Router Forums banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Carving with the router

15K views 29 replies 8 participants last post by  kp91 
#1 ·
Hi all
I would be interested if anyone has done any carving with the router. I saw a design and I was wondering if it could be cut with the router.
Has anyone any idea. I will give it a go.
Tom
 

Attachments

See less See more
1
#2 ·
Well, you could part with $2000 and buy the Craftsman CNC machine.. That way we would have a test person to report on it for us.. :rolleyes:

Other than that, perhaps something with a flex shaft.. That could be a tough one Tom..
 
#4 ·
Mike, as you know Sears doesn't build any of the tools they sell. The CompuCarve is made by CarveWright. To visit their site just add: .com to watch the demo and see items they have produced.
 
#6 ·
Tom,

I saw a guy a few years back at a woodworking show in the States who carved entry doors with a router almost exclusively. He used a bit that looked more like a 1/4 inch round nose carbide burr to hog out most of his material, then finish up with a bowl bottom bit or small spiral bit. It was amazing how fast he could do his carvings. Unfortunately, I can't remember his name.......

He did it all free hand, no guides, just a big clear sub plate.
 
#7 ·
Thanks to all who responded to the posting.
What I was trying to find out can this be achieved with the router in the plunge mode with the aid of template guides, without the need to go and purchase any expensive equipment.
Well the answer is yes today I went to my workshop to prove it could be done and I have posted the results. This opens up another method of using the guides I had never considered before. I will leave you to put on your thinking caps and see if you can come up with the answer before I submit the solution to the problem.
When I went to my workshop with the necessary drawings required to make the template I was unsure of the final results that I could achieve and I am very happy with the technique I used though I would change the design slightly based on an elliptical shape. So I will get back to the drawing board and make the necessary changes to improve the design.
Anyway I would be interested in your method if you were interested in the challenge to Carve with the router without the expense of purchasing the jigs that were considered for purchase.
My expenses were a piece of MDF 400 x 300 x 9mm and the material fitted into my original jig holder See "introduction to the use of template Guides"

Tom
 

Attachments

#9 ·
Hi Tom,

Yes, I thought it was a "Setup" too... I just KNEW that you were going to show us how you did it...

But, no, you just show us the finished project...

I'll bet it wasn't done with a 40mm guide! :) :) :)

Making the original for routing... how did you make it?

I wasn't sure how all of those lines were supposed to be handled...

OK, Tom, you have more pictures for us... yes? :) :)

Thank you for coming through! :)
 
#10 · (Edited)
See the item below

Bj :)

Hi Tom and Harry

All I'm saying is it's not the same :), If I ask you to carve a pine tree and you carved a elm tree,,, hummmmm ,it's not the same both are trees but not the same.
If I gave you a pattern and I ask you to copy it,,,,and you came back with one that was almost the same but not like the one I gave you.

But you did a great job doing your tree. :)

Maybe we should ask Charles M. ( forum member ) to take the pattern you posted and put it in his new CarveWright machine and make one just to show how it should look when you use a real carve router to make it.
If you get some time go to the CarveWright web site and look at some of the items this machine as made, all I can say is WOW, it was done with a router bit and a machine that you and I can now buy without paying $15,000.oo or more for a CNC router setup.
It's a new age of routers and computers and it's only get better for the small wood shop. :)
If you want to play you must step up to the pump so to speak just like the computers.

http://www.carvewright.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=6&sid=cbf4fd161824fb9fe99f1f33506759b8
http://www.carvewright.com/forum/
http://www.carvewright.com/

Like the ones below


Bj :)
 

Attachments

#11 ·
Hmmm seems to me if you want the carving to look like the original photo what is needed is a pattern or template guide for one quarter of the design that has the three different shapes cut out in it. It could then be rotated to duplicate the other sections of the design. The center circle needs just that .. a circle over the center to rout around and carve that out.

Corey
 
#12 · (Edited)
Joe Lyddon said:
Hi Tom,

Yes, I thought it was a "Setup" too... I just KNEW that you were going to show us how you did it...

Joe sorry but this was no set up I looked at the problem then I set out on the computer to draw it out. I was not sure if it could be done at the time that was the reason for the posting to see if anyone had something like it without the need to leave the workshop to purchase expensive Jigs etc.

But, no, you just show us the finished project...

To understand how the template was made you need to know a few tricks using the template guides. (That is to say if you are going to use guides)

I'll bet it wasn't done with a 40mm guide! :) :) :)

Wrong again I used two guides the 40mm and the 30mm with a beading cutter with the 30mm and a 10mm straight cutter with the 40mm Guide

Making the original for routing... how did you make it?

As I said there is a need to know something about the use of the guides before you would attempt the project. All I was interested in finding out was has someone else produced another method. I suppoe I should leave it up fro a week at least to see if we can have a few members commenting on the method they would use before I submit what I think is the answer.

I wasn't sure how all of those lines were supposed to be handled...

Not sure of you statement

OK, Tom, you have more pictures for us... yes? :) :)

I will certainly submit my answer as I said in a weeks time when others have had the chance to comment. I even went out today to purchase a piece of solid timber as one of my students commented over the phone to me "Why did I not use a piece of solid timber?" again I had to make sure it did work first and I had to post a sample in veneered chipboard quickly so that others would see it is possible and maybe they would like to give it a try the same way as I did. My past student was no other than Harrysin he never misses the opportunity to let me know what he is thinking and I must admit I appreciate his comments. I suppose I should not have published the results so quickly. As you may well be aware I am a retired schoolteacher and I always gave my students the opportunity to try and work it out the various problems for themselves before I gave them the answer. So set to it and see if you can come up with an alternative answer to what I did. There are more ways of skinning a cat so they say.

Thank you for coming through! :)
All I ask is for others to at least give it a try before they hang on to someone feeding the answers all the time I am sure there must be others who will produce the same project and not necessarilly the same way as I have produced it.

I must confess I enjoyed the challenge I presented to myself and it gives me great pleasure to achieve the answer.


Tom
 
#13 ·
bobj3 said:
See the item below

Bj :)
Hi Bob
Harrysin contacted me regarding if I could interpret the comments and the arrows on the pic that you submitted Unfortunately I too was at a loss regarding your comments I'm sure readers would appreciate a further explanation as Harry and I would> I am pleased to hear from Harry that he will make the effort to try and produce a template as he has been converted to the use of the guides a number of years ago.
.Tom
 
#14 ·
challagan said:
Hmmm seems to me if you want the carving to look like the original photo what is needed is a pattern or template guide for one quarter of the design that has the three different shapes cut out in it. It could then be rotated to duplicate the other sections of the design. The center circle needs just that .. a circle over the center to rout around and carve that out.

Corey

Corry
Your on the button now what about going for it
Tom
 
#15 ·
Tom, what I wasn't quite sure of was if what you were after was a way to do a line carving like your drawing or a separate carving to be applied to something as in your photos above. It's a neat piece, reminds me of the stuff you saw in the 50's and 60's... the atomic generation :) Are you going to apply this to a cabinet or something?

Corey
 
#16 ·
Hi Tom

see add on notes and snapshots to the 1st. post :)

Bj :)



template tom said:
Hi Bob
Harrysin contacted me regarding if I could interpret the comments and the arrows on the pic that you submitted Unfortunately I too was at a loss regarding your comments I'm sure readers would appreciate a further explanation as Harry and I would> I am pleased to hear from Harry that he will make the effort to try and produce a template as he has been converted to the use of the guides a number of years ago.
.Tom
 
#17 · (Edited)
bobj3 said:
Hi Tom

see add on notes and snapshots to the 1st. post :)

Bj :)
Bob.
I was not answering your posting you refer me and others to. I see you have edited your first post I was answering to since it was first published.(sneaky) You could have answered my posting instead of refering me and every one else back to a posting you had changed by adding more information.
It would have been more fitting and I would have appreciated it more if you had submitted a new posting to keep the progression correct especially if new readers were to come on scene. If they had not spotted the change they might think I am an idiot or something.

I hope others noted that it had been edited especially any newcomers to the forum.

I will go and answer that new posting
 
#18 · (Edited)
challagan said:
Tom, what I wasn't quite sure of was if what you were after was a way to do a line carving like your drawing or a separate carving to be applied to something as in your photos above. It's a neat piece, reminds me of the stuff you saw in the 50's and 60's... the atomic generation :) Are you going to apply this to a cabinet or something?

Corey
Corey
Now I understand
I was thinking that the design may be used on a small door or on a drawer front They may have to be modified to suit the various sizes of material that was to be used. It was just an idea or a challenge I set myself to see if it could be done.
My apology to all, I should have put the word "Carving" in brackets as it seems that some members of the forum may be thinking I was suggesting I was competing with a wonderful $1990 dollar Carving machine. That was never the intention.
Thank for you interest comments and reply
Tom
 
#19 ·
No worries Tom. Everyone understands that the challenge was to try and re-create the design using a router. This is not the first time there has been a misunderstanding of intent, I'm sure it wont be the last. It is our "uncommon" common language that causes it.
 
#20 · (Edited)
Thanks Tom, either way it is possible to do either a line carving or a separate piece to be applied without the aid of a 2000. machine :D With the line drawing or carving my first thought was a cabinet door carving as well. Funny thought, I could duplicate that drawing you say almost to a T I think with the milescraft jig as it just happens to have the patter for 3 different sized leaf like items like that :). Really......whether it is 40mm or otherwise Tom, it is nice to get people to use templates and guides and that is something I am just starting to explore! Appreciate the posts and thoughts Tom.

Corey
 
#21 ·
Holy snikey's Bob, that is some cool stuff. I don't think the wife will ever stand for me making that purchase! Hell, I haven't spent that kind of money on any one single tool and that price tag would probably buy me my table saw, router table, scroll saw and drill press all in one :) I don't know though... while I can see it makes some cool stuff and you can do some custom stuff to sell and merchandize.... as a woodworker... I think I will focus on making the box or project itself the piece of art and I have a long ways to go on that endeavor :) Heck I would just like to get a nice routed diamond inlaid with a contrasting wood and maybe some nice initial letters inlaid inside of that. I hope to accomplish that one before the year is done!! Maybe.....

Corey
 
#22 · (Edited)
bobj3 said:
See the item below

Bj :)

Hi Tom and Harry

All I'm saying is it's not the same :), If I ask you to carve a pine tree and you carved a elm tree,,, hummmmm ,it's not the same both are trees but not the same.
If I gave you a pattern and I ask you to copy it,,,,and you came back with one that was almost the same but not like the one I gave you.

But you did a great job doing your tree. :)

Maybe we should ask Charles M. ( forum member ) to take the pattern you posted and put it in his new CarveWright machine and make one just to show how it should look when you use a real carve router to make it.
If you get some time go to the CarveWright web site and look at some of the items this machine as made, all I can say is WOW, it was done with a router bit and a machine that you and I can now buy without paying $15,000.oo or more for a CNC router setup.
It's a new age of routers and computers and it's only get better for the small wood shop. :)
If you want to play you must step up to the pump so to speak just like the computers.

Bj :)
Well Bob
Even in your edited post you still have not answered the question put to you that was to explain what all the arrows were on the drawing. I am still at a loss as to what you were trying to say. I am sure Harry would be the same. Or maybe I am wrong.


All I'm saying is it's not the same :), If I ask you to carve a pine tree and you carved a elm tree,,, hummmmm ,it's not the same both are trees but not the same.

But you did a great job doing your tree. :)

All this jargon posted as an answer above has little to no relevance to the challenge that was posted. We were only working with a little piece of the tree whether it was Pine or an elm or my favourite Timber Jarrah.

If I gave you a pattern and I ask you to copy it,,,,and you came back with one that was almost the same but not like the one I gave you.

I did not give anyone a pattern and ask them to copy it, I gave everyone an opportunity to look at a new method of using the router without the need to spend $1990 on a carving machine. What I was trying to do is create a little more interest in the use of the router. Could it be done??? well the answer is yes in my opinion.

Maybe we should ask Charles M. ( forum member ) to take the pattern you posted and put it in his new CarveWright machine and make one just to show how it should look when you use a real carve router to make it.

Bob you are defeating the purpose of this posting.
There is no doubt in my mind that Charles M could make one and do it much quicker than I can on his expensive machine. (Maybe not expensive to him as all he wants to do is carve, if that was all I wanted to do I would purchase one myself)
My idea for the posting was to stimulate some interest in using the tools we can afford. Just as a matter of interest, the machine was designed specifically for carving and not to complete all the other projects we can produce with other machinery. So really it also has its limitations.
I would emagine that most members of the forum are what I would call novices (It would be good to do a poll update to find out) and they are looking for new ideas on how to use the router. I have been working with wood for over 50 years I do not class myself as a novice.
There are adequate posting in all forums regarding the use of the router table and any new member to the forum would think that was the only way to use the router because they have been guided by others who believe that is the only way to go.


But you did a great job doing your tree. :)

Bob
I am not sure if this is a backhanded compliment, or not, as I am not sure if you are referring to your Pine or elm try or my attempt to create some interest in a new form of routing.


It's a new age of routers and computers and it's only get better for the small wood shop. :)
If you want to play you must step up to the pump so to speak just like the computers.

Bob... Such fine encouraging words for any newcomer to routing if I interpret what you are saying. "If you do not have all the latest machinery you would best lay woodwork alone"

I have tried to answer most postings relating to the questions submitted with written (Lately verbal since I was introduced to Skype) and photographic evidence of my answer and I do believe that is what we, so called "woodwork professionals" should do. There may be some need to refer others to the various websites but any new members are usually new to computing as well and find it daunting going from one site to another and in some instances it is only a 'For Sale' site and they are still in doubt as they do not get an answer to their question.

We should be prepared to reply to their questions if we can with the proper solutions if we have the answer. I do not consider I know all the answers as we are never too old to learn


Enclosed is details of my woodworking background which may be of interest to those with specific questions to a problem. Might be a good idea to start a library with all the others who continually answer posts

[B]Completed a Five year apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery
Attended teachers Training College for two years and qualified as a 'Technical Teacher'[/
B]
Taught in High schools for 30 Years woodwork metalwork and technical drawing. In that time I introduced photography into the system.
Conducted a cabinet making Business for 15 years after resigning from the education department.
Came out of retirement to take a class of Blind people for one year how to do woodwork and introduce them to the router.
I have travelled round Australia giving demonstration at some of the various wood shows in each state. This was done over a period of ten years or more
I have produced some written work on the subject.

Example I Tried to reload "Introduction to Template guides"

My apology for the long posting. I tried to be polite as possible as I did not want to offend anyone. With the experience I have listed above I object being told 'How to suck eggs'
Tom
 
#23 · (Edited)
Hi Tom

I guess you told me,,,,,all I can say is we don't see eye to eye.



Bj :)

Note *** I did remove the picture with the arrows.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Bob & Tom...... hey that's the name of my favorite radio show :) Guys, I would like to say I have 20 years plus of woodworking hobby experience. Given that, I would say that both of you have probably forgotten more about woodworking than I will ever know! I personally have learned sooooo much from both of you and that is not an exaggeration. You are both very valuable members of this forum and I expect other members would agree.
I think it's important to recognize that there are many ways to do things in this sport :) Many more than I was ever aware of. So.... can we agree that the two of you don't see eye to eye and let the other try to do his thing here without the constant back and forth. I don't see that as healthy for the community. I don't know that I will ever use the 40mm system that Tom teaches... but I enjoy learning about it. Bob, you have shown me much more that can be done with the router than I ever imagined.... truthfully! As I said before, let's not consider either way of doing this as superior over the other...but one of many ways to do it. The important thing is that we continue to explore the world of the router and what template/pattern routing has to offer, both 40mm and other.
Just my opinion and I make these comments with the utmost respect for both of you, the forum moderators and the other members of this forum.

Corey
 
#25 ·
bobj3 said:
Hi Tom

I guess you told me,,,,,all I can say is we don't see eye to eye.

Is there a word missing here I guess I am not sure of what I told you.

Bob.. Eye to eye on what??
Are you saying there is no need to attempt the 'carving' because there is a machine available that can do it quicker. What about the challenge to see if we can do other projects with the router.


Bj :)

Note *** I did remove the picture with the arrows.
Ok you did remove the picture but you still have not come up with the answer for the reasons for submitting it in the first place. It has not really been helpful to me or Harry. I openly accept constructive critizism (You just need to ask Harry) if it is going to assist in producing the article using a simple and an alternative method. I suppose I really was not interested in how a professional machine did the job as I was well aware of their availability on the market, not to mention the costing. My concern was to create some interest in routing to see if we could still achieve similar results with what we have. I suppose I was thinking someone like yourself Bob would put on your thinking cap and come up with a solution on how you may tackle the problem without just casting it off and saying that is the sort of work that should only be done on the Carving machine

If the truth be known I could produce other topics of discussion that would stimulate the brain to see how other topics could be achieved, which would add interest to the forum. But we have to approach it with an open mind and consider all alternative methods even though we do not always agree with the author.
"Keep on producing the projects with the material we have been using for years and we will still produce the same product"[/COLOR]

You yourself have said we must keep up with changes whether it is the computer field or in woodworking projects. All I ask is that you take off your blinkers and step outside the square and look closer at what I have submitted
Just as a final point on the matter If I had not introduced this technique to the woodworkclass at School for the blind the clients would have been doing the same old projects they had been doing for years.
Tom
 
#26 · (Edited)
Hi Corey

Cool stuffffff

I know I want one so bad :) BUT the same on this end, I would be in deep stuff if I did .
What I'm thinking of doing calling some mates and see if they want to go in on it with me, if we could all chip in 300.oo bucks or so we all could have one, so to speak, we could send the pattern via the email to the guy that has it in his shop ( ME :) hahahahaha maybe )) and let him load it on the memory card and make it,or send the stock with the pattern via UPS ,many ways to do it I think.

Most of the mates are with in 5 miles or so but some are 500 miles away.
I could joint a wood club but I don't like most clubs.
To much BS with most of them.

It's one of the tools you would not use all the time once the new wares off.

But it sure would be nice to have one to use. :)

But maybe this would be wanting is better than having in this case and we all have tools we want but just can't have right now but we all can dream what it would be like to have a great machine like the computer carvewright machine .....I offen wonder what the rich dream about like Bill Gates when you have all the money you want/need and you can buy just about anything you want then what..more money I guess :) I see Norm on the TV and say it must be nice but then I say it may not be fun anymore for him, just a job and that's sad :( well that's all for me right now I'm off the to shop to play with my routers and be happy with what I have :) :) :) :)



Bj :)


challagan said:
Holy snikey's Bob, that is some cool stuff. I don't think the wife will ever stand for me making that purchase! Hell, I haven't spent that kind of money on any one single tool and that price tag would probably buy me my table saw, router table, scroll saw and drill press all in one :) I don't know though... while I can see it makes some cool stuff and you can do some custom stuff to sell and merchandize.... as a woodworker... I think I will focus on making the box or project itself the piece of art and I have a long ways to go on that endeavor :) Heck I would just like to get a nice routed diamond inlaid with a contrasting wood and maybe some nice initial letters inlaid inside of that. I hope to accomplish that one before the year is done!! Maybe.....

Corey
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top