I save and use the paperboard packages that the Rodder’s Journal magazine and calendars use to come in. Whether I get any more is a different, I believe closed thread.
100%! Sid Chavers upholsters all the Roy Brizio roadsters, ALWAYS uses clear .035" Plastic sheet, (iirc) to pattern door panels, etc. Thick enough to not stretch, or collapse. (NOT Saran-Wrap!) His tape illustrated this, (clear, see-thru) to make the holes that line up with the door inner skins. Outer perimeters are absolute, no 'holidays' where a backing got cut a little crooked... Until I saw Sid do it, I never thought of it. (and I'm a template-makin' fool!)
For hoods, and other exterior panels, I have a fellow HAMB member that worked in a paper mill, he furnished me with a roll of great paper. It's not rigid enough to hold up an 18 lb shop cat !
First off you make a Pre-template in place, then transfer that to the good template. A pre template has the general size, but all the scribes and intricate parts are added on with tape, it’s multi piece. It’s usually 100 times faster but uses more template material.
I had to make patterns for a set of doors. I went down to a local furniture appliance store and took home a couple large boxes. They usually cut around the bottom and lift the box off the appliance so a fridge or stove box will give a lot of flat cardboard.
I've used poster board and it works well but is pricey. Go to a store like Sherwin Williams and look at the Contractor's or Builder's paper. It comes in rolls and different thicknesses. It's the stuff they cover hardwood floors with when they are through finishing it. Get the thick stuff, not the grocery store bag thickness. For about 30 bucks, you can get enough to last a lifetime. It works great.
I had a high end shop and only used acid free mat board, and you are right there are a lot less expensive mat boards available. HRP
Marty... put that fat *** on a diet!! I've got a 16 pounder that thinks he's a sveldt 10 pounds when he leaps onto lap. Just had a thought... he hasn't been munching on the grouse has he??
I have more or less changed over from cardboard to sizelation and MDF. The sizelation comes in five foot long roles, its silver foil reinforced with fine diagonal meshing and used for insulation and water proofing under iron roofing. It’s extremely strong so it’s perfect to use for making flexible patterns such as around cab corners or fenders. The reason MDF is better than cardboard is because it’s more rigid and can also be used as a stencil and traced straight onto sheetmetal ready for cutting.
HRP: I was in the custom picture framing / art galleries business also. 23 years. Did both the museum quality and cheaper stuff. Matboard is great for most projects, but when thinner, flexible stuff is needed, I liked the chipboard protective sheet that came packaged with the Bainbridge fabric mats (and almost free). You can draw very accurate lines on either because of the smooth surfaces, almost impossible to do on cardboard. If you have a framing shop in your area, ask them to save the mentioned Bainbridge chipboard packing sheets and larger matboard s****s. Most shops go nuts trying to figure a use for all the scaps generated. I'm with the multi-pieced template taped together crowd.
I somehow ended up with a few of these great "pushpin" magnets. They work well (they're strong), especially using the heavy mil plastic that was recommended above. I've been using that technique a bunch, since. I looked up the magnets and bought a set: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086V4JT9...abc_X3E9RFA0S1TQ6KJEWNSF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
The Jalopy Journal
