Clarification on creating a template please

**Luddite** · 13th December 2011, 10:46 PM

I apologise, yes another template question but at least I have done some research and now just need some clarification as to whether my idea will work or otherwise.

I make hollow timber surfboards. The boards consist of a main stringer which runs the length of the board and then a series of ribs running across the width of the boards. The top and bottom skins of the board are 4-5mm thick which are assembled in various patterns and when thicknessed accurately are glued onto the stringer and ribs. The the rails are glued in place to add rigidity.(The design is similar to a plane's wing).

I would like to make a skin which is similar to the one below, which I think is particularly beautiful:

https://www.woodworkforums.com/attach...1&d=1323776174

Now, to my question. If I am really careful and create an accurate template out of, say 6mm MDF, can I then go ahead and cut both a male and female matching pieces with the use of an inlay kit? I have seen how these cutters work on inlay and that is similar to what I am trying to achieve here.

If I have got this wrong please forgive me, but this male, female / negative, positive template business is doing in my head. If you know of a site that describes this simply I would be grateful for the advise on that too. I read it in a router book about 6 times before I gave up, so perhaps a video of how it is done would be useful.

Anthony

**Gwhat** · 14th December 2011, 07:29 AM

Hi

The best way of doing an inlay (IMHO) is to use the one template for both the recess and the inlay. However, doing the whole recess with a 1/8" bit would be a waste of time, so I would remove the bulk of the recess freehand with the router and do a final clean-up cut with a template kit.

Then cutting the inlay with the ring on the guide bush removed finishes the job.

This shows the basics

I hope this helps?

Regards

Grahame

**Skew ChiDAMN!!** · 15th December 2011, 03:54 AM

Grahame's clip shows the basics. But the letter template(s), router bit & bushing shown in it are all carefully matched in size to work so simply.

I think that when you're making your own templates it's much easier to make two; one for the male part and one for the female.

It's basically just sketch your desired line on the template material, measure the distance between the contact point of the bush in your router and the cutting edge of the bit you're planning to use, then scribing secondary lines that distance to either side of your desired mark.

And cutting out, along both scribed lines.

Then comes the chore of routing a test piece or three and carefully sanding/mating/matching the two halves of the template until you're happy with the resultant joint.

Be aware that such a template can NOT handle sharp points... well... it can on one template but not on t'other half.

eg. in your pic, there are two 'points' in the middle of the lines where the veneer joins the toe & heel of the board. The veneer half can be routed out completely, but not the tip of the point in the heel/toe sides.

Still, with a small enough bit to remove the bulk, it should be fairly easy to clean up the angle with a small detail chisel.

**Luddite** · 17th December 2011, 07:11 AM

I think this is one of those situations where I just have to jump in and have a go, work out where I need to improve the method, then try again. Thanks for taking the time to respond, they were helpful.
Anthony

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Clarification on creating a template please

On the right track

Thanks for the responses guys

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