I have done these by hand using a paper glued to the wood. I like how clean the letters came out with less effort then I have to put in now. It's good to see an alternative.
Bob I wish i could do this freehand. I tried once but was a complete mess. I'd love to make a few signs but without a CNC I would have to do them freehand and i already know that outcome. thanks for viewing
Well I'm inspired. For years I've been making signs with a wood burner and dremel (I label every apple tree and blueberry bush I've planted, along with anything else in the woods and orchard). My father just gave me Craftsman router and wood sign kit. Now I can get fancy.
Carolyn Holmes how exciting. I enjoy trying new things, you may just started a path to a new business or at least a fulfilling hobby. your only limits is your imagination. never not try a new or different technique
Great video. I thought since this was 6 years old the channel was over, but I see you’re still making video. New sub here. I think I’ll buy the kit, but I only need one sign. 🤷🏼♂️ oh well.
@FR-sr9sy thank you and like the old saying goes better to have when and if needed than to not have and need it... well thats what I say. This is cheaper than a 5K + CNC and takes up way less room.
@@TheShackHome I feel like CNC’s have ruined wood and metal working. Like if I buy a sign making kit, it would look good, but people would probably think he just ordered if that way. We’re before computers, people knew a woodworker was involved.
I like that you didn't edit out the paint can failure. That's the kind of thing that happens in the real world and you made lemon aid out of lemons when you were still able to dribble the paint out of the damaged can and finish the job. Good video . Take care.
LOL, Keith we all need to learn to work around the flaws in life. Life isn't perfect but how you deal with the little thing can make you or break you. Hopefully it will help someone understand we are just everyday people and life happens to all. Some of our greatest inventions come from mistakes. I just take them in stride and maybe I'll get lucky or even learn a thing or two. It's all good. great comment Keith thank you for viewing.
Good video. I also had hard time with the indoor/outdoor carpet tape. I switched to the indoor tape that doesn't have the mesh reinforcement. It seems to work pretty good and much easier to remove.
Rick i will have to check that out. Any improvement is helpful. This stuff holds like cement but a pain to remove the letters for the second pass. Thanks for the suggestion.
I looked and looked for this video. Great job. Very useful. I've never done this before. I got a hand held Bosch with plunger, but soon learned it needed a special attachment. It has been an expensive adventure and I still have not run the router. Great video.
d1027j harris i really never thought of that. My Rockler is about an hour drive so i don't drive there too often unless I really need something and unless i can get free shipping i make sure i only order what i need. I'm almost out of that carpet tape so i'm going ti try a few options and see the results. Thanks for the suggestion and for viewing.
I don't run the strips as just one piece. I check the wizard and cut it up in section as needed. It overlaps. Part of the tap is on the board, and seal against the bottom & top edge of the templet face. I hope that makes since.
Very nice video. The sign turned out good despite your spewing paint can. It’s also nice to see when the “boo boos” happen, haha. I just got my first router, it is a used one but I’m trying to figure it all out. I enjoyed your video very much. Best of luck and Blessings to you.
Becky Thank you. Congratulations on the router new or used doesn’t matter I had hand-me-down and use tools for many, many years I am just very blessed to be able to Update my older tools now and some new. Shoot my table saw is 50+ years old. I try to keep them as long as possible but sometime ya got go new. Take your time experiment with scrap wood and enjoy. routers are a very handy tool. My $20 converted router table was from a lady woodworker through health issues just couldn’t use it any more. I always enjoy meeting a lady woodworker. Thanks for the kind words and thank you for viewing.
Nice template set for those that dont have access to a cnc. The down side you are limited to ONLY the size of the templates. I just use my CNC, far more vesitle and Im not limited to 1 or 2 fixed sizes and only one font. Still a reasonable product for many. And I feel the same way about that tape.. Its the shits to get off. Soaking the stuff with laquer thinner makes getting it off far easier but still a pain.
Fantastic video for a beginner, which is what I am. I am trying to figure out the best router combo to get. I see that you use the DEWALT. Are you happy with it and any gripes
Bret I used Milwaukee. I have that and an old Makita, I repaired and brought back to life, Stanley and my newest addition was a Ryobi. But at the end i stated that i believe the DeWalt combo was a pretty good budget quality combo. I see many people doing freehand signs and they use the DeWalt. I did a recent review on the Ryobi i purchased and for the price i was impressed and well worth the money for what I'm using it for. Here is a like to the review: ua-cam.com/video/Vm5ofGx88J0/v-deo.html In the end it is your choice and what ever fits your budget then go that rout.
To make any tape less sticky, stick it against your cotton shirt. It'll pick up lil fuzzies and make it less sticky. Want it even less sticky? Stick it to your shirt multiple times.
Is there a trick to having two colors, one for the routed lettering and a second for the original surface? I want the letters to be bright red but I want the sign stained with an oil based water proofing stain so the sign can be outside. The stain will make the wood dark. I am thinking the letters would be a high gloss paint. This is similar to how the forest service signs are painted (they use brown and yellow).
Carl i'm not sure i haven't done to many signs this is new to me. I do subscribe to a gentleman that is really good at this. I've gotten a lot of good tips and info from his channel. here is a link if you don't already know of him.ua-cam.com/users/oldave100
Make the letters first.. Spray some clear lacquer in the letters and let it dry. Then paint the letters. The lacquer seals the wood to prevent paint bleed into the top. Next sand off the entire top surface. That gets rid of any paint on the top for clean edges. It also cleans up the top for a more even stain. Now stain everything. Any stain in the letters wont "stain" but to get rid of it use paint thinner with rags or q-tips as needed. I do signs with a CNC but the painting procedures are the same no matter how you put in the letters.
Zach i used carpet tape it was just something i had left over from a job but its REALLY tough. I've used just plain painters tape since and I think Rockler has a double sided tape but haven't tried it yet. Just don't tape over the letters you need to do a second run on if you use regular tape.
Andrew the only reason i want to use 2 sided tape my luck with painters tape is when i try to pull a letter or two out to set up for a 2nd pass id pull it all off and have to try and align it so all will match. Believe me i thought about it but i know me too.... Thank you for the suggestion i may bite my tongue and try it soon. I have a couple of signs i want to make.
just learn to do it free hand buy lots of different stencils lots of different fonts available makes things a lot more fun, also you can do raised lets with different background if you learn to do it freehand,
Don I subscribe to a few very talented people who do it freehand I just don’t have that skill I may be blessed and can do many things but I do have limitations and freehand router is not one I just can’t do a straight enough line to suit my analness to attention. I’m my own worst critic
A few people have suggested that so I guess the letters I need a 2nd pass I wont put tape on. I'm going to give that a try. I'm out of the 2 way tape now
I bought the Rockler set, it's absolutely USELESS, very flimsy and flexes all over. DON'T MAKE MY MISTAKE and buy this piece terrible kit. Their signmaking wizard page to help you set up is inaccurate as well (letter G for starters). Don't...just ...don't.
I have done these by hand using a paper glued to the wood. I like how clean the letters came out with less effort then I have to put in now. It's good to see an alternative.
Bob I wish i could do this freehand. I tried once but was a complete mess. I'd love to make a few signs but without a CNC I would have to do them freehand and i already know that outcome. thanks for viewing
Well I'm inspired. For years I've been making signs with a wood burner and dremel (I label every apple tree and blueberry bush I've planted, along with anything else in the woods and orchard). My father just gave me Craftsman router and wood sign kit. Now I can get fancy.
Carolyn Holmes
how exciting. I enjoy trying new things, you may just started a path to a new business or at least a fulfilling hobby. your only limits is your imagination. never not try a new or different technique
Great video. I thought since this was 6 years old the channel was over, but I see you’re still making video. New sub here.
I think I’ll buy the kit, but I only need one sign. 🤷🏼♂️ oh well.
@FR-sr9sy thank you and like the old saying goes better to have when and if needed than to not have and need it... well thats what I say. This is cheaper than a 5K + CNC and takes up way less room.
@@TheShackHome I feel like CNC’s have ruined wood and metal working. Like if I buy a sign making kit, it would look good, but people would probably think he just ordered if that way. We’re before computers, people knew a woodworker was involved.
I like that you didn't edit out the paint can failure. That's the kind of thing that happens in the real world and you made lemon aid out of lemons when you were still able to dribble the paint out of the damaged can and finish the job. Good video . Take care.
LOL, Keith we all need to learn to work around the flaws in life. Life isn't perfect but how you deal with the little thing can make you or break you. Hopefully it will help someone understand we are just everyday people and life happens to all. Some of our greatest inventions come from mistakes. I just take them in stride and maybe I'll get lucky or even learn a thing or two. It's all good. great comment Keith thank you for viewing.
Good video. I also had hard time with the indoor/outdoor carpet tape. I switched to the indoor tape that doesn't have the mesh reinforcement. It seems to work pretty good and much easier to remove.
Rick i will have to check that out. Any improvement is helpful. This stuff holds like cement but a pain to remove the letters for the second pass. Thanks for the suggestion.
I looked and looked for this video. Great job. Very useful. I've never done this before. I got a hand held Bosch with plunger, but soon learned it needed a special attachment. It has been an expensive adventure and I still have not run the router. Great video.
C. Kent sorry to hear your trouble but hopefully soon you'll be routing away. Happy to help in any way. Thank you for viewing.
Woodcraft, and I'm sure Rockler, has a great double sided tape that easy to remove and holds excellant.
d1027j harris i really never thought of that. My Rockler is about an hour drive so i don't drive there too often unless I really need something and unless i can get free shipping i make sure i only order what i need. I'm almost out of that carpet tape so i'm going ti try a few options and see the results. Thanks for the suggestion and for viewing.
I used painters tape. I ran a strip along the top and bottom. It work great for me, on the five signs that I've done.
Thanks Jim for the tip. How do you remove the letters needing to be replaced for the second pass without pulling them all off.
I don't run the strips as just one piece. I check the wizard and cut it up in section as needed. It overlaps. Part of the tap is on the board, and seal against the bottom & top edge of the templet face. I hope that makes since.
Yes makes sense. I often wondered how they did that. great ill try that soon. Thanks for the info
Very nice video. The sign turned out good despite your spewing paint can. It’s also nice to see when the “boo boos” happen, haha. I just got my first router, it is a used one but I’m trying to figure it all out. I enjoyed your video very much. Best of luck and Blessings to you.
Becky Thank you. Congratulations on the router new or used doesn’t matter I had hand-me-down and use tools for many, many years I am just very blessed to be able to Update my older tools now and some new. Shoot my table saw is 50+ years old. I try to keep them as long as possible but sometime ya got go new. Take your time experiment with scrap wood and enjoy. routers are a very handy tool. My $20 converted router table was from a lady woodworker through health issues just couldn’t use it any more. I always enjoy meeting a lady woodworker. Thanks for the kind words and thank you for viewing.
Nice template set for those that dont have access to a cnc. The down side you are limited to ONLY the size of the templates. I just use my CNC, far more vesitle and Im not limited to 1 or 2 fixed sizes and only one font.
Still a reasonable product for many.
And I feel the same way about that tape.. Its the shits to get off. Soaking the stuff with laquer thinner makes getting it off far easier but still a pain.
Fantastic video for a beginner, which is what I am. I am trying to figure out the best router combo to get. I see that you use the DEWALT. Are you happy with it and any gripes
Bret I used Milwaukee. I have that and an old Makita, I repaired and brought back to life, Stanley and my newest addition was a Ryobi. But at the end i stated that i believe the DeWalt combo was a pretty good budget quality combo. I see many people doing freehand signs and they use the DeWalt. I did a recent review on the Ryobi i purchased and for the price i was impressed and well worth the money for what I'm using it for. Here is a like to the review: ua-cam.com/video/Vm5ofGx88J0/v-deo.html
In the end it is your choice and what ever fits your budget then go that rout.
To make any tape less sticky, stick it against your cotton shirt. It'll pick up lil fuzzies and make it less sticky. Want it even less sticky? Stick it to your shirt multiple times.
I have porter cable routher and i never done this before do you need this kid or what alse you can use for letter
Very well done video. This appears to be exactly what I've been looking for. Were you able to find any other tape option that works well? Thanks.
Is there a trick to having two colors, one for the routed lettering and a second for the original surface? I want the letters to be bright red but I want the sign stained with an oil based water proofing stain so the sign can be outside. The stain will make the wood dark. I am thinking the letters would be a high gloss paint. This is similar to how the forest service signs are painted (they use brown and yellow).
Carl i'm not sure i haven't done to many signs this is new to me. I do subscribe to a gentleman that is really good at this. I've gotten a lot of good tips and info from his channel. here is a link if you don't already know of him.ua-cam.com/users/oldave100
Make the letters first.. Spray some clear lacquer in the letters and let it dry. Then paint the letters. The lacquer seals the wood to prevent paint bleed into the top.
Next sand off the entire top surface. That gets rid of any paint on the top for clean edges. It also cleans up the top for a more even stain.
Now stain everything. Any stain in the letters wont "stain" but to get rid of it use paint thinner with rags or q-tips as needed.
I do signs with a CNC but the painting procedures are the same no matter how you put in the letters.
Paint the surface one dried masking tape it off, router out your word and paint your letters before removing the masking tape
What type of double sided tape was that?
Zach i used carpet tape it was just something i had left over from a job but its REALLY tough. I've used just plain painters tape since and I think Rockler has a double sided tape but haven't tried it yet. Just don't tape over the letters you need to do a second run on if you use regular tape.
What is the size and type of router bit you are using.
Zach the bit for this kit is a 3/8" x 3/8" tip with a 1/4" shank. They have 3 different size kits and 3 different sizes of bits
Milescraft has an entire system that includes a track for you to put the letters in. Way better setup.
Until they pop out of the track and you ruin your project! The Rockler is much better…my Milescraft went to the Goodwill.
i seen people put painters tape and it work out
Andrew the only reason i want to use 2 sided tape my luck with painters tape is when i try to pull a letter or two out to set up for a 2nd pass id pull it all off and have to try and align it so all will match. Believe me i thought about it but i know me too.... Thank you for the suggestion i may bite my tongue and try it soon. I have a couple of signs i want to make.
Use carpet tape or 3m double sided tape
I used the carpet tape and it holds a bit too strong but the 2 sided 3m is good.
just learn to do it free hand buy lots of different stencils lots of different fonts available makes things a lot more fun, also you can do raised lets with different background if you learn to do it freehand,
Don I subscribe to a few very talented people who do it freehand I just don’t have that skill I may be blessed and can do many things but I do have limitations and freehand router is not one I just can’t do a straight enough line to suit my analness to attention. I’m my own worst critic
Painters tape
A few people have suggested that so I guess the letters I need a 2nd pass I wont put tape on. I'm going to give that a try. I'm out of the 2 way tape now
Hate when that happens
I bought the Rockler set, it's absolutely USELESS, very flimsy and flexes all over. DON'T MAKE MY MISTAKE and buy this piece terrible kit. Their signmaking wizard page to help you set up is inaccurate as well (letter G for starters). Don't...just ...don't.