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In summary, making the template the actual shape of the instrument, versus adding another 1/4" or so, then depicting the inner and outer edges of the side, would be so much more useful.

I am certain there is an excellent rationale for the practice that escapes me, but it seems designed to encourage the new builder to purchase both the outside mold and bending form in lieu of making them up, due to the difficulty of transferring the body shape directly from the template.

For a builder intent on making up their own mold and form - either to avoid the difficulties of clamping to toggle clamps or to achieve greater autonomy in body shape, etc. - the oversized nature of the template renders the product far less useful that would otherwise be assumed. This is not to say that the other features of a commercial template might not be of use, but this one flaw overbalances any virtues.

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A constellation only takes shape when one maps the whole.
- Beth Brower

I didn't know anyone was selling something like that. It seems completely useless as a "body" template. Maybe a brace template? I would send that back!

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

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Pat

Most of mine are from Kevin Waldron and they are cut to the exact shape

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I love my laser. Custom templates = game changer.

Where are you finding all these oversized templates?

All the templates I own seem to be the right size...

When I have needed to make a mold - I first start by making 2 template forms from the original with a bearing bit on the router.... Then - I use the bearings from my binding router set to alternate back and forth cutting smaller by 1/8" or so till I have the new templates 1/4" smaller or 1/2" smaller (depending on my router bit).... I use that template to cut the first inside form. Then back to the standard bearing bits to match the first piece.. Then I just screw pieces on and rout per usual practice.

KMG templates/stencils are exact size

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

Hmm, I think I would find that very useful.

One of the students brought it in...despite being told not to worry about template, mold, or bending forms (all warm-up tasks). We generated one from measured drawings of an early 1930's L-00 that came in a few years ago for work.

I would hope this commercial template is one that somehow escaped quality control. The odd thing is that the back template is identical - oversized - and just looking at one of the various supplier sites, there does not appear to be a separate shape-only template...although I have no idea why an oversized template would be useful.

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A constellation only takes shape when one maps the whole.
- Beth Brower

Must be unintentional.
If the offset is exact and nominal, it might be correctable with a rabbet bit or undersize bearing on a shaper.
Sometimes fixing is quicker/cheaper than a mail shuffle.

I do make my bending form a little smaller than the side mold. This allows room for the side itself to fit inside the form after bending. Imagine putting the side in the form them placing the bending form inside that. The bending form will be about .10" smaller than the outside form.

I also bring the form in a little at the neck and ending areas. That helps the side fit nicely after some springback.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust