Routing

[codswallop]

Any hints please on how to make a decent job of routing my grandson's name onto a wood surface?? Thanks

[chas2008]

a lot of practice, one of those things that in theory should be easy but its quite a skill to use it properly, i have one but it hardly gets used, an ' er indoors chrissy pressie ', one tip is to route the way the bit is turning ie clockwise....(i think its that way around, im sure someone will soon put us right if not)

[sg]

There are many templates available for routers, simple curves and letters, number etc. and I would advise using them rather than try it freehand.
Make sure you clamp your guides and templates down securely.
Rout to the required depath in increments.

[sg]

*depth*

[codswallop]

Thanks everyone.Templates would be ok if I wascdoing individual letters but I was hoping to do it as in "handwriting" Nothing like makimg it hard for yourself!!!!

[heathfield]

The simplest way of getting a good job done would probably to contact someone who makes those wooden house name signs and have them do it for you!

[sg]

If I was doing it freehand, I would draw the name out in full until I was happy with it, and make the line thickness wider than the router cutter. Then I would score round the entire outline to the depth of about 1mm with a sharp blade, then use the router freehand to take out the shape of the writing - if that makes sense.
If you want to just use the router cutter alone to make the name to the width of the cutter, then the only advice I have is to take it slowly, and incrementally..

[codswallop]

I took all your point to mind and gave it a try and it didn't come out too badly.
As the teacher says"could have done better" Thanks!!!