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Old 01-24-2016, 10:30 PM
Gsmith Gsmith is offline
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Default Homemade contour gauge ideas?

I was thinking about buying a contour gauge.
I know there's a lot of talented people on this forum.
I am just curious to see if anyone has created their own and what they think.
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Old 01-25-2016, 09:03 AM
joemato joemato is offline
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Default radius and contour gage

I found a radius gage at Trick Tools for less than 20 bucks and its worth its weight in gold. They also have a 3 ft contour gage that you tighten its screws set about 6" apart which wasn't too expensive, also the 6" HF
contour gage that goes for about $5, it too is very helpful.
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Old 01-25-2016, 12:19 PM
weldtoride weldtoride is offline
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Long or short?

A long contour gauge has been on my list for a while, I like the style Frost sells:

http://www.frost.co.uk/48-inch-body-...our-gauge.html

I don't have a mill, but these or similar desk lid stays are cheap enough to work with:

http://www.dlawlesshardware.com/frli...FQaraQodj7ED1Q

There's a shot of a homemade one in post # 6 here:

http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6405

and a tighter curve version here:

http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showt...=6108#post6108
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Last edited by weldtoride; 01-25-2016 at 12:23 PM.
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Old 01-25-2016, 12:58 PM
toreadorxlt toreadorxlt is offline
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I have the trick tools 36" one and its useless... no matter how tight you tighten the screws it will slip under any load. I want to get some 24" sweeps cut which is more useable to me than the 6' ones they sell.
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Old 01-25-2016, 01:05 PM
bobadame bobadame is offline
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You might be able to fix that slipping problem with a few star washers.
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Old 01-25-2016, 01:11 PM
toreadorxlt toreadorxlt is offline
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i'll give it a go!
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Old 01-25-2016, 02:26 PM
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Jere Jere is offline
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I make them as i need them out of 18ga 3/4" wide.

Image067.jpg


Image071.jpg

Jere
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Old 01-25-2016, 05:07 PM
Gsmith Gsmith is offline
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THANKS.

Great feedback as always.
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Old 01-27-2016, 06:37 AM
metal manny metal manny is offline
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Here's one I made using 1/4" pvc strip and modified bar hatch hardware fittings. As you can see, it can hold quite a tight curve and only cost me a few bucks and a couple of hours to assemble

DSCF8677.JPG

DSCF8676.JPG
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Last edited by Steve Hamilton; 01-27-2016 at 08:15 AM.
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Old 01-27-2016, 07:48 AM
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MP&C MP&C is offline
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Manny, are the slotted deals home made or are they lid stays from a cabinet shop?
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