Newbie woodworker in CA

Hi, Glad you decided to join the fun. That Ridgid is a nice machine and should do you well for sign making if it has the plunge base. Barb or Outofthewoodwork does a great job making signs by hand. Can be done, with templates or withoug (after practice). Barb's signs are all done without lettering templates. I think she prints out the signe from her computer, reversing the image, then uses some sort of fluid to transfer the image onto the wood. Then she uses a pointed bit and sets the depth stop so the bit only plunges a quarter inch or so. She is able to track pretty darn well doing that.

Meanwhile, here's a pdf which covers the 17 or so things that sped up my learning curve for woodworking. It's long, has pictures and overs a lot of territory. It was written just for folks like you, just setting out on this addiction--er, hobby.

I'm like you, having done repairs and fixit projects all my life, but then wanting to do more interesting woodworking, cabinets, shelving, picture frames for my wife's paintings and so on.

At any rate, I hope the pdf is helpful. BTW, you can private message Barb here at @OutoftheWoodwork to ask what the fluid is that she uses.

Wow, Tom... I'm blushing!

Brie, I'm Barb. I started playing with a router around 2012. I've been woodworking since somewhere around '97 or '98, when a campsite sign was gonna cost us over $100 for a simple sign; but all that is in my bio, if you're interested. And Tom is right. I do all my signs freehand (no CNC) and I create them on my computer, reverse the image, and I use wintergreen oil to transfer the template (pattern) to the wood. I use trim router (I just got a Makita a week or so ago that I'm still itchin to get at) with a plunge base for my signs.

If you're interested in making signs freehand (I think that's the better way; more freedom in your designs) might I recommend Oldave100 on Youtube. They actually teach people through their channel how to free hand route signs. Dave started his business back in the late 70's I think. His son, Eric, has taken up where dad left off, and I go there for reference and ideas a lot when it comes to certain areas. I don't use their patterns, as I make my own, and I use a different technique than they do, but they have some amazing lessons you may be interested in. Here's my latest sign (that I will never in a million years be able to duplicate this coloring, but I'm gonna try till I die, I think!) My husband Ken does my painting, and my poly spraying. He's got the touch for it. I don't.

Unfortunately, the picture doesn't do the shine justice. I took this sign to work and had it sold in five minutes flat :lol:

Now if I can just duplicate the color.... (It was by accident lol)