Pantograph or freehand for house sign?

[LarryS.]

I’d like to make a sign for our house out of oak. I’ve got a Bosch palm router and the oak but question is how do I bring the two things together ?

Rutlands have a pantograph for 70 quid but it looks a bit convoluted to use, so I’m wondering if freehand and going slowly is the more sensible option ?

Any experience / advice appreciated

Thanks


Paul


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[julianf]

I do (non wood) CNC work.

I would comment that the pantograph from rutlands looks ok for a single job, but, if you want to do lots of the work, there are surely better options.

And, in light of what I've just said, for a single job, £70 would surely get you the job done by someone else's hand? (And I suspect they won't be using the rutlands tool!)

If you specifically want to DIY the job, how about doing it properly by hand, without electricity at all? (Well, I mean for the cutting - print out your template!)

If you just want the sign, and are not bothered about doing it yourself, somone with a CNC machine would surely run you off one fairly cheaply?

(Again I only do metal, so I'm not wanting the work!)

 

[doctor Bob]

Just do it freehand, keep the router moving, stoping and starting is the issue, have confidence, choose a simple lettering, spray mount it and follow.

Did this freehand, on my gate

 

[Lazurus]

I USE A SIMPLE SINGLE FONT TEMPLATE WITH A 1/4 ROUTER AND BUSH. Bought it years ago, must have paid for itself many times over as I often find a use for it and made a few signs for friends and family.

 

[MikeJhn]

Letter template here: https://www.axminster.co.uk/trend-lette ... sel=600222

Or this one looks better: https://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+power-too ... 4UQAvD_BwE

 

[nev]

I have the Rutlands one above and its fine for 'official' signs, as in what you'd see in your local woodland park etc, but the font is not very attractive or stylish.
I've probably made half a house name signs and ended up going freehand. May look a little wobbly close up but from 3 feet away just look rustic

Have a bash on some scrap timber freehand, as long as you remember to move the router in the right direction and don't just try to 'write' with it, it is quite easy to achieve a more than acceptable result.

 

[LarryS.]

Thanks all, I’ll be getting a piece of oak this afternoon and having a go freehand to see how it goes, I’ll get a photo up as soon as I’ve tried it


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[Rorschach]

Practice on some scrap and then just do it freehand, for a one off sign it will be fine. Choose a slightly rustic design.