Sign Board Edge Routing

[eball30263]

I am relatively new to sign routing and I would like to add decorative edges (scallops) to some of my signs. I have seen these on some signs in sign shops. One fellow told me to use a cove bit and eyeball the scallops around the edges? Well I tried that with a cove bit, an ogee bit and a roundover bit. Although it gave the desired effect, the scallops were not spaced evenly. Any suggestions? Thanks

[jschaben]

Well, I've never done exactly what your doing but It looks to me like the same problem I have cutting biscuit slots.
I put a piece of masking tape on the table and mark the lead and trail edges of the bit on the tape.
I then mark the starting and stopping points on the edge of the board.
When a starting mark lines up with the lead edge mark, I plunge into the bit and move the work until a stopping point lines up with the trail edge mark on the tape.
Huh, hope I was clear on that, seems a lot harder to explain than to do!
Cheers

[bobj3]

Hi Ed

Here's a snapshot one done free hand but a little bit of mask tape on the fence and on the stock you can get them to come out space right on the button,the tape is cut at the same time and keeps the chip out down to a min. and it comes right off after.


By the way you can do the same thing if you are getting rip out on the edge of a board.. then go back and do one full pass to it clean it up..


=============

Originally Posted by eball30263

I am relatively new to sign routing and I would like to add decorative edges (scallops) to some of my signs. I have seen these on some signs in sign shops. One fellow told me to use a cove bit and eyeball the scallops around the edges? Well I tried that with a cove bit, an ogee bit and a roundover bit. Although it gave the desired effect, the scallops were not spaced evenly. Any suggestions? Thanks

[harrysin]

Eddie, by sheer coincidence, a friend of mine called round this afternoon to donate some wood for turning and asked the very same question. He has been asked to make some mirrors with evenly spaced scallops and a rebate at the back for a square mirror. I've suggested that he makes a female template by drawing the scallops using a compass or suitable round object and make the opening larger by the offset, determined by the cutter and template guide used.

In your case it would need to be a male template, Smaller by the above determined offset. What size are your signs, are they all the same size?, if so then one size template fits all!

[eball30263]

Originally Posted by harrysin

Eddie, by sheer coincidence, a friend of mine called round this afternoon to donate some wood for turning and asked the very same question. He has been asked to make some mirrors with evenly spaced scallops and a rebate at the back for a square mirror. I've suggested that he makes a female template by drawing the scallops using a compass or suitable round object and make the opening larger by the offset, determined by the cutter and template guide used.

In your case it would need to be a male template, Smaller by the above determined offset. What size are your signs, are they all the same size?, if so then one size template fits all!

Generally they are either made from 1X12 spruce and are 8 inches long. I make different sizes on special orders.

[curiousgeorge]

Eddie,
Here is a simple little technique you might want to try. Charles Neil calls it "Bump Cutting"....

The Workshop of Charles Neil - Video Player - Tips & Techniques