Template for Curves?

[Klara]

I've decided that I don't really need curves. Straight lines (tapered for a pouch flap) and rounded corners are sufficient for most jobs.

[toxo]

Use a compass that holds a leather pen. Mark a center line. Open the compass from the center line to the edge. Use a piece of scrap leather with a dab of double sided tape on the bottom. Place point of compass on scrap leather and move scrap leather along the center line for the length of the flap.

[Samalan]

14 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

What I ended up doing (again) is using a graphics program to draw my curve using bezier curves.  That made it perfectly symmetrical and I was able to control the amount of the curve.  I printed that out, and used it as a template on my pouch flap to cut it.  Came out pretty darn well if I say so myself.

My son is a cad computer guy he also uses a computer for curves buy the time he makes the curve adjustments and all that crap I have already cut the leather LOL

[AtomicLeathers]

I use these arch curves. Beefy, and are worrh it. Actually, a few other tools in there that are worth the money too. 

https://zeebeeleather.com/tool-shop/mascon-amp-zeebee-nesting-arc-jigs

[MtlBiker]

4 hours ago, Klara said:

I've decided that I don't really need curves. Straight lines (tapered for a pouch flap) and rounded corners are sufficient for most jobs.

Hi Klara,

But I'm a guy... liking curves is in my nature! 

Seriously though, that's not a bad idea and it would work for many projects.

[MtlBiker]

3 hours ago, toxo said:

Use a compass that holds a leather pen. Mark a center line. Open the compass from the center line to the edge. Use a piece of scrap leather with a dab of double sided tape on the bottom. Place point of compass on scrap leather and move scrap leather along the center line for the length of the flap.

The only problem with that idea is that often what I want isn't a perfect arc of a circle that you could use a compass to create.  Maybe it's more pointy, or more gentle.  I was looking for other ideas/options, but so far what works best for me is creating the curve I want using a graphic program that has bezier curves.  Then I mark my leather according to the printout and cut away.  I'm not perfect with that cutting yet, but I'm getting better as I practice.

 

[MtlBiker]

1 hour ago, Samalan said:

My son is a cad computer guy he also uses a computer for curves buy the time he makes the curve adjustments and all that crap I have already cut the leather LOL

You must be good!  But as far as my experience, I think it would be much harder to do this with a CAD program than with a graphic design program (like Adobe Illustrator or Affinity Designer) which has easy to use bezier curves.

Here's the pouch I just finished... my curve isn't perfect because I kinda butchered it before making the curve design with Designer but as I said before, with practice I'm getting better and better.  This is a little belt pouch for a metal Secrid credit card holder.

 

[chuck123wapati]

9 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

The only problem with that idea is that often what I want isn't a perfect arc of a circle that you could use a compass to create.  Maybe it's more pointy, or more gentle.  I was looking for other ideas/options, but so far what works best for me is creating the curve I want using a graphic program that has bezier curves.  Then I mark my leather according to the printout and cut away.  I'm not perfect with that cutting yet, but I'm getting better as I practice.

 

you can make more than just circles with a compass dont they teach this stuff in school anymore?

[MtlBiker]

1 hour ago, AtomicLeathers said:

I use these arch curves. Beefy, and are worrh it. Actually, a few other tools in there that are worth the money too. 

https://zeebeeleather.com/tool-shop/mascon-amp-zeebee-nesting-arc-jigs

Those are really nice!  I'm strongly tempted.  I'll see what they will charge for shipping to Canada.  I have a set of arcs like that which I got from Amazon and they are such flimsy thin plastic that I really don't like using them and I certainly couldn't cut against the.

[MtlBiker]

4 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

you can make more than just circles with a compass dont they teach this stuff in school anymore?

In my case, school was almost 100 years ago!  (Okay, maybe not quite that long.)  But to use a compass to create something similar to what I just did for my pouch flap would have been challenging and probably would have taken a lot longer than it took to create the curve in Designer.  Of course, I'm familiar with that program (and Illustrator) and creating something like that takes only a minute.