I've had a few emails asking me how to find the shape of something and then transferring that shape to something else I.E. side of a van when trying to fit cupboards as you all know the sides of a van/bus whatever is curved and cupboards are not

I invented this thing a long time ago,  as you can see (hopefully) it is nothing more than a peice of 30mm x 19mm wood with holes drilled through the thicker part at 20mm intervals (distance not crucial)

I have cut peices of wire into peices about 120mm long and inserted these in to the afore mentioned holes 

the length of the timber is whatever you need at the time and the length of the wires are not critical either

one simply pushes all wires to one side of the unit, places the exposed wires up against the side of the van/bus/caravan and push until the wires conform to the shape that you wish to transfer

once this is accomplished transfer that shape (wires) onto your workpeice and trace around it, voila!! you have a perfect fitting cupboard/workbench whatever

anyway, hope this helps a bit with your next project!!

-- Edited by dave06 at 10:30, 2009-02-24

Hi Dave.

The method I have been useing, I cut out a cardboard templet then transfer the shape onto plywood and cut out the shape.

But your wire invention is a much better method.

Thanks for the info Dave.

Cheers Frank.

yep I tried the old cut a bit here and add a bit there method but it never seemed to be easy, this way its a push and you got it, much better for a grumpy sod like myself, and far quicker

My god what a christian fellow you really are, how the hell do the people at your work get on when you have a fortnight off, thank you young fella, was trying the method that Frank suggested,----- sorry Frank seems this will give better result, many thanks David 3 cheers for David, yip. yip,

You should be on The New Inventors, Dave........today's simple ideas can turn out to be tomorrow's latest technology.

Bridgee wrote:

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You should be on The New Inventors, Dave........today's simple ideas can turn out to be tomorrow's latest technology.

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Great idea but sorry the horse has bolted, they are available commerically  in a number of sizes  . Used by heritage boat  and aircraft builders  to get the exact shape  for  hull  and  wing  design .  Heritage house restorers  also get in on the act to get the shape of cornice or skirting to mould new bits

jeezz!! wombat wished I'd known there was one in existance 20 years ago, would have saved me a lot of headaches!!

There is only one thing worse than failing and that's quitting . If we old farts didn't have our sheds to tinker in the world wouldn't have all the gadgets they enjoy today and take for granted . keep inventing it keeps the mind in shape.

havent been able to get to the old farts quiet place of late, too much work to catch up on, I leave the place for two bloody weeks and I get three weeks worth of work to catch up on, how's that work????????? I promised a lot of people that I would photograph "sqeeky" to show them the inner workings but I just havent had time to get there and for this I apoligise, but rest assured I have not forgotten!!!

I bought one of those a few years ago when I was capable of getting on my knees to do some tiling, found it and absolute must for getting the right shape around the many little protrusions etc. Then one day I'm enjoying a luncheaon with some Veterans and one guy is a tiler and he says that that is all BS what you do cut away the skirting or architrave at a height that lets a tile plus adhesive slide underneath then you don't have to fart around cutting tiles around the obstruction and he said if you take the skirting boards off do the tiling and replace them over the tiles it is quicker and neater....... He is right..... but I'm not doing anymore floor tiling, bathroom renos etc, not even if I get them replaced. My knees that is!!

-- Edited by Basil Faulty at 10:25, 2009-02-26