[Woodcarver] Carving letters in oak boards

[Ramsey]

Carving letters with a router is not difficult if you use the right 
bit and have your router set up for it.  The trick is to use a 
tapered spiral bit with a small tip.  This allows for more control. A 
flat bottom bit wants to go all over the place.  Use it only for 
wasting excess wood.  The bit is available as a tapered end mill from 
Travers Tool Co. I use the 5% taper with a 3/32 tip. (This is the bit 
Ray Kinman used to sell) I also use  a fixed base router because of 
the low center of gravity makes it easier to control.  I cut out the 
front of the router base for better visibility and replace the 
plastic bottom surface with Teflon for smoother action.  A router has 
two handles and the Roto-Zip doesn't.  It's also underpowered for 
cutting letters in oak.   On routed in letters, travel in a counter 
clockwise direction.  On raised letters travel in a clockwise 
direction.  Practice first on a scrap.  If you have a hard time 
following the line exactly, route a 1/6" inch or so away from the 
line and trim the excess with a skew.
-- 
Ron Ramsey
http://www.carvedbyramsey.com


Be sure to look at the incredible nature inspired art jewelry hand 
fabricated by my wife, Karen Olsen Ramsey.  It's worth the time to 
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http://www.artjeweler.com