The hardware store profile gauges do a decent job with the shape of the bottom of the neck profile but not so well on the shoulders of the neck profile. They tend to bend sideways. And they're bumpy. I use Bruce's method of getting good measurements and I also like a more exact method for getting the shape off a known guitar neck at the first and tenth frets.
Tape off the neck where I want a profile.
Make an oversized thick, stiff cardboard profile.
Mix some two part epoxy putty.
Put a rope-shaped piece in the oversized cardboard profile.
Press it into the neck.
Let it harden and remove it.
Sand it level.
Another useful thing is to search on the computer for images of guitar neck profiles. Then at least the client knows how profile descriptors are commonly used.
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