I did a copy of your old one, with burned in markings, several years ago, for my grand children. It will be a family treasure for years to come. These really are great gifts for young families.
Wifey and I were going through kid's papers I'd saved and came across a paper ruler exactly like you made out of wood. Both my boys topped out the ruler at 6 feet each. Kudos to your talent and your router skills.
Your original video on growth charts is why I subscribed many moons ago! I have seven grand kids and I've made growth charts for 5 of them! love this new idea! When the other two are big enough to stand up I'll make them one! Thanks April!
All his videos I have seen and they are all incredible, I like when you say goodbye, the half circle with the palm of your hand, I can not help but smile.
April: a cool way to do a transfer stencil is to print out what you want with a laser printer, spray that printed sheet with lacquer thinner, put it printed side down on the wood, then go over that with a hot clothes iron. The ink gets transferred to the wood. If the pattern has a right or left side, ( as letters and numbers do), then you'll have to print it as a mirror image; easy enough to do with the computer. Give that a try.
I've watched your videos for awhile now and this series of you doing stuff for your family, i have to admit, are really special. thank you for sharing AW!
I just found your channel today. I think you should be proud of what you've built here; it's impressive. I showed this video to my wife. Hopefully she will join me in the shop now 😃.
Hey April, I do a lot of pyrography and something I've learned to do with stenciling that has saved me a lot of time is to use carbon transfer paper from the office supply store (I think it cost me about 1 dollar for a package). Instead of cutting out the negative and tracing the void I just tape down the edges of the design with the carbon paper under it and then go over the edges of what I want with a dowel I sharpened in the pencil sharpener. You could use a pencil, but my personal preference is to just outline it without marking the printout. Gives you the same net result without as much time. Hope this is helpful!
this is adorable, my daughter just left for college so I have to wait for grand kids, also I have never commented how inspiring your videos have been over the last year for building my maker shop . Thank you April - ryan dewitt
Great project, April! I remember your burned one as well. I wasn't familiar with router templates and have always just used a pattern bit, but these look very convenient!
You are pretty good at doing the carving freehand. Nice job! I made a stencil in a similar way in my most recent video I posted on my channel. I used painter's tape though, rather than packing tape. And I put the painter's tape on some freezer paper so I could use that kind of like the paper that comes on real vinyl clings/stencils.
my wife has been asking me to make some of these for years, its one of those projects that i have just never gotten round to, looks great April, hope they like it
You can still make one and just transfer what their "then heights were", onto it. A call to the Dr's office would have a record of how tall, when. It'd make a great surprise for her!
Funny story. The alert for this popped up during church. The pastor was talking about marking the height of his kids on the back of the closer door. My first thought was, all that is lost if they move or decide to paint. Not 5 minutes later your alert popped on my screen. I think I'd use the templates if I planned on more than one. I don't think I'm steady enough to freehand.
I too lost both my children's markings on doorpost when we moved and it broke my heart. This is the best gift I can think of to give a family! This way all can be transferred and eventually taken with them if they ever need to move.
I told my wifes' cousin when his first child was born that he needed to replace one of the upright trim pieces of any door with one he could mark up and take with him if he moved. The growth ruler is a much better solution ... wish I'd known about it when my daughter was born!
Cool project which I have used for my grandson who just turned 3 last month! My son wouldn't take my old ruler because it had pink on for my granddaughter lol 😂 I could never free hand like you did your router but I can see yours looks great 👍👏☝️😍🎚📏
That's kinda cool! We just had an old door jam to measure against. Would have been sweet to have something like that in our house. Of course now that I'm saying that I realize that I got to see that door jam many years later, see all the height marks, experience that nostalgia... Knowing my parents, that ruler would have gone on the burn pile as soon as we were grown! ; ) True story. Still, it's kinda cool!
That turned out great. Do you think there would be any problems with running this through a thickness planer instead of sanding after the spray paint is applied?
Harbor Freight sells a decent paper laminating machine. I love to print something and just cut it out like you did. Quick easy way to make a stencil! You might want to swing by harbor freight and pick one up
the nails are so pretty, dumb me I first thought you had hurt yourself. That is a clever idea everyone needs a ruler, just hope he does not get over 7 foot tall. As usual multi-talented April does it again. Glad I found you to watch, I am trying my hand a making a gate for my deck, I did ok for a while but it dips forward so you have to pull up on it when you go to close it. Live and learn.
Awesome! As I was watching you sand-off the black paint, I thought that maybe it would be even faster if you put it through the planer. No? Also, I think I would connect the line on the 4 since the break is only there to hold the center of the 4 in place on the stencil. Same thing for the 9 and 6. Love your videos, they always inspire me to do more woodwork.
I have done similar things but instead of sanding after the spray paint, I would run it through my planer and accomplish the same thing without all the sanding. Nice video and I know Noah will like it a lot once he is older. R
I am a new Grandpa and would love to make one of these for my grandson. I watched how you made your template and would like to know if you drilled out the spots where you are making the cuts... I understand about using a fence but when you cut there is still a piece to contend with. I have seen people drill each one and then cut but maybe you have a better idea, thanks ahead of time from a Disabled Vet...
I got my template last week. I have 4 rulers all routed out. They look great. Thank you for your great videos and help. Did you use flat, satin or glossy paint? I have 3 boys which will be black paint. The 1 princess will be a hot pink or purple.
Hey April, I have an idea. You could place your template back on lined up with the marks and then spray paint it to minimize overspray and cut down on sanding later on.
Love your videos! I have made several of these thanks to you, and wonder if you had any advice on a final coat for a white wash board. I used water down white chalk paint and feel the wax sealer, typically used will prevent parent from making their height marks?
April - have you ever tried holding the base of the router instead of the handles when doing freehand routing? You looks like you did an amazing job with the letters, i've just found you get a bit more control if you hold it further down :)
Another great project :) I've been making cross stitch birth records for family members who get a baby, but really like this idea too! Great for when they're a bit older.
Thanks for this video and selling the templates April! I just painted and sanded one and there’s a lot of bleed from the spray paint. Any tips to avoid this or get rid of it?
Is the width of the slots on your template 1/2"? I think that's what I'm understanding from your instructions. If so, does that mean your guide busing outer diameter was also 1/2"? I'm looking to make a template but am struggling to get it to come out correctly. Thank you for the great, in depth video!
Very nice and good job! I was thinking about doing one of these and hinging it. That way I could ship it to my beautiful twin nieces without it being 6' tall. Any thoughts?
Sam here, Man you are good at freehand!! Great job and a nice gift. And long names can go down side. Question, you did not say how to mark dates for heights on sealed ruler. I am really asking, I do not have an answer at this time thinking about it. You did it before, what works besides just carving it in or scratching with a pen?
this is a cool project, however I'm more curious how you do with your Amazon affiliate links. Do you feel it's worth the time and effort to add them? I'm considering adding them in my videos but just haven't as of yet.
What size guide bushing do you recommend? It looks like you have 1/2" grooves in the template and a 1/4" cutting edge, but I don't see you doing more than a single pass... wondering if you had a 1/2" bushing. Thanks for the inspiration in this project and the rest of your work. You're a lot of fun to follow.
nice i left one door jamb in the hallway unstained and just used a sharpie. its part of the house they grew up in. and my smart alec daughter had to mark mine followed by "will he shrink?"lol
Todd Brown have a party once a year and get everyone together to mark them on the same board, it could be fun and it's a good excuse for a get together
Todd Brown You could forget about the names and make one and hang it at your house. Then they can all use it when they visit you and it remains a novelty
I would either put the family last name along the side or completely leave off the name and just sign whos mark belongs to what kid and at what age. : )
I did a copy of your old one, with burned in markings, several years ago, for my grand children. It will be a family treasure for years to come. These really are great gifts for young families.
Wifey and I were going through kid's papers I'd saved and came across a paper ruler exactly like you made out of wood. Both my boys topped out the ruler at 6 feet each. Kudos to your talent and your router skills.
Your original video on growth charts is why I subscribed many moons ago! I have seven grand kids and I've made growth charts for 5 of them! love this new idea! When the other two are big enough to stand up I'll make them one! Thanks April!
All his videos I have seen and they are all incredible, I like when you say goodbye, the half circle with the palm of your hand, I can not help but smile.
Your mom looks and sounds like a nice mom .... I'm glad u sometimes make them part of ur videos ...
1:50 nice catch!! :) Haven't seen router guides used before, they look super useful
extremely usefull !!youcan make any template and follow it. great if you are doing muliples of one piece.
EvanAndKatelyn Matt Cremona has a full video on guide bushings which may be of help to you
Sweet, thanks!! Just added it to my watch later queue :D
we use our laser cutter to cut really intricate patterns, i wonder if you guys could 3d print a pattern for use as a router template ?
The Island Workshop: yeah for sure, good idea :)
April: a cool way to do a transfer stencil is to print out what you want with a laser printer, spray that printed sheet with lacquer thinner, put it printed side down on the wood, then go over that with a hot clothes iron. The ink gets transferred to the wood. If the pattern has a right or left side, ( as letters and numbers do), then you'll have to print it as a mirror image; easy enough to do with the computer. Give that a try.
Noah is a lucky lil guy to have such a nice aunt.
nice project April, like always.....
April, my template arrive the other day. After a practice run with the template work perfectly. Making life so much easier faster. Thank you
I've watched your videos for awhile now and this series of you doing stuff for your family, i have to admit, are really special. thank you for sharing AW!
All that practice and experience pays off. I can barely make a straight line with a ruler.
Excellent, as always.
Thank you.
Why would anyone give this video a thumbs down!? Haters will be haters. Cool idea and great job April.
I just found your channel today. I think you should be proud of what you've built here; it's impressive. I showed this video to my wife. Hopefully she will join me in the shop now 😃.
I'm really happy that I found your channel. You have made it so easy to follow and do it myself. LoL way easier than IKEA instructions.
April, the way things are going you should hit half a million subscribers by the end of summer ! Great video.
Hey April, I do a lot of pyrography and something I've learned to do with stenciling that has saved me a lot of time is to use carbon transfer paper from the office supply store (I think it cost me about 1 dollar for a package). Instead of cutting out the negative and tracing the void I just tape down the edges of the design with the carbon paper under it and then go over the edges of what I want with a dowel I sharpened in the pencil sharpener. You could use a pencil, but my personal preference is to just outline it without marking the printout. Gives you the same net result without as much time. Hope this is helpful!
this is adorable, my daughter just left for college so I have to wait for grand kids, also I have never commented how inspiring your videos have been over the last year for building my maker shop . Thank you April - ryan dewitt
Top Tip, Give it a coat of stain before painting the markings, this stops the paint leaching in making sanding back a doddle. Then give a final stain.
I would use a coat of sanding sealer
Great project, April! I remember your burned one as well. I wasn't familiar with router templates and have always just used a pattern bit, but these look very convenient!
Just got a request from a family member to build one of these. Thanks for the tutorial!
I looked at a ton of these and you had the best. ideas. All I did different was use templates for numbers & letters.
You are pretty good at doing the carving freehand. Nice job! I made a stencil in a similar way in my most recent video I posted on my channel. I used painter's tape though, rather than packing tape. And I put the painter's tape on some freezer paper so I could use that kind of like the paper that comes on real vinyl clings/stencils.
New subscriber here and relieved to find someone else has an obstacle course for a shop.
my wife has been asking me to make some of these for years, its one of those projects that i have just never gotten round to, looks great April, hope they like it
You can still make one and just transfer what their "then heights were", onto it. A call to the Dr's office would have a record of how tall, when. It'd make a great surprise for her!
thats a great idea, she wants me to make them to sell at markets and things like that, perfect excuse for a prototype though, nice one Talladega dude
Funny story. The alert for this popped up during church. The pastor was talking about marking the height of his kids on the back of the closer door. My first thought was, all that is lost if they move or decide to paint. Not 5 minutes later your alert popped on my screen. I think I'd use the templates if I planned on more than one. I don't think I'm steady enough to freehand.
I too lost both my children's markings on doorpost when we moved and it broke my heart. This is the best gift I can think of to give a family! This way all can be transferred and eventually taken with them if they ever need to move.
I told my wifes' cousin when his first child was born that he needed to replace one of the upright trim pieces of any door with one he could mark up and take with him if he moved. The growth ruler is a much better solution ... wish I'd known about it when my daughter was born!
Talladega Dude if I was in that situation I'd probably try transferring it to something like this and recreate the timeline.
I wish I had. Was just heartbroken and never occurred to me.
Cracking job April, i have seen these available in the shops, but home made is more personal.
Great Job April! glad to see the new shop coming together!
Cool project which I have used for my grandson who just turned 3 last month! My son wouldn't take my old ruler because it had pink on for my granddaughter lol 😂 I could never free hand like you did your router but I can see yours looks great 👍👏☝️😍🎚📏
these are very cool, I made one for my kids and it cool to see their heights going up over the years
Looks good April. Great free hand work with the router.
: ) Thank you
That's kinda cool! We just had an old door jam to measure against. Would have been sweet to have something like that in our house. Of course now that I'm saying that I realize that I got to see that door jam many years later, see all the height marks, experience that nostalgia... Knowing my parents, that ruler would have gone on the burn pile as soon as we were grown! ; ) True story. Still, it's kinda cool!
An absolutely brilliant idea, thank you April!
Just ordered a pair of ISO tunes. Thanks April! These will save my hearing at work.
Cool video and routeing the name and measuring marks is very nice. The marks will not wear off making it much more permanent. 🙂🙂 Your mom is so cool!
Looked easier then the first version. Great job April.
Fantastic video as always, and really clear on how it was done. And fantastic work free handing the numbers.
I’ve been wanting to make one of these for a while. Figured out how to make a template safely on my Table Saw.
Nice job with the free hand router work
That turned out great. Do you think there would be any problems with running this through a thickness planer instead of sanding after the spray paint is applied?
Harbor Freight sells a decent paper laminating machine. I love to print something and just cut it out like you did. Quick easy way to make a stencil! You might want to swing by harbor freight and pick one up
the nails are so pretty, dumb me I first thought you had hurt yourself. That is a clever idea everyone needs a ruler, just hope he does not get over 7 foot tall. As usual multi-talented April does it again. Glad I found you to watch, I am trying my hand a making a gate for my deck, I did ok for a while but it dips forward so you have to pull up on it when you go to close it. Live and learn.
Awesome! As I was watching you sand-off the black paint, I thought that maybe it would be even faster if you put it through the planer. No? Also, I think I would connect the line on the 4 since the break is only there to hold the center of the 4 in place on the stencil. Same thing for the 9 and 6. Love your videos, they always inspire me to do more woodwork.
I love this. I think I could even do this one. I check out the template and give it a go . Thanks
Sweet have fun with it!
I like the project! I want to try the lettering freehand like you. With a lot of practice first! Thanks for the video!
April are you trying to tell us something??? LOL nice job!
You are creative and I admire you and admire your work
very nice, I made one for our son out of cedar four years ago
nice project. I may have to make one for my two great-nieces.
Your Mom is a hoot!!! Great fam!!! Sweet Project!!!
Another nicely finished project April, keep up the Good work.
I have done similar things but instead of sanding after the spray paint, I would run it through my planer and accomplish the same thing without all the sanding. Nice video and I know Noah will like it a lot once he is older. R
Wow April , you rule :-)
; ) hehe
eeeeeeee I see what you did there :P as far as puns it measures up to some really good ones
My manwitch!
turned out great going to make some for my grandbabies. keep up the great video's
This is a great gift idea April!
To get the paint off, the sander works great... wondering if there's a reason not to use a planer if I have one.
Great video! Love your whole explanatory demeanour and calmness. Thanks for sharing. Out of interest...would you ship this template to the UK?
I am a new Grandpa and would love to make one of these for my grandson. I watched how you made your template and would like to know if you drilled out the spots where you are making the cuts... I understand about using a fence but when you cut there is still a piece to contend with. I have seen people drill each one and then cut but maybe you have a better idea, thanks ahead of time from a Disabled Vet...
Hey April. When you build your CNC plasma table you can set it up with a router attachment ! ;-) ;-)
I got my template last week. I have 4 rulers all routed out. They look great. Thank you for your great videos and help. Did you use flat, satin or glossy paint? I have 3 boys which will be black paint. The 1 princess will be a hot pink or purple.
Awesome job April this was a great tutorial. I love the comment " the piece that looks like a outty belly button " that was awesome
; ) haha
Very good idea for my classroom ...
greetings from Chile...
The bit that looks like an Outie Belly Button! That made me laugh with a mouthful of tea! Lol regards
: ) Haha. Sorry bout that.
I have started to sell these and I found it very helpful to print out the name then trace it using carbon paper. This way I can use any font I want.
Awesome template. I will be ordering one for sure.
What a GREAT project! I'll definitely be making one of these!
Hi,April,thank you never used the router guide me either I give it a try.
You're so bloody talented
I am an electrical engineer and admire your ideas
What a great project. This one I am looking forward to doing. Thanks April!!!
This was a fun easy project! I bought template and a couple other templates too.
Hey April, I have an idea. You could place your template back on lined up with the marks and then spray paint it to minimize overspray and cut down on sanding later on.
yep, that would work great.
Love your videos! I have made several of these thanks to you, and wonder if you had any advice on a final coat for a white wash board. I used water down white chalk paint and feel the wax sealer, typically used will prevent parent from making their height marks?
Cute April. Nice idea.
April - have you ever tried holding the base of the router instead of the handles when doing freehand routing? You looks like you did an amazing job with the letters, i've just found you get a bit more control if you hold it further down :)
I can give it a try but I had an easy time with the handles so I never tried anything else.
Yeh looked like it worked really well with your technique, just something i find helps so thought i'd share as it might help you also:)
Love this project April! Much fancier than our family's method of marking the children's height with a pencil on the wall haha.
Another great project :) I've been making cross stitch birth records for family members who get a baby, but really like this idea too! Great for when they're a bit older.
Thanks for this video and selling the templates April! I just painted and sanded one and there’s a lot of bleed from the spray paint. Any tips to avoid this or get rid of it?
Nice project and great gift idea
Looks nice April! 👍
I'm doing this! Awesome and thanks again April!
That's really cool April.
Nicely done April. Great idea.
+April Wilkerson, when I router my signs I use a light spray adhesive to stick the name on then router it out and peel the paper off. So much faster!
Is the width of the slots on your template 1/2"? I think that's what I'm understanding from your instructions. If so, does that mean your guide busing outer diameter was also 1/2"? I'm looking to make a template but am struggling to get it to come out correctly. Thank you for the great, in depth video!
Very nice and good job! I was thinking about doing one of these and hinging it. That way I could ship it to my beautiful twin nieces without it being 6' tall. Any thoughts?
After cutting into each tick mark with the bandsaw, how do you remove the pieces? Chisel?
that's cool. and it's nice to see a woman do one of these, so many men do wood working videos. nice change of pace.
April, this is great! What is the thickness of the board you used, and how did you hang the board on the wall? Love your videos!
Sam here, Man you are good at freehand!! Great job and a nice gift. And long names can go down side. Question, you did not say how to mark dates for heights on sealed ruler. I am really asking, I do not have an answer at this time thinking about it. You did it before, what works besides just carving it in or scratching with a pen?
I would think a Sharpie would work.
you should do more videos with your mom in it,they are funny :)
Love this one April. Great job, gonna make 5 :)
As I am new to this what type bit do you use in the router? Thanks in advance!
this is a cool project, however I'm more curious how you do with your Amazon affiliate links. Do you feel it's worth the time and effort to add them? I'm considering adding them in my videos but just haven't as of yet.
Cool project for a gift to a kid.
What size guide bushing do you recommend? It looks like you have 1/2" grooves in the template and a 1/4" cutting edge, but I don't see you doing more than a single pass... wondering if you had a 1/2" bushing. Thanks for the inspiration in this project and the rest of your work. You're a lot of fun to follow.
Sweet project and love your nails!
: ) Thank you
Great work, thanks for taking the time and sharing!!!
nice i left one door jamb in the hallway unstained and just used a sharpie. its part of the house they grew up in. and my smart alec daughter had to mark mine followed by "will he shrink?"lol
I love this. my only problem and really it's not. I have 9 grandkids! If I make one I'll have to make 9. lol A great problem to have, I think.
PapaT
Todd Brown have a party once a year and get everyone together to mark them on the same board, it could be fun and it's a good excuse for a get together
MrTarfu Hey great idea, the wife lived it
Colin Richardson Colin great ideas as well. thanks
Todd Brown You could forget about the names and make one and hang it at your house. Then they can all use it when they visit you and it remains a novelty
I would either put the family last name along the side or completely leave off the name and just sign whos mark belongs to what kid and at what age. : )
Ur kids are gonna have such a cool mom !