Letter Carving

[goodegg]

I wonder if you can help me. I am looking to do a very long carving around the edge of a table top. I would like to do it with a router and a letter template kit. The bottom two boards show exactly the style of lettering I should like to acheive.

http://www.durhamboards.co.uk/imgs/CC037_023.jpg

Have you any idea where I may be able to find such a template kit? I would like to do it with a system such as the Turnlock: http://www.milescraft.com/router/1212.html (http://www.milescraft.com/router/1212.html)
However I can't find the suitable letter templates (20-25mm high Times New Roman font) Has anyone got any leads. If possible I would rather not go down the pantograph route as I have several tables to do and believe the templates will be easier.

Thanks in advance for you help,

[echnidna]

you may have to make templates using a pantograph

[joe greiner]

At that small size, I don't think you can achieve the required level of finesse with templates and bushed router bits. The templates would need overlapping cavities, even within individual letters. A pin-guided pantograph, with the router itself at the output point, might work with a few cycles of practise on scrap.

If budget permits, I'd also consider having it done by a CNC shop or laser-cutting service.

In any event, it'll be easier if the edges are not yet attached to the tabletop. I suppose you already know that.

[Classical pin-routing, with a reverse-reading template on the back of the workpiece, might be simpler. In this process, an arm holding a small pin spans over the workspace on a router table to guide the workpiece. Even there, you'll probably need to make your own template set. With so many font styles to consider, I doubt anyone manufacturers them as standard products.]

Joe

[skot]

I am of the same thinking as joe. I have been looking at lettering like this and it only seems to be obtained using a cnc router machine. Lettering templates for hand held routers are very limited in their font styles.