How do I make a template...

[mercfan]

I've made a first test bracket towards the slider build project and have been struggling with keeping all the angles right on it. It's a little crooked...

I figured if I'm going to make 6 of these brackets total, I better make them off of a template of some sort for consistency. Would be nice to have a template that I can put the metal stock against to keep things even in place with clamps. What do you make your templates out of?!

UPDATE: here are some shots of the brackets I'm making (approx 6.5'' x 3'' x 1/4''):

Thx,
James

 

[KLF]

Depending on what it is, I've used everything from cardboard to foamcore board to 3/8" plywood.

I use a lot of clamps, I also really like my adjustable height roller stands for holding stuff like sliders and bumpers in position. Cut the template, hold it in place with duct tape.

 

[Pin_Head]

Even with a template, things will be off enough anyway to require a little customization or adjustment to get everything lined up, so I don't think it will be worth the effort for just 6 pieces.

 

[mercfan]

Was thinking about it last night... bottom line is - I didn't have one of the pieces square (bad cut) and that threw off evrything else. So lesson learned: get it to square before assembly, then clamp evrything down. Then maybe the there is no need for a template...

 

[Pin_Head]

The welds look better. Don't forget that the metal shrinks significantly after welding, so sometimes you have to take this into account when you tack up the pieces, if you really need things to be square.

I happened to be in the big box store over the weekend and they had 5 pound boxes of Lincoln 3/32 7018AC rod on sale for $3 (regularly $15), so I cleaned them out of all 5 boxes. I was thinking you could use a deal like that. After you burn off about 50 pounds of rod, things start to click.

 

[bhmmapping]

frame clamps for sliders?

This is how I do mine(labeled so I don't throw it away when I clean up the shop):

If you have a shop press bending one side makes it a lot easier to get everything lined up IMO

 

[mercfan]

frame clamps for sliders?
If you have a shop press bending one side makes it a lot easier to get everything lined up IMO

That would be nice... but I don't have a press to do that kind of a nice bend. I have to compose mine of 3 separate pieces and that's when errors add up... add shrinkage and it's starting to make a difference between each piece.

 

[mercfan]

I happened to be in the big box store over the weekend and they had 5 pound boxes of Lincoln 3/32 7018AC rod on sale for $3 (regularly $15), so I cleaned them out of all 5 boxes. I was thinking you could use a deal like that. After you burn off about 50 pounds of rod, things start to click.

Hehe - I'd be getting close after about 50lbs....

 

[2mbb]

I still use clamps, but sometimes I use pieces of angle iron secured to the table, then I can clamp the pieces to the angle iron. You set up the angle iron once, then positioning the pieces to be welded is easy.

 

[RHINO]

i use wood alot for jigs/templates. in your case i would build up a piece to mimic the frame rail, like the pic above, then attach 4 strips of ply to it so the steel can simply drop in and be held square.

 

[rusty_tlc]

There are a couple of shops around here that would bend that up for you as a single piece. It might be worth while to check that option out.