Thread: Router Pantograph templates

I suggest you make your own by using the fonts of your wordprocessor.

Just type the letters or words you want , select the font and enlarge to the size you want.

I have used this to get a template for some signs I cut out with a jigsaw.

Regards,


Peter

Originally Posted by Sturdee

I suggest you make your own by using the fonts of your wordprocessor.

Just type the letters or words you want , select the font and enlarge to the size you want.

I have used this to get a template for some signs I cut out with a jigsaw.

Regards,

Peter

Yep, Ive done the same and it works quite well however I find that if you print the whole word or join the sheets to make up the word then trace the whole word rather than muck around with those silly spacing dots on the individual letters (which I found were wrong on mine anyway). I had to line up with one point on the previous letter before moving the paper & ponter along to the next - I hope this makes sense, once you do it you will see what I mean. Basically tracing a whole word is easier than individual letters no matter how long the word is it can still be printed then joined to show the correct spacing before begining to trace any letters.
Saved alot of time for me once I figured out this simple procedure.
Heres one of my rustic signs I did a while back.

ummmmmmm

just looking at the dates and times of the postings in the thread, did you do anything else in the last 2 1/4 years??????

Sturdee, i bet you nearly went blue holding your breath waiting for the reply

Somebody tell me please........whats the point?????

Originally Posted by doug the slug

ummmmmmm

just looking at the dates and times of the postings in the thread, did you do anything else in the last 2 1/4 years??????

Sturdee, i bet you nearly went blue holding your breath waiting for the reply

Somebody tell me please........whats the point?????

Somebody? Ok Doug I will try....... To answer your question about what I have been doing for the last 2 1/4 years, quite alot actually, Why ask?:confused:
Yesterday I searched for the word 'pantograph' and found this thread, I thought it was interesting as it was something I was just working on recently so I thought I would provide some input incase anyone else searches for the same word and reads the same thread. Obviously you read it. I dont think Sturdee was waiting for a response anyway from what I understood so why would he turn blue?
Ive done this before and recieved similar comments. An old thread??? SO WHAT? I can't understand why its such an issue that you just had to reply about it. Is there a rule in this forum about replying to old threads or something?? What is your point? If I have broken the rules of the regulars then please do forgive me after explaining them to me.
I sometimes wonder why I bother typing anything on here from the negativity recieved back all the time. Get over yourselves. We are here to discuss woodwork aren't we? Are dates such an issue? I'm lost.

I have been contemplating a pantograph and found this interesting, I rarely do a search as I can't be bothered wading through years of what may not be suitable.
I see McJing have a pantograph with templates for about $40, how thick do the templates need to be?
And shame on you for responding
I recently did a sign in excalibur and cut out the whole thing by hand
5" letters too, bloody hard work.

The templates are just sheets of paper from your printer with letters printed to the size you want, you just trace around the edge of the black letters using your eye, I guess if you were using the same word over and over it would be worth making them out of plastic or ply so then you could move around the edge easier and more accuratly without worrying about it drifting over the line.
Another hint i found is to print out larger template letters then reduce using the ratio reduction of the pantograph rather than reproduce the same size. This way any mistake or wobble you make when tracing the edge of the line will be halved in the reproduced letter so therefore any error in the routered letter will not be as obvious (providing you work on a scale of 2:1)

Sizes of letters and even the shape can all be altered in Word or Publisher accurately to the nearest .5mm or less so it takes a bit of playing around with font sizes but once you figure it out it means just about any font or shape/logo on the computer can be reproduced with minimum fuss using a router.

Originally Posted by royboy

G'day,
I'm new to this forum so - be gentle.....
I recently purchased a Vermont American Pantograph and have successfully used it to produce a beaut sign with Olde English lettering (The templates were included in the box). I'm ready to move on but can't find any other lettering styles or templates... Are there any other templates available for use with this Pantrograph, or are there any other places I can purchase, loan, borrow etc from...
Can anyone help me out please....?

Hi,
Where did you buy your router pantograph from?I cant seem to find a store that keeps them anymore.Only in the usa and they wont post to oz.
Cheers

Make one yourself perhaps?

I did after not being able to find any here in WA and I even reported it right here

But if you put pantograph into the search thing you wouldnt know it... but see if you put pEntAgraph in you would!!

the plan I used was for a pen and nail setup and I simply altered the pen end to accept a laminate router

Anyway its not at all hard... havent found or done any letters as yet but did do a couple of pictures and it works fine... will give the lettering from the PC a go over the next few days and get back to you

Cheers!

oooh if needs be I have a diagram that gives the basics of the thing... let me know and I'll zap it over

Zap it Ding!

Here you go!! just alter the pen end to fit your router and away you go!

I got one of these from WA
or maybe ebay, can't remember now
http://www.timbecon.com.au/productse...Box=pantograph

Timbecon are great to deal with in my opinion