Replies

1. 
   SRToolguy | Dec 04, 2004 05:30am | #1

   Make your own. Just buy an inexpensive pant-o-graph and a set of normal size letters then enlarge them onto a piece of 1/4" plywood and cut them out.  Use a template guide bushing and a V point sign makers bit and go to town. There is also a pant-o-graph guide for routers that can be bought but the people that have bought them seem to come back with a rather puzzled look on their faces so I can't say that I can recommend it as a simpler method.

   Sincerely;

   The Tool Guy

1. 
   dlb | Dec 05, 2004 12:04am | #2

   Thanks for the info. Your suggestion sounds like a simple workable solution.

   dlb

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    The undisciplined life is not worth examining.

2. 
   Patto | Dec 06, 2004 07:31am | #3

   Photocopier - god's gift to those too clumsy to use a pantograph.

   This has allowed me to micro adjust things like chip carving patterns when the blank hasn't turned out to be quite the right size off the lathe and taking gridded plans from various books. Haven't quite got the transfer onto the wood right yet, although have tried both ironing and use of turps with some success.

1. 
   BArnold | Dec 06, 2004 02:27pm | #4

   "Haven't quite got the transfer onto the wood right yet, although have tried both ironing and use of turps with some success."

   Patto,

   After printing a pattern from my CAD program or photocopying a pattern, I apply it to the wood with 3M Repositionable 75 Spray Adhesive.  A light spray holds the pattern securely, but also lets you remove and relocate the pattern if necessary.  When finished with cutting, I wipe it with mineral spirits or naphtha to remove the residual adhesive.

   Regards,Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

1. 
   Patto | Dec 07, 2004 01:14am | #9

   I like that approach for templates / band saw etc, Thanks for the hint about 3M - I just pinch the Clag from the kids (washes off with water but is not repositionable) becasue I saw a scroll saw demo using it.

   My problem is transfering accurately for carving when it is important to see the grain. The ironing and turps methods make a mirror image - OK for patterns, although it does tend to leach outside the design so needs clean up, but not for letters or things like heraldry (dexter and sinister matter). The only approach I have found so far is carbon paper, and my hand with a carving tool is a lot steadier than it is with a pencil.

   I have considered scanning the design and mirroring it on the computer; otherwise, if I want it really accurate I tend to draft directly onto the timber with a soft lead (2B) pencil. For repeating designs, particularly over slight curves, I have made stencils from the lids of plastic ice cream buckets. (great stuff for mixing epoxy, stopping small hardware drifing around the bench etc, and provides an excuse for 4 litre ice cream on shopping days)

   There is a high-tech solution I want to have a go at for a big pattern one day. We have a plotter at work with a A0*50 meter paper capacity. You can get an adhesive backed roll for this beast, and it would be interesting to do full-scale designs in a single print and just peel off the back. Perhaps a bit of over-kill.

2. 
   douglas2cats | Dec 06, 2004 02:58pm | #5

   I've never tried this, but I've often wondered what kind of results I would get if I composed something in a word processor then played with the font and print scale settings enough to get the size where I wanted it. Then print & spray glue to the wood and route. In my case I was thinking of trying this using cursive script and proper names, then shrinking down smaller for use in Dremel routing desk nameplates. Cant think of a reason why this wouldn't work, but like I said - I haven't tried it yet. This wouldn't actually get you a template guide, but might be worth a try if you cant find what you're looking for.

1. 
   BBob | Dec 06, 2004 10:46pm | #6

   Once you get your design/font/number on the workpiece, do you handhold the router? If I handheld the router I'd end up with Arabic script.

1. 
   dlb | Dec 06, 2004 11:57pm | #8

   After reading your post a Dremel tool might just do the trick although it would take a Very Steady hand, don't you think?

   dlb

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    The undisciplined life is not worth examining.

2. 
   dlb | Dec 06, 2004 11:54pm | #7

   thanks! that is a great idea!!

   dlb

   .

    The undisciplined life is not worth examining.