Need info on how to make. Currently working on project that involves many 16″ long pieces that look similar to old style stick cloth pins, except flat on two sides. I’ve never worked with nothing more than a straight edge as a template before and haven’t come up with a good solution yet. I can make symetrical template easy enough by cutting and sanding one edge and then resawing, flipping and gluing the template, but then I can’t think of a good way to hold the pieces to the template. Could use screws but that would be very tedious. Would prefer to us guide bushings rather than a bearing guided bit, but can use either if someone has a good suggestion.
Discussion Forum
Get It All!
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.
Start Your Free TrialCategories
Discussion Forum
Digital Plans Library
Member exclusive! – Plans for everyone – from beginners to experts – right at your fingertips.
Highlights
-
Shape Your Skills
when you sign up for our emails
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. -
Shop Talk Live Podcast -
Our favorite articles and videos -
E-Learning Courses from Fine Woodworking
-
-
Replies
Double sided carpet tape works great for holding templates. You can get about 100 feet for $5 at Lowes or Home Depot.
You can also buy straight bits with the bearing on the top OR bottom. Top is usually preferred when using templates.
You should rough cut the parts first with a band saw or jig saw so the router has less work to do.
Look for De-Sta-Co clamps in woodworking catalogs. If you have a number of things to run, you can create a carraige to mount the blanks to. The flat side would sit on the back, and the clamps let you repeat again and again. The tape works too, but IMHO would be a hassle if you had to repeat things again and again.
" We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita . . . "I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." - J. Robert Oppenheimer
Some tips in Taunton's "The Router Book", chapter 13.
Maybe check library for copy, first.
Hi Doug,
Get a bit of 1/2" or 3/8" ply or MDF. Nothing thinner as the bearing/bush needs a stiff/stable surface to run on, with sufficient thickness to give the brg/bush a safe working width - too thin and the brg/bush might run off the template and cut into the workpiece
Draw your component out life-sized directly on to the ply/MDF.
If you want to use a guide bush, figure out the distance between the edge of your router bit and the outside of the bush, then re-mark the component profile to allow for this distance. Template bits/bearing-guided bits are more convenient as they avoid this step.
Cut out template and smooth off edges
Attach template to surface of job. Some options, depending on the number of components and your budget are carpet tape, hot melt glue for one- or two- off jobs or toggle clamps.
Cheers, eddie
Edited 12/27/2002 8:51:12 PM ET by eddie (aust)
Edited 12/28/2002 7:15:00 PM ET by eddie (aust)
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled