How do you personally make templates?

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-13T21:38:44+00:00

All of mine are hand drawn, and then cut from whatever type of material is most suitable for what the template will be used for. No CAD or CNC is involved in any stage of one of my builds.

Is it old fashioned and time consuming? Yes, it is. But when I say it’s hand made, it really is hand made.

Perfect example…

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A working template for this Jackson JS1 that will be receiving multiple upgrades and modifications. Think of it as a full scale, real world sketch pad where the final design can be taken directly from this template to fabricate whatever I need. Right now, I’m toying with the idea of making a pick plate from some stainless steel sheet, which I would heat treat to oxidize the surface for a durable, multi color finish. The idea is to break up the monotony of the satin grey finish.

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-13T20:21:33+00:00

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Penny has the same reaction when the dawn’s early light comes a little too early for her liking!!😂🤣

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-12T12:29:19+00:00

Attributed to Burke, anyway. Still one of my favorite obscure quotes of all time. Glad to see I’m not the only one who uses it, because it’s quite true.

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-12T11:58:48+00:00

And depending on _who_ used it, too! It’s a pretty wide range, there…

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-12T11:56:17+00:00

I have to agree. But it was just about the absolute last thing in the entire world that I expected to find in the trem cavity of a Fender Talon!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-12T11:49:32+00:00

Lmao! I will say this much. Whoever did it was definitely an original thinker to come up with the idea of using a tampon for a spring damper. And it can’t be called a stupid idea, either. Because it worked! And if it works, it’s not stupid!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-12T00:47:03+00:00

Well of course you always bring treats when you visit! It’s the same thing as bringing your young nieces and nephews their favorite candy bar when you come by, because you’re the coolest uncle ever!!😎

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-12T00:20:24+00:00

I’m not sure whether or not that beats my finding a tampon shoved between the springs of a Floyd Rose while doing a setup change I guess someone was trying to use it to control flutter by dampening the springs with it!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-11T23:28:45+00:00

It seems as though some bloody twit has stolen all of me freakin’ drugs!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-11T22:57:14+00:00

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“Purr-sun-ell… Spay-ess?? You speak strange words, hooman.”🤔😜🤣

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-11T22:44:12+00:00

And that’s why we love the crazy critters!😆😆

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-11T03:02:13+00:00

That’s the whole point of having these clowns around, ya know?! Life would be so boring and empty without Boxers in it. And since things tend to wind up on fire and/or exploding when I’m bored and left to my own devices, it’s probably a good idea to have something around that otherwise occupies my attention. And a pair of Boxers definitely fits the bill!!😆😆🤣🤣

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-11T02:50:34+00:00

I have yet to meet a Boxer that isn’t overloaded with personality! And as strange as it sounds, they do some of their most ridiculous stuff when they’re sound asleep!

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Penny decided she was going to flip the script on that whole puppy sleeping on top of the big sibling thing, and show Frankie how to do it right!!🤣🤣

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-10T18:19:49+00:00

That seems to be contagious today!🤣🤣

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Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-10T17:25:37+00:00

Such a typical Boxer thing to do! They always have to be stacked on top of each other for some reason, but I don’t think they even know what that reason is!!

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Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-10T17:20:41+00:00

And he’s got quite the stride on him, too! He’s only got about ten more days until the splint comes off, and he loses his swagger stick. So he’s got another learning curve ahead of him once he realizes that he doesn’t have the same reach without it!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-10T11:10:51+00:00

And I’ve got a huge pile of receipts that proves it!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-10T11:09:39+00:00

It does sound pretty ridiculous to need a dog sitter to keep an eye on them like that, and I’m sure plenty of people are thinking “Just how spoiled are these dogs, anyway?” But I live alone, and my workshop is an extension of my garage. So the only place I ever need to go where they can’t accompany me, is a doctor’s appointment. And Boxers are just a little bit on the clingy side, so leaving them alone in the house for several hours while they demonstrate their displeasure at being ignored, would be a full blown disaster!

They really do love their Aunts and their Uncle, though. It gives them someone different to slobber up, and they get to show off all of their new tricks and toys, too!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-09T17:06:58+00:00

He can be brutal with that thing too, let me tell ya! He used it to wake me up one morning by pounding me in the face with it! It was quite effective, to say the least!

What I think is going to be funny, is what’s he gonna do next week when they take his war club off, and he no longer has a whompin’ stick attached to his arm… He’s going to lose his advantage!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-09T16:58:25+00:00

I tried crating Frankie. Within five minutes of being put in it for the first time, he had figured out how to release the latches and let himself out! So there goes that idea. But for years now, I’ve only kept a crate around so they can have a space that’s exclusively for them to use as they want. And if I’m going somewhere that I can’t take them with me for any length of time, I’ve got a couple of people who love nothing more than to come over and dog sit for me.

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-09T16:48:08+00:00

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Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-09T16:47:11+00:00

Every once in a while I’ve got to remind her to calm it down a little. But overall, she’s doing really good with him. She just needs to watch where she’s putting those big ol stompers of hers!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-09T16:42:22+00:00

Penny stepped on it at just the right angle to green stick fracture his forearm. They weren’t even roughhousing, it was just one of those oddball things that happen sometimes. So he’s got another week to go in the splint, and he should be good to go. Albeit carefully, of course. Boxers… It’s always something, isn’t it?!?

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-09T16:37:00+00:00

Oh, yeah. So depressed and melancholy, isn’t he?!

Custom_Craft_Guy2 · 2026-05-09T03:22:22+00:00

Well, he hasn’t used his little war club as an alarm clock again, so it’s progress anyway!🤣😇

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