Template Making advice please

[Bill Hicklin]

RobStark, it seems to me that on a first build you're holding yourself to a tolerance spec that far exceeds Gibson's own. Actual measurement of Gibbys shows variances all over the place. Even modern Nashville CNC-cut bodies still wind up all slightly different by the time they're sanded.

 

[RobStark]

RobStark, it seems to me that on a first build you're holding yourself to a tolerance spec that far exceeds Gibson's own. Actual measurement of Gibbys shows variances all over the place. Even modern Nashville CNC-cut bodies still wind up all slightly different by the time they're sanded.

I think this is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you. I think it's my OCD and while maybe that can come in handy at times I think for the most part it will hinder me and hold me back. I purchased the ROSS and while it definitely helped and sped things up, I still ended up hand sanding and getting as close as I could which i think will be more than fine. It looks and feels like a les paul and is smooth. So I'm accepting it and happy with it. Thanks everyone for their advice. I am now quite the expert on making these templates, I made a bunch, some with 1/4" and some 1/2 and some 3/4" MDF (don't ask why I made so many but I wanted the practice).

Thanks again everyone.