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Hi Jim Thompson from the Furniture Workshop here. Today I’d like to share the techniques
for creating custom lettering on this garden bench project.
Now this carving method is a fun way to personalize a project for yourself or for a customer.
Now I first saw this technique demonstrated by Jim Bartz in his sign carving DVD back
in 2006. Jim’s freehand routing methods are a little tricky at first, but they do
get easier with some practice. Now when you try this, just make a couple practice runs
before you route your actual sign and you’ll get better results. So, this technique starts
as a document on your computer. Using a computer-generated template gives you plenty of options for lettering
and sizing. Now the more-traditional sign templates don’t really offer you the freedom
you can get here. Now here’s my sample sign for today’s demonstration. I like to carve
this simple font, but feel free to pick a more fancy one, if you like. Once you’ve
determined your sign dimensions, the first step is to transfer the dimensions into your
page layout program. I use Microsoft's Publisher program to make my sign templates. Here’s
a look at the Publisher document I put together for this sign. Now the font here is called
Kristen ITC and the type size is 350 points. Publisher lets you print out the entire template
using standard 8.5 by 11 sheets of paper. You just overlap each sheet to get your letters
to turn out correctly. Like so. Once all the sheets are taped together, attach the template
to the sign stock. For today’s demonstration, I’ll tape just a couple of sheets to this
piece of scrap. Now I trace each letter using a ball point pen and a sheet of carbon paper.
I can usually trace a whole sign with a single carbon paper sheet. With the tracing done,
it’s time for the router work. I use a 3/8 inch straight bit for almost all of the lettering
here. And the router is set to a depth of one quarter inch. To get the most accurate
cuts, I carve out the center of the letters first then go back and carve right up to my
pen lines. Once the carving is done, I go over the sign with the random orbit sander
using 120 grit paper. So, that’s how I like to do my lettering work. Like I mentioned,
freehand sign carving is a fun way to customize your projects. If you sell your projects,
carving can add a whole new dimension to your existing line-up. Now if you’d like to earn
an income with this bench project, we do have a woodworking plans available now. For information
on the plans and our other woodworking income projects, visit our website at HomegrownFurniture.com.
And thanks again for stopping by.