Official Luthiers Forum!

What material do you use for pattern of jigs; hard wood, phenolic, UHMW?

if it is just a template, i use acrylic, masonite or birch ply, whichever i have handy in the appropriate size.

if you are referring to a jig used to hold, pattern route, etc. i usually use birch ply, but have used acrylic.

My favorite is the stuff those cheap imitation hardwood floors are made of. I lucked across a half bundle of this flooring that some guy had tossed out one day, I guess it was leftovers from a job. It's like MDF, only harder, with a hard, hard surface on each side(the stuff is flooring, after all!). A little over 1/4" thick, and in perfect lengths for us. Cuts easily, edge sands like a dream, yet it holds up well.

When I run out, I'm just going to head to home depot and buy a bundle of the cheapest they have.

mario

i'm not familiar with the flooring material you refer to. what sort of widths does it come in? it sounds ideal.

They're about 6-8 inches wide

will have to take a look when next in go to one of the big boxes. thanks for the tip.

They also come as tiles that are up to 16" square

And I thought I was the only old fool that used this stuff. Now a young "sometimes grumpy guy" up in the woods is using it too. Great stuff for patterns etc. I use it for clamping cauls too. Glue won't stick to the surface. It goes by many trade names the most popular being Pergo flooring. Makes great looking floor too. We have a lumber yard nearby that sells mainly closout items and I pick up odd pieces real cheap.Bobc38472.678275463

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Count me as also one that uses the flooring material. Did some floors with it, had some left over, needed to make templates, serendipity! Bob is right also, good for cauls. You usually have to buy a whole box of it but have seen opened boxes at Home Despot.

The wear surface of Pergo type flooring is melamine.

Just ask a flooring installer and you can usually get left over scraps for nothing.

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Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg