posted
I dont mean to steal Mabieta's fire but I've got a couple other methods for transferring contours to a template.
The first one uses a similar idea to the controur tracers used in ceramic tile setting, for when the tilesetters gotta cut around certain obstacles.
The contour tracer is basically a bar with a bunch of pins going through it, and it's just pressed against the contour and the pins move to fit the shape. A similar tool could be built in a larger scale for car audio use, see the pic below.
Basically this is a wood bar with wood dowels going through it. You could position the bar then use a mallot to tap the dowels back and forth to match the contour in the car, then trace that contour onto paper or cardboard, or whatever your template is made of.
The other method is to use a bar that has a wheel at one end and a pen at the other. Holding the jig level and straight, run the wheeled side along the contours while the pen side draws the contour onto a template board that you or a friend are either holding in place or have temporarily secured into the vehicle.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics
R POT Designs - Carbon Fiber Watercraft Performance Products
Posts: 431 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
I have done walls and custom systems in the past and have had great luck using a long yard stick rounded on one side to follow the contours of the car and holes every inch or so for a pen to trace the contour on a piece of wood. Once the contour is made all you have to do is cut the desired length. Oh yeah and I will be trying Mabieta's way soon to see if it works better....it looks like it might!!
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[This message has been edited by Raydee (edited 07-28-2001).]
posted
I'm lazy and don't have time for all that marking and stuff. So I just waste wood. Make a quick rough cutout about the size of the wall and brace it to stay in place. Now cut filler pieces to roughly fill in the holes you missed the first time. Screw them in place.Now use poster board and get even closer to the shape. Then add notebook paper to this for an exact fit. Cut the full size wall from this templete. You can copy the templete to butcher paper for Later use.
You can even start with an existing templete of a sister car or other year model or simular car as your starting rough cut.
Just one other way to do it for the dumb and lazy.
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Posts: 1147 | From: Rowlett, TX, USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
MPipes...the tool you described was marketed in the 40's or 50's as The Osborne Template Former. My older Uncle had one and I freaked when I was cleaniing out his basement. I'd never seen anything like that before. But I like your idea of using dowels since the jig I have is 6" long and doesn't help on the larger shapes.
posted
See, the fiberglass resin hasnt *totally* affected my brain *yet*... still got a few brainwaves bouncin' around in there... must... kill..... them......
ooooh..OOH! yeah.... there we go... they're gone.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics
R POT Designs - Carbon Fiber Watercraft Performance Products
Posts: 431 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ | Registered: Jun 2000
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