Can You Etch It – Laser Engraved and Cut Woodworking Templates

Welcome to Can You Etch It, the web’s first laser engraving series that specializes in laser engraving strange, unique, and even common items. Today I’ll create some woodworking templates.

Imagine yourself in a workshop.  The sawdust and wood shavings are everywhere.  In the air is the smell of oil and fresh cut cherry.

You are an artisan.

You create items from wood that are both beautiful and functional.  Most days you build tools for clients who want the best but not today.  Today is special and you are making a tool for your newest grandchild that was born yesterday.

After making sure both mom and the baby are doing well, you headed to your workshop to get started on another heirloom.  You will be making a saw.

Making your own tools can be a rewarding project.  Sure, you can just go buy what you want but to actually create the tools you will be using in your woodworking or other hobby is very special.  Those tools can be exactly what you want, in the shape you want, from the wood you want, etc.  You have control.  These tools can reflect your personality and craftsmanship and can last a lifetime.

Why laser engrave and cut woodworking templates?

When making a tool or any other project, it is important to start with a plan.  That plan can be drawn freehand, traced from old tools, or created with a template.  For this project, the design was created on a computer.  Using the magic of laser engraving (well, maybe not magic…) the design will be transformed into a template made from MDF.

MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) is a great material to make woodworking templates.  It is very stable and does not change shape with humidity.  It is very inexpensive and easy to work with using normal woodworking tools.  Plus, it takes laser engraving and cutting very well, resulting in a very precise template.

The templates being created today are for saw handles, specifically, a Norse and Number 7 design.  These templates will be attached to a piece of wood.  Using a router or other method, the tool will copy the shape of the template onto the wood.  Once the rough shape is formed, the craftsman can start carving, shaping and sanding until the finished product emerges from what was once an ordinary block of wood.

For a better idea of how to turn these templates into a useable item, check out these videos:

Using a drill press as a router - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b3CWkHHSYE

Duplicating shapes using a template and a router - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc2xqksyeLo

Here is the video showing the templates being engraved and cut. The engraving took a little over 4 minutes so the video is sped up to keep it short.  At the end of the video you can see the final result. For more pictures, check out the end of the post.

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Can You Etch It Roundup

For those of you who are keeping score, here’s the list so far: woodworking templates, manhole cover coaster, armadillo notepad, wooden postcard, a mat board picture frame, a mat board ruler, a hammer award, mini clip boards, an anodized aluminum ruler, hair bow, a couple of American Flags, a gift card holder, plastic labels, South Dakota frig magnet, a few failed light switch plates, a taco shell, Mount Rushmore coasters, house numbers, a cutting board, 6 social media icons, a mirror, a hand-drawn robot design, a CD jewel case, a pair of drum sticks, a luggage tag, a fishing reel, a couple of impact sockets, a drinking glass, a little industrial labeling, a baseball, a Frappuccino bottle, a tennis ball, 12 Scrabble tiles, a custom ink stamp, Thank You cards, M&M’s, a slice of bread, a clothes pin, a cinnamon stick, a sweet potato, a walnut, and a toothpick.

Let me know if you have any suggestions for future installments.  Have a great weekend.

Don’t miss a single episode of Can You Etch It.  Subscribe to the Can You Etch It RSS feed

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The post Can You Etch It – Laser Engraved and Cut Woodworking Templates appeared first on Book Worm Laser & Design.

Have you read these posts?

1. Can You Etch It – Laser Engraved Mat Board Ruler
2. Can You Etch It – Laser Engraved and Cut Mat Board Picture Frame
3. Can You Etch It – Laser Engraved Manhole Cover Coasters