Router template

[Al Strachan]

Good afternoon. Wondering if anyone has any tips for routering out a shape on MDF. Clearly outwith the capability of a plasma cutter or the remit of these here forums, but it was my first thought for a collective of mighty practical people with oodles of experience, and not just with metalwork

What i'm trying to do is create a template so i can router out MDF to insert an LED strip or backlight, and mimic the Arctic monkeys' album cover - AM to hang on his bedroom wall.

I cant see using a pantograph , tracing onto wood and freehand etc etc as being particularly successful?

Any input appreciated

Al

pic below.

 

[Spark plug]

CNC router would be the simplest way, @MattH may be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[armalites]

Just get @MattH to do it


Edit: too slow

 

[Kram]

One off? Draw it out. Drill holes for each peak, put a pin/dowel in each hole. Use the pin as a rest fot a straight edge to route each straight line. Knock out the pins and finish up each end freehand.

 

[Parm]

If your just making one, I wouldn't bother with a template. Either find a friend with a CNC router or do it my hand.

Its quite therapeutic to cut shapes like that by hand. Its amazing how good quality results can be achived

 

[MattH]

I can help in the new year but not before.

 

[Al Strachan]

One off? Draw it out. Drill holes for each peak, put a pin/dowel in each hole. Use the pin as a rest fot a straight edge to route each straight line. Knock out the pins and finish up each end freehand.

If your just making one, I wouldn't bother with a template. Either find a friend with a CNC router or do it my hand.

Its quite therapeutic to cut shapes like that by hand. Its amazing how good quality results can be achived

just the one yes, and its crossed my mind a few times to give it a go, but i just know 100% that there will be a stray off line, or slight error somewhere along the line. i just know for a fact its going to wind me right up!!

 

[Parm]

just the one yes, and its crossed my mind a few times to give it a go, but i just know 100% that there will be a stray off line, or slight error somewhere along the line. i just know for a fact its going to wind me right up!!

I hear what you say and agree, but MDF is quite forgiving. If you do make a small mistake, a bit of filler hides all sins

 

[Al Strachan]

I can help in the new year but not before.

That would be great

i might give it a go, and if doesnt work out i'll give you a shout

 

[pedrobedro]

Its quite therapeutic to cut shapes like that by hand. Its amazing how good quality results can be achived

Or in my case how different they come out to your original imagining

 

[Agroshield]

If you go the CNC route, one or more of these might be helpful and save you some money:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4555139

https://www.pngkey.com/maxpic/u2e6e6y3o0u2i1t4/

https://www.quora.com/What-function-is-Arctic-Monkeys-album-cover

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Farm it out no way that's being done by hand

 

[mike os]

Be careful of your radius. Check the led strip will bend that tight

 

[Agroshield]

Be careful of your radius. Check the led strip will bend that tight

And on a similar theme, check the length of the LED strip. It would be a trifle annoying to spend time and money routing out something only to find that when you put the strip in, it is 2" short of the end.

 

[Ton-up]

How big do you want it?
Ive done a lot of one off bits like that, letters, numbers, flowers, etc. Did some 2m apart stencils the other month from a pic off the web!

Get your pic and photo copy it until its the right size. Stick it to you mdf with tape. Get a hammer and a sharp masonary nail, scriber etc and punch through the paper to dot the edges. Take off your template and rub with a dirty finger and theres your pattern to cut out with a jigsaw!

 

[Al Strachan]

Farm it out no way that's being done by hand

yup, various scenarios have run through my head, and none of the outcomes are positive, only a wasted afternoon and a ton of frustration!

 

[Al Strachan]

How big do you want it?
Ive done a lot of one off bits like that, letters, numbers, flowers, etc. Did some 2m apart stencils the other month from a pic off the web!

Get your pic and photo copy it until its the right size. Stick it to you mdf with tape. Get a hammer and a sharp masonary nail, scriber etc and punch through the paper to dot the edges. Take off your template and rub with a dirty finger and theres your pattern to cut out with a jigsaw!

good idea with the template, no way I could get that anywhere close with a jigsaw. Led strips comes conveniently at 12mm wide, and I have plenty 12mm router bits even still, there’s no way I could consistently cut that with a router.

 

[Al Strachan]

And I was thinking at least 1m square.

 

[Parm]

good idea with the template, no way I could get that anywhere close with a jigsaw. Led strips comes conveniently at 12mm wide, and I have plenty 12mm router bits even still, there’s no way I could consistently cut that with a router.

rough it out with jigsaw but close to the line. Then get the files out

 

[Ali]

It’s just a bunch of straight lines, what’s the problem?