Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 03, 2008 06:25pm | #1

   I've not tried making anything as shapely as a leaf, but when I have made templates, it's been with 1/4" hardboard, not MDF.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   BriMcG | Jul 03, 2008 08:50pm | #2

   Hi Jamie, Yep, big mistake. MDF is too "chippy". All I had was 3/16 hardboard on hand at the time and I need at least 1/4". I have some scrap 1/4" plastic pieces that I'm going to use next. Think that should work much better. I sure would like to find some ready made though if they fit the bill.

   Thx for the reply,

   BrianOrdinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid.

    

   Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

1. 
   pzaxtl | Jul 04, 2008 08:05am | #3

   MDF is too "chippy".

   Are you sure that was MDF and not particle board?  There's not a lot of difference between MDF and hardboard, besides the color and tempering of the hardboard.  The wood fibers used to make them both are pretty much the same size and texture.  When routed, neither MDF nor hardboard chip out but definitely create a lot of dust -- cough, cough, weeze, weeze.

1. 
   BriMcG | Jul 04, 2008 08:52pm | #4

   Yep, pretty sure. I think my problem was when I drilled out some starter holes in the template for the scroll saw I didn't back up the drilled material and it chipped enough that it made a weak spot that I thought would hold but it didn't.

   Sure aren't having much luck finding ready made sources. Guess it will just force me to do what I should do anyway and make my own out of better material , phenolic for example or 1/4"hardboard.

   Thx for the reply,

   BrianOrdinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid.

    

   Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

1. 
   Scott_y | Jul 04, 2008 10:49pm | #5

   For more complex inlays, woodworkers usually shape the inlay, then outline the inlay onto the piece being inlayed. The majority of the waste is then removed with a router and cleaned up with a chisel. I've never seen templates for the type of shapes you wrote about. I guess it does make sense to use your own for inlays that you want to repeat. Would you use it to cut the inlay as well as remove the waste?

2. 
   BriMcG | Jul 05, 2008 05:14am | #8

   I would be using a router inlay kit with the quide bushing and removable collar.

   http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2007&filter=inlay

    I would cut the inlay "hole" and remove the waste from the workpiece to be inlaid in the same operation, and then, using the same template and removing the collar, I would cut the  of the inlay piece either cutting deep enough to remove it from the material or using the bandsaw to free the inlay piece from the "donor" piece of wood in a resaw type operation. I would be using the template again I'm sure, so want to make it out of hardboard or phenolic.

   Anyway I guess beyond the typical hearts/diamonds/butterfly/circle templates ,there is not much out there.

   Thanks for your help.

   BrianOrdinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid.

    

   Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

3. 
   Scott_y | Jul 05, 2008 08:38pm | #10

   It may be difficult to make a template for the more intracate shapes. The collar on the router is too big to follow slight variations, thus the need to work more by hand, and the lack of such templates from commercial sources.

4. 
   BriMcG | Jul 05, 2008 08:46pm | #11

   You're right. I'm going to be making my own. You would think a smaller diameter collar could be made. Seems the one with my set is could be smaller anyway. Probably doesn't make that much of a difference.

   Thx for the reply,

   BrianOrdinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid.

    

   Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

2. 
   Jimurock | Jul 05, 2008 01:18am | #6

   You don't say exactly what you want them for.  Have you tried the process in reverse, i.e. using a wooden cutout to form a template?  The LV website describes the process in the instructions for their inlay set http://www.leevalley.com/shopping/Instructions.aspx?p=40701

   A number of craft sources sell the cutouts, e.g. Woodworks Ltd, Cardinal Woods, Bear Woods etc.

   Jim

1. 
   BriMcG | Jul 05, 2008 05:00am | #7

   Hey thanks, you just gave me a couple sites I hadn't heard of. I will check out the LV site as well. Thanks!

   BrianOrdinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid.

    

   Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

2. 
   BriMcG | Jul 05, 2008 05:16am | #9

   Hello again, checked out the site and that's the technique I'm using. Good article.

   BrianOrdinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid.

    

   Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

3. 
   wengewood1 | Apr 06, 2014 02:19pm | #12

   I had this issue also, check out: http://www.TarterWoodworking.com

   They have letters, numbers, and some pretty cool artwork. All the stencils are made of clear acrylic. Pretty neat!