I recently fell into a job where we make a lot of signs. Up to now they have been just doing it freehand. They would take stencils and with a pencil draw the letters on the boards. When I started I found in a bottom drawer, a set of plastic templates that will let us make 1 1/2″ and 2 1/2″ letters. I am happy with the results of using these templates. The problem is, there are time when we need to make larger letters. Is there a source for larger templates on the market? Or will we have to make our own? Any ideas? sugguestions? Making our own would not be a problem. Just time consuming. We make a LOT of signs.
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Pat, most sign shops use digital equipment and an overhead router to cut letters out now days. Fonts, styles, desired depths, and deigns are easily manipulated on your desk top to achieve perfect letters. Also in the digital process people will use a small sign maker to cut a paper template, that has perforated holes in it, and use it in the final placement stage. They tape up the template and make sure its level and centered correctly, pounce the template, then remove. Thus the outlines of the letters are lightly chalked onto the object perfectly spaced and leveled. Most letters are stuck up with double faced tape.
Maybe you could order some templates of the most common letter sizes you use from a local signmaker shop equipped with this technology. It would save some time and they would be defect free. But if money is a factor and your boss can't afford to buy digital templates you can fool with the fonts on your computer and use prints as guides. Hope this helps.
Pat,
Such templates used to be very common. Art supply stores--those that catered to commercial artists--used to carry them. My last experience with these things was more than twenty years ago, so I have no idea if they're still readily available. But try calling some local art supply stores.
Alan
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