Free (printable) radius gauges

[fazool]

I had a need to check a fretboard radius (after removing the strings).

I didn't have the need for a set of metal radius gauges and for quickie one-time use I made these accurate templates. I included all the sizes in the Stew-Mac set.

Download the PDF to your PC and print from there.

Instructions are included.

Printable Radius Gauges

[Tony Done]

Thanks for that. I made a set from thin plastic sheet, but they are pretty rough. These will be useful, I would stick them to plastic sheet to use them, in both concave and convex version. - The convex ones are handy for getting saddles right.

[viento]

@fazool:

Thanks for sharing them!

Merry Christmas + a Happy New Year

[fazool]

bumping for visibility

[redir]

Good idea.

[Jim.S]

You can use a compass or a router on a compass if you want real accuracy.

Jim

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Jim.S

You can use a compass or a router on a compass if you want real accuracy.

Jim

No. That's not what radius gauges are.

Radius gauges are not used for drawing curves on flatwork.

They are gauges for measuring the radius of fretboards.

These are not drafting or drawing tools. They are inspection tools.

like this

[ruby50]

Yes, but to make them accurately, you could make them of plexiglass and to cut them, use a router on a circle jig, or knife at the end of a compass

[fazool]

Originally Posted by ruby50

Yes, but to make them accurately, you could make them of plexiglass and to cut them, use a router on a circle jig, or knife at the end of a compass

Making them that way certainly makes a better tool. I would argue though that it isn't necessarily more accurate. And it defeats the whole purpose of a quickie gauge for occasional use.

[ruby50]

Just trying to clarify what I thought JimS was trying to say. I might glue them on cardboard and use my drum sander in the drill press to get to the line.

Ed

[fazool]

Originally Posted by ruby50

Just trying to clarify what I thought JimS was trying to say. I might glue them on cardboard and use my drum sander in the drill press to get to the line.

Ed

Yeah, after you clarified it made more sense - I didn't understand him. I thought he was proposing making ones as drawing aids not measuring aids.

[Jim.S]

Yep, if you want to make real quick ones you just draw a arc onto a bit of cardboard with a compass and cut with scissors, good enough for the bush. If you want to make forever ones you just use a router and cut 1mm aluminium, perspex or that nice 2.5mm thick 5 ply birch (aeroplane ply)

Jim

[DanSavage]

If accuracy is your goal, the best way to make them is to have them cut from thin material using either CNC or laser cutting.

Material can be anything including plywood, plexiglass, PETG, fiberglass or even aluminum, brass and steel.

Originally Posted by ruby50

Yes, but to make them accurately, you could make them of plexiglass and to cut them, use a router on a circle jig, or knife at the end of a compass