Making wood signs

The only commercial sign templates I've seen have been simple block letters, due to the limitation of the template needing to be a single, continuous structure. For a script-style "font", I think you'll have to go free-hand, using printed letters glued to the surface as guides.

One of the problems with free-handing is having sufficient surface for the router base to rest upon. An over-sized base, or skis, can help in that regard.

Hi Ralph:

Actually, the limitation of the template is not to be a single, continuous flow. The concept of multipositioning the basis of the Milescraft template system.

http://www.milescraft.com/product/1207.html is a link to the Milescraft product for pattern making. It demonstrates the use of multi-positioning templates. The same technique could be used for script lettering.

An aside: While looking the link, my computer tripped up on a very nasty malware link. Fortunately my anti-malware software did its thing. I rebooted the computer and re-scanned. All clean.

Cassandra

Hi RustySaw:

Welcome to the Router Forums!!

If you're getting into sign making on a serious basis (like doing it as a business), you might want to invest in something like the Milescraft 3DPantograph (Milescraft - Universal Power Tool Attachments & Accessories - Routers - 3D Pantograph). Using this one could create one's own letter templates and then use those templates to make signs.

Just an idea.

Cassandra

Hi Cassandra

Thanks ,I forgot ALL about the FREE patterns (templates)
http://www.milescraft.com/service/1298templates.html
======

Cassandra said:

Hi RustySaw:

Welcome to the Router Forums!!

If you're getting into sign making on a serious basis (like doing it as a business), you might want to invest in something like the Milescraft 3DPantograph (Milescraft - Universal Power Tool Attachments & Accessories - Routers - 3D Pantograph). Using this one could create one's own letter templates and then use those templates to make signs.

Just an idea.

Cassandra

Click to expand...

bobj3 said:

Hi Cassandra

Thanks ,I forgot ALL about the FREE patterns (templates)
Milescraft - Universal Power Tool Attachments & Accessories - Routers - 3D Pantograph
======

Click to expand...

You're very welcome, Bob!

Those templates are just for starters, right? One can always make one's own. For example, go into MS Word, look up a font one likes and then type in the letters one needs. After adjusting the FONT SIZE to an appropriate size and after putting reference marks (for example, underscores), print out the letters.

The attached PDF file contains a sample of what can be easily accomplished with something like Word. Font is 480 pt Segoe Script.

Cassandra

Rusty Saw:

Script Fonts @ 1001 Fonts .com

Same true type script fonts -- some freeware, some shareware. (I haven't downloaded any, yet.)

Cassandra

Downloaded Font Sample

Here is the PDF of the sample letters, using the Precious font at 360 pt.

Cassandra

wood signs

Ralph Barker said:

The only commercial sign templates I've seen have been simple block letters, due to the limitation of the template needing to be a single, continuous structure. For a script-style "font", I think you'll have to go free-hand, using printed letters glued to the surface as guides.

One of the problems with free-handing is having sufficient surface for the router base to rest upon. An over-sized base, or skis, can help in that regard.

Click to expand...

thank's for the info,problem is I am not that good with a router freehand
on lettering,will need a lot of practice. I also have a lot of time to get better.
Blaise

Don't sell yourself short, I am also a newbie and my wife tells me that sometimes my freehand stuff is better than the things I stenciled and then routed. Try it on some old or bad pieces of wood, you may be shocked. It may also help is you just box you lettering for spacing and size and then free hand between the lines. Good luck.

you know i thought that i would not be really good free hand eather but it is really not that bad I thought that i would beable to do a lot with one bit but i was wrong. if you think that you want to do small stuff i found a 1/16 bit at true value for onder 8 bucks used it today and loved it. it is now my fav bit

I gave the lathe a rest today and instead made a freehand sign with raised letters. I'll post a photo-shoot in the next couple of days.