Woodcarving Using a Router
by buck2217 in Workshop > Woodworking
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Woodcarving Using a Router
Just a quick "ible" about using your router to make decorative pics and presentartion plaques.
The two "fish" ones are on my swimming pool fence and the other was as a leaving gift for a guy at work, I will use that to demonstrate as I took some step by step pics when I was doing it
Tool and Materials
Router and bits
solid work surface to clamp piece onto
Wood plane
Sander
Clamps
Picture of what you want to rout
2 pack epoxy or paint
varnish
Print Off Picture and Stick to Wood
OK so first off I made the design that I wanted to carve, in this case a stylised badge and inscription
I printed this (A3) and glued it with PVA adhesive to my piece of deadtree that I had planed flat(ish)
I then clamped this to my trestle and got out my trusty router
I used a small Vee bit plunged to about 5mm
You need a relatively steady hand for this
Start Routing
It is best to have a bit of a practice on some scrap as this can be a bit delicate, if you are doing relatively fine detail then it helps to "lift off" at the end of cuts
Blow away sawdust often so you can see what you are doing
Keep Going!!
This design took me about an hour to rout, and my back was killing me after. Try and use a bench at a comfortable height instead of being a numpty like me and doing it too low!!!
On completion sand until all the excess paper is removed
I also recessed a spanner and cabinet key plus a coin in this one
Add Paint or Epoxy
In this case I picked out the various parts in different coloured enamel paint and set the spanner etc in clear 2 pack epoxy, others I just mix a little paint with epoxy and squeegee in then sand off when dry
Apply Finish
The presentation plaque got 2 coats of polyurethane stain and varnish, the two fish were infilled with 2 part epoxy with a little black enamel in the mix, sanded, then oiled as they are outside, I re-oil about once a year