Over the years I have enjoyed making signs using a router and any number of template systems or for that matter even free handing them. So when I spotted the Interlock Signmaker's Template set I wanted one.
If you have the February 2013 catalog look at the back cover.
Website:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page ... lter=48356
The shipment arrived today and now I'm wishing it were a bit warmer in the shop cause I'd like to give it a try.
Hi lights for me were the fact it has kerning (I'll let you look that up if you don't know about it) and it does full letters rather then the stencil look. Combining these with my compact Dewalt router should make for some fun projects.
Another fun feature can be found at Rockler, the "Signmaking Wizard", it is at:
http://signmaking.rockler.com/
I got the 2-1/4" set. With the 20% off coupon it was still over $50 with tax and shipping. If it works as well as I expect it will be worth it.
I'll add to the review once I've signed.
A small human interest store I'd like to share. When we first moved to this house in the early 1980's it was the early days of the subdivision and previously had been a corn field. It didn't take long for the others kids and our kids to find each other and being the new kids on the block was a new experience for our kids as we came from an older established area with few kids.
Quite early on I decided to hand out some pieces of wood and had the kids put their name on the boards. Then I'd hand route their name. I'd a few a day so I could hand them out when they returned. I never did a count but every kid within blocks got one if they wanted one.
Now we can fast forward as this neighborhood turned out to be quite transient (I think we are the only original owners still here).
When my eldest son got married, this would be about 23 years later a young lady stopped to introduce herself, she was one of those early neighbors who I had not seen in say 18-19 years... and she had come up to tell me she still had the sign I had made for her!
OK that's it.
Ed
Sign Making (Rockler-State Park)
Moderator: admin
That template maker wizard is VERY COOL!!!:Dreible wrote: Another fun feature can be found at Rockler, the "Signmaking Wizard", it is at:
http://signmaking.rockler.com/
Ed
Thanks for the link!
Ben
I bought the same one before xmas, there was a sale and I wanted to make some signs this summer for our cabin area. Now I just need the fricken router 
. Don't make fun of me. My cart is way before my horse.
This is the story.
A bunch of neghbors were tieing one on at our place and went home in the dark. Its a narrow trail through the woods and over 2 creeks but only 100 yards or so from cabin to cabin. They are all over 65 and left in a conga line style choo choo so they could hold on to each other for balance.Hoopin and hollerin and scaring every living thing out of the forrest.The last guy, Jim, who shall remain nameless, was the mostest inebriated lost balance and fell down the 8' bank into the creek. The bad part was, he was holding onto his wifes belt loops and he took her with him and landed on top. It was mayhem, we got a knock on the door and rushed down with a couple flashlights. Yep, still in the creek, glasses in the creek somewhere, cell phone, and while we were in rescue mode, there were hornets coming out of the ground pissed where we were putting our hands ect and stings were a flyin at the same time. One gal sat on the bridge crying from all the festivities, and she couldn't stand on her own. Later after the rescue, and everyone was done laughing and parted ways in the woods to their own house...Jim, who is still nameless, wnet to the ER at 2am because he thought he may have broken his hip. Stayed the night and both of them were pretty beat up.
Anyway, I'm dedicating some signs for the area. Nameless Jim's last name is Graham. So, one sign "Graham Gulch" cause it ate em both, "Jim Falls" to name the little area where water's rollin down some rocks, and "Wineglass Rapids" where I recovered a yardsale wineglass 2 weeks later (hard to see it in the creek) and of course "Hornet Hill" to designate the scene of the crime.
We have fun neighbors up there. They'll probably wet themselves when they first notice the signs.
. Don't make fun of me. My cart is way before my horse.This is the story.
A bunch of neghbors were tieing one on at our place and went home in the dark. Its a narrow trail through the woods and over 2 creeks but only 100 yards or so from cabin to cabin. They are all over 65 and left in a conga line style choo choo so they could hold on to each other for balance.Hoopin and hollerin and scaring every living thing out of the forrest.The last guy, Jim, who shall remain nameless, was the mostest inebriated lost balance and fell down the 8' bank into the creek. The bad part was, he was holding onto his wifes belt loops and he took her with him and landed on top. It was mayhem, we got a knock on the door and rushed down with a couple flashlights. Yep, still in the creek, glasses in the creek somewhere, cell phone, and while we were in rescue mode, there were hornets coming out of the ground pissed where we were putting our hands ect and stings were a flyin at the same time. One gal sat on the bridge crying from all the festivities, and she couldn't stand on her own. Later after the rescue, and everyone was done laughing and parted ways in the woods to their own house...Jim, who is still nameless, wnet to the ER at 2am because he thought he may have broken his hip. Stayed the night and both of them were pretty beat up.
Anyway, I'm dedicating some signs for the area. Nameless Jim's last name is Graham. So, one sign "Graham Gulch" cause it ate em both, "Jim Falls" to name the little area where water's rollin down some rocks, and "Wineglass Rapids" where I recovered a yardsale wineglass 2 weeks later (hard to see it in the creek) and of course "Hornet Hill" to designate the scene of the crime.
We have fun neighbors up there. They'll probably wet themselves when they first notice the signs.
R Hart
It's a neat looking set. A very classic style and you have to imagine somewhere there is a person or group of people whipping out signs for national parks.
I was just reading the catalog this morning about the kerning, but if you look at the example, isn't the kerning off on the word "willow." I'd post the image if I could, but unfortunately the iPad doesn't have a right click option.
I was just reading the catalog this morning about the kerning, but if you look at the example, isn't the kerning off on the word "willow." I'd post the image if I could, but unfortunately the iPad doesn't have a right click option.
No "kernings" were hurt in the making of WILLOW. Go to the second link I provided and type in willow and see the result. Next type in park to see what happens then.letterk wrote:It's a neat looking set. A very classic style and you have to imagine somewhere there is a person or group of people whipping out signs for national parks.
I was just reading the catalog this morning about the kerning, but if you look at the example, isn't the kerning off on the word "willow." I'd post the image if I could, but unfortunately the iPad doesn't have a right click option.
Ed
I wasn't clear, but I meant the example on Rockler's webpage. Perhaps, it just me, but the kerning seems wide after between the second L and the O in will_ow.reible wrote:No "kernings" were hurt in the making of WILLOW. Go to the second link I provided and type in willow and see the result. Next type in park to see what happens then.
Ed
Update: I see what you mean, the link shows the same spacing, but the kerning still looks too wide to me.
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Geeze on the news they said it was 63 in Chicago, that's "T" shirt weather. How warm does it have to be?reible wrote:
The shipment arrived today and now I'm wishing it were a bit warmer in the shop cause I'd like to give it a try.
As someone who has always wanted to try a sign making kit, but too cheap to invest in a set, I'm curious about a couple things.
One project I'd like to do is make a sign for a relative who has an outdoor model railroad in Arizona. I have a couple of decent pieces of weathered barn wood that I thought would make a great sign. "Bills Desert Railroad" I'm worried that the new Rockler set won't tape down well to really weathered/cracked wood and end up moving as I try to cut the letters. The examples I see are always on surfaced lumber.
When you make signs do you use a full size router or a trim router. And what kind of router bit. I know Rockler wants to see a specific bit for this use.
Any other tips for those wanting to try this.
New Leaf Custom Woodworking
Berry Conway - Chief Dust Maker
Berry Conway - Chief Dust Maker
Tips would be to take your time on the layout. Work slow when starting off, as you grow in experience things will start happening faster all on there own. A core box bit is nice to start with.berry wrote:Geeze on the news they said it was 63 in Chicago, that's "T" shirt weather. How warm does it have to be?
We had 64 degrees but the wife and I were visiting our 3 year old grandson who had a sick day. Let me tell you even a sick 3 year old is a bundle for 9 hours. Just glad to get home and get some rest myself. Now is the wait and see if we end up catching "it". I had a lot planned for the day but when the call comes you answer.
As someone who has always wanted to try a sign making kit, but too cheap to invest in a set, I'm curious about a couple things.
One project I'd like to do is make a sign for a relative who has an outdoor model railroad in Arizona. I have a couple of decent pieces of weathered barn wood that I thought would make a great sign. "Bills Desert Railroad" I'm worried that the new Rockler set won't tape down well to really weathered/cracked wood and end up moving as I try to cut the letters. The examples I see are always on surfaced lumber.
I have several sets and they each have a way of holding the templates in place. This will be my first set to use tape. I do how ever do a lot of routing and taping down templates is common practice. I'd give that a go first and do a couple of pull off tests before getting the router involved.
Another trick might be to tape the letters to some very thin material that can be tacked or clamped to the the rustic wood. Cut through the thin material and into the project.
BTW the tape can be on the bottom as double sided tape or on the top as in wider tape. If on top you could use 2" or even 3" wide tape....
When you make signs do you use a full size router or a trim router. And what kind of router bit. I know Rockler wants to see a specific bit for this use.
The router bits can be for anyone as long as they fit the bushing. The bits were back ordered when I placed my order so I didn't add them to the order. I have bits from Milescraft that came with the template system they have. (http://www.milescraft.com/products/). I have a set from Lee Valley and several from MLCS.
V-bits (60 degree, 90 degree), V-bit with flat bottoms, core box, round nose so long as the bit fits the bushing and can plunge cut you are good to go.
Any other tips for those wanting to try this.
Router wise, a compact plunge router is about as good as it gets. In almost all cases you will need a plunge router.
My time will come when I get to test this out and if I can I'll update everyone then.
Ed