Material for making templates?

[Hardrada]

So far I've gotten good results with cardstock. Letter-sized cardstock is cheap and runs through any printer.

The only issue is when your item is larger than 11x8.5", such as slings or bags, in which case you'll have to tinker with your design program to be able to print on several sheets and then cut and put together with tape.

For a more permanent/durable pattern item I use bag stiffener, which I got from Tandy, but I bet any leather supplier carries it.

[tsunkasapa]

I just use HEAVY weight poster board. You are just supposed to TRACE around them, not CUT around them. I have patterns that are 7-8 years old and they hold up just fine.

[garypl]

I use manila folders - very inexpensive and you can tape them up to make a bigger template.

[LatigoAmigo]

I use Marsh Oiled Stencil Board which can be found at art supply stores. It comes in sheets as large as 24"x36", and is very durable.

[MtlBiker]

12 hours ago, tsunkasapa said:

I just use HEAVY weight poster board. You are just supposed to TRACE around them, not CUT around them. I have patterns that are 7-8 years old and they hold up just fine.

Well, I've used heavy poster board, matboard, etc. and it's fine if as you say, you trace around them and not cut against them.  But... since Covid I've made over 250 3-layer masks (which have been selling very well for me) and using a masonite template and cutting against it with my rotary cutter is SO FAST that I can have the fabric cut out much faster than it takes to trace around and then cut.  A fraction of the time.  And that makes a huge difference when you're doing 10+ at a time.  And I always use cardstock for my initial pattern and only switch to masonite once I've finalized my design and want to produce many of the same.  I guess it all depends on how many of an item you need to make and how quickly.

 

[MtlBiker]

7 hours ago, LatigoAmigo said:

I use Marsh Oiled Stencil Board which can be found at art supply stores. It comes in sheets as large as 24"x36", and is very durable.

I'd never heard of that product before... thanks for mentioning it.  I just did a search, and it's REAL EXPENSIVE (compared to the masonite I'd been using).  Marsh Oil Stencil Board in Canada.  By comparison, I can buy a 4' x 8' sheet of masonite (some suppliers call it hardboard) for only $15.

[Mulesaw]

I'm not sure about the price, but I had a transparent protection plate to put under my office chair a couple of years back. It was not brittle and I think that might be better for your templates than regular masonite. Here's a link for one that Ikea is selling (it's the Norwegian Ikea page).

https://www.ikea.com/no/no/p/kolon-gulvbeskytter-44881100/

It is smaller than a masonite plate, and more expensive, but if it would hold up better I guess it might be worth trying.

Brgds Jonas

[Sheilajeanne]

Wal Mart sells them too:  https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/Transparent-Nonslip-Mat-Chair-Cushion-for-Living-Room-Study-Office-Floor-Protect-Color-Transparent-Size-400-400-1-5mm/2D0ZSUOPLKIS?utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=always_on&cmpid=SEM_CA_110_YV9M8SR8J2_71700000072956261_58700006365555367&utm_id=SEM_CA_110_YV9M8SR8J2_71700000072956261_58700006365555367&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4v2EBhCtARIsACan3nyqoQu7C75K7oKlNGztdC2bt2f9IShOUwX8dcD__xtf8QfQOzMb-4waAiWMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I imagine most office supply places will also have them.

Edited May 15, 2021 by Sheilajeanne

[sbrownn]

 

"not everyone can quickly learn or has the want to learn a CAD/ Slicer program irregardless of the 3d printer cost"

I never had a single student that didn't learn how to make a 2D/3D CAD model and turn it into a STL file for 3D printing in one three hour lab period.  If you don't want to learn that's fine, but I would argue that anyone who wants to learn can do it quickly and with a CAD program and slicer software that is free.

 

 

[LatigoAmigo]

4 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

I just did a search, and it's REAL EXPENSIVE (compared to the masonite I'd been using).

The price shown in your search is the case price (note the weight... 53 pounds). For the size I mentioned the cost is just under $100 for 104 sheets. I was introduced to this product at a local art supply store where I was able to buy single sheets.