Wooden signs and displays can make your residential or commercial property look more appealing and stand out. Making them isn’t that hard and using a router will allow you to create signs with professional and polished look.
Here are the steps on how to make a wooden sign and display with a router.
Step 1: Decide what you want to make.
The first step in making a wooden sign is to determine what your sign will say as well as the size of the letters and the board. If you want images in your sign, avoid those with complicated patterns.
You can use a computer to create the design or do it by hand. Print or draw the design on a piece of white paper. Duplicate the design on a tracing paper with a black felt-tipped marker.
Step 2: Prepare the board.
You can make a board according to the desired size yourself or buy a finished wooden board. If you decide to start from scratch, trim the excess off to get the right dimensions and sand the rough edges until they’re smooth. Place the tracing paper over the board and draw the design onto the wood using a pencil.
If you’re working on your first project, it’s best to use pine wood as it doesn’t cost much and it’s soft.
Step 3: Route the wood.
This is the easiest step in the whole router sign making process. Place the prepared board onto your workbench. To keep the board in place while you’re working, clamp it down or put a rubber pad underneath it. Place some rags between the clamp and the board to lessen indents in the board.
Attach the bit to the router. You can use a V groove, square end, or round nose bit, depending on what wood you’re working with and the kind of finish you prefer. Note that rounded nose and V groove bits are easier to use and control. Set the depth at half your board’s thickness but no more than 3/8 inches.
Test the bit before using it on your board to make sure it isn’t dull. Dull bits can leave burn marks on the wood.
Once everything’s set up, you can start cutting the wood. Hold the router down with both hands. Plunge the machine and move it across the wood using your wrists. Keep your forearms secured on the workbench when plunging to avoid any accident or destroying your work.
Start slowly with the straight edge of letters and keep a steady pace. Make sure the router is always moving as wood can burn if it’s subjected to the rotating bit for a long time.
Step 4: Finish your wooden sign.
Sand the sign to remove any remaining pencil marks. You can paint your wooden sign or give it a clear finish. Apply some varnish or polyurethane once in a while to protect your work from the elements or let it turn gray for a vintage look.
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