Hi ,I have a milescraft set.They take some getting use to and you don't have fancy fonts but i like them.Made a few signs for my friends camps and cabins they seemed happy with them.
Tdog

 

Hello!

What sort of a template?-
is it a paper set like I' ve seen from milescraft?
In this case , Most of windows installations comes with dozen of installed fonts witch
you can use to print letters or words any size with your printer.

You can also google for free fonts.ttf (ttf is for true type fonts)

Regards.

 

Not not the pantograph.just the sign pro set.Though the pantograh looks tempting.
Tdog

 

I second Tdog and the Milescraft! I have it and it's very easy to use. Here's a link: 1212 - SignPro™ - Milescraft

 

I've got both the Milescraft and the Rockler sets. Both have their quirks. I like the Rockler font set (Comic Sans) and it just sticks down to the workpiece with carpet tape. It does require a special super short barrel bushing. They include a plastic bushing with the set but that thing wears out in a heartbeat, really need the optional, read extra $$, brass bushing. The Milescraft set is a bit fussy with the frame arrangement they use. Either are usable but take some getting used to.

 

Hi John,

I have the Milescraft letter and numbers set I bought (stole) from a wood shop a few days ago. I don't have the jig to fit them in so I was going to try the carpet tape way of attaching them. Do you think if I were to make a fixture from 1/4 or 3/8 inch stock with a cut-out just a tad bigger than the letter then tape the letters to it using carpet tape would work? All I would need is one fixture the same size as just one of the letters then move it accordingly for each letter as I route it out.

Any thoughts or suggestions on my idea?

 

Have you tried to call the company, explaining your situtation ?
For my taste the framing between the lettering allows to much spacing between the letters. I understand why they had to do this, but never the l e s s,,,,,,,,
I made a report some time back what I did to remeidy this in my world, a little more complicated, but showing the differance to several friends & then offering the change to remake the ones I had made was a resounding OK. It also allowed me to letter the main topic (or their last name) in an arch which allowed the overall sign to me smaller with some space for intresting additions pertaining to the indivigals intrest. As true with CNC's machines. You do not see the CNC sign programs offering the,, l e t t e r s,,, spaced as such. Boils down to what ever flotes your boat, I supose.

As a side note: When I was ask if i could make some signs from several non woodworking friends at our RV over the fire get-to-gethers. ( and ironic a couple of woodworking buddy's also) I was talking to my next door neighbor about buying a Milescraft kit. "Hey some where I have one, will bring it over" was his reply. Well it was not all there,,,,the key components mising was there plastic bace plate & the bit centering tool. Call the factory explaining I would buy one, if nothing else just to see if the overall system would apeal to me, Sure was her reply.

I ended up buying my own kit later, their design kit & and an extra 2 1/2 lettering set. So they know what a little customer service could bring. Thing to get lost or mis-place over time, at least that was my neighbors reasoning also. He gained a new base plate & centering tool for the kit's use.

 

Hi

They make extra long guides just for that type of job ,just as a side note you can make your own rails to hold the letter templates in place by using a slot cutter and some hardwood so the letter don't fall out and cut up some 1/8" thick MDF stock for your own spacers but I will say if you use some 1/2" thick MDF stock and just put on a rabbit on the ends, it will add support for your rails and for your router..many ways to upgrade the MilesCraft system to make it work for you.

Letter Template Guides
Letter Template Guides - Lee Valley Tools

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I took my set back!

I bought a milescraft set. The letters fell out of the track. The bushing fell out of the base plate. That was enough for me. Back it went! I'll keep looking for a set that works better. Oldfitter

 

So, just curious. Why not freehand rout the letters instead of futzing around with templates? I have made several signs and find it really easy, especially with a trim router. You can lay out the design on your computer, transfer to the wood, and rout away leaving either raised or incised letters.

 

I make hundreds of trail signs for the Red Rock Ranger District of the coconino national forest. You can see how I use the miles craft sign kit very easily here: http://www.routerforums.com/sign-making/17262-milescraft-sign-kit.html
You will find my post on page 4....

 

I've made about 50 signs this past Christmas so far with my Milescraft kit, right out of the box, and have had no trouble. I still get "thank you's" and pics of their signs hung in front of their houses. Only thing I mad was a jig to hold my wood, and clamp the sign jig too. Other then that, right out of the box.