edge on. It has to be a flowing high to low that occurs along the entire length of the board. To keep it smooth and the same on both rails I needed a template or tool not found in Archives. Maybe Jim Phillips or Herb already invented it but since in hasn’t been posted, I thought I’d share. I took the “female” part of my outline template (the part you usually throw away), smoothed it out so it matched the finished outline template. Now I’ve got a “straight edge” that fits on the outline cut perfectly. Mark the line with Sharpie (it does take two people) and you have a target for rail banding (or in my case bottom and deck banding). Take measurements and transfer the line to the other rail. I’m sure the pros do this by eye, but for part-timers, this will help keep the part in the water flowing nicely. Newbs
You can also purchase a metal door hinge, the kind that are triangular, and drill holes. We use one with holes drilled from 3/16" out to 5". It works like a dream. One side of the hinge rides flush with the deck or bottom depending on what you’re marking. The other side holds the pencil.