Pattern or Template Making with the Router - A woodworkweb.com woodworking video 

Had the nicest day today went for supplies at HD and didn't have enough, had to put the shellac back. This gentleman came up to me and gave me the shellac I had put back as a gift. I want to say thank you very much if he's from around here.

I see posts going back many years, so I'm not sure how active this is. But I'm a latecomer to all this, and would like to extend my appreciation for your videos. I find them extremely helpful.

I truly appreciate your time and knowledge Colin! Thanks for the breakdown. I didn't know what the starter pin was for and will now be able to make some accurate cuts with my table router instead of slapping in my hand router and winging it.

Hey ... thanks for comment, that's a great idea, we always love to hear how others can constructively use the ideas we demo. My father-in-law was a bee keeper. I have always wanted to get into it but never seem to be able have the right place or time, thankfully people like you do :) Great to have you with us ... Colin

Hi Colin, Last week I started making the identical Cutting Board as you have demonstrated. I did my rough cut and left approximately 1/4-inch around the perimeter. Thank you for posting this Video, as I had started sanding the edges and ran into serious complications. I was making a mess of it. All week I was pondering 'How the heck do I make this board perfect', and then I found your Video....THANKS ---- Randy

Great video Colin and thank you for all of the great efforts you put into them. Derek

I love this video. I always go back to it when I need a refresher on how to use the pattern bits.

Greetings from Australia. Very helpful - thanks!

I know this is an old video and I hope you get this message. I know about overarm pin routers having run one for many years at a wood shop where I worked. As I was going through my e-mail, I came across a Daisy Pin Router video by MLCS. At the end of the video was your video on using a pattern bit. I was truly impressed. I'm not sure I'll buy the Daisy Pin Router attachment because I have so many other projects right now. BUT, I do have a pattern bit similar to the one you used in your video. In the past, I've spent hours making zero-clearance inserts. Now I see I can make them in half the time! Hands Down, you're a genius!

Your ideas are easy to follow and mind-opening. Thank you for your time and an effort to make this available for free.

He probably pronounces it Pr(aw)ject. You pr(oh)nounce it very distinctly pr(oh)ject! Excellent show as always Colin.

Thanks for taking the time to comment .. great to have you with us Colin

The market for cutting boards is hit or miss, but everybody needs a good spanking paddle!!!! Be sure to bevel the edges for better aerodynamics!!!! Thanks Colin!!!

Hi Colin, back to the workshop for me. Another good video. Thank you

Great tips. I just used this method on a bee hive that I'm constructing for bee keeping. I hand cut the template and then routed out a bunch of parts to make multiple hives. It was a major time saver. Love your table btw. :)

Nice video, thanks. I just made a table saw insert a few days ago using the table and jig saw with some sanding. The results were acceptable but not great. I never thought of using a router to trace the insert, but its a great idea so will be making another soon. The more woodworking I do and videos I watch, the more I realize how I should reach for the table saw and router more often.

Thanks for commenting ... well, I use all sorts of different woods for patterns, sometimes I purchase 1/8" hardboard that is white on one side, other times I use scrap plywood that I seem to accumulate I also picked up some poplar wood a few years ago, it's very soft and not much good for anything but smaller templates. Hope this helps ... great to have you with us, Colin

The starten pin. A very good tip, thank you. I gonna put one on my diy router table

Hello Colin, Much appreciated! Sorry to hear that Mike has passed. I am grateful for this information and I am pleased that you care enough to remember! Thank you very much! Kind Regards, Steve

You're awesome man. Thanks for the great videos that make it simple to understand. You've taught so many helpful things that after watching 1video during a weekend project that I have gotten into woodworking as a real hobby. Thanks for the great lessons sir.

Yeah .. I saw that, a snafu in the editing ... and I take full responsibility ... I must make a note in that area ... thanks for reminding me Great to have you with us Colin

Thanks Jens ... that's a great idea, I have not thought of that, Thanks for sharing this with everyone :) That's what I love about these comments, we can all learn new things like this. Colin

Great idea, and that would work just fine, again ... I had not thought of doing that. Sometimes it's better to have the work in front of you that "arm chairing" the answer. Well Done !! ... and thanks for posting this. I will remember this little tip ! Colin

thank you Colin . i retired and now will try my hand at wood working lord help us all a bored old man lol

Hi Steve, thanks for commenting, great to have you with us Colin

Something useful always comes from your videos! Also, I love the way you say, "pro-ject"!

Hi Steve, yes it was in a Fine Woodworking mag, I looked for it to see if I could find the issue but I could not, I can tell you it was about 3 years ago, hope this helps. Colin

Thanks Colin, I will look for it. Keep up the nice work! Kind Regards, Steve

Extremely helpful. Thanks.

Thanks for that. I really understand the process and benefits of router patterning now.

Always look forward to watching your videos. Thanks for sharing

Thanks so much for this video. You solved one of my problems in making a part of one of our products. Did not think about using a "pattern". Thanks again for your explanation and your many videos.

Hi Derek, thanks for making the effort to comment Colin

Hi David ... great question about the tape. It's actually some 3M double sided tape and I don't know where I got it from, but its really great - sticky - tape and it doesn't leave a residue, at least in my experience. Not like a lot of the carpet take that I find mediocre for woodworking. I am not sure where I am going to find more, but will start with the 3M site. Thanks for commenting ... great to have you with us :) Colin

Another great lesson Colin! Thank you! ~ Bill

Excellent. Thank you. Great instruction.

This video helped me so much. Thank you.

Just what I was looking for as a template primer, thanks you. And, by the way, that little table is a stunner; where can we get a closer look at it?

Thank you Colin for all these so educational videos. It's always a big pleasure to watch them and listen to you. You've taught me a lot.

Jens, ... I am enjoying your creative approach, great to have you with us and contributing positive info that we can all learn from ... don't stop :) I am in Canada, and not that far away, maybe we can linkup one day when I am heading down to Puyallup ;)

Thanks Jon ... gee I was wondering what the diff could be Thanks for the insight :) Colin

Thanks. Very informed presentation for a beginner.

Thank you colin, once again your video was very informative and useful 👍

Gracias por el video. Saludos desde Chile.

My daddy used to have a paddle similar to your cutting board. Those were not good days. Thanks, Colin.

GREAT VIDEO COLIN THANK YOU

Love it , thank you, very informative

Yes the steps are the same. For what you want to do, I expect the sides are plywood so I would cut one side out and make it the way you want, then use it for your template to make the other side. That will save you making the template. We'd love to see some pics of that arcade when you are done :) Colin

Thank you for commenting, yes we serve all purposes ... Colin

@aberbear We use the Freud routers and router tables but they are not available everywhere. We also like the Kreg router table. Basically most floor standing router tables would be something to consider. We are less enamored with the smaller bench top router tables, but some of these can also be considered.

Excellent Video - Thank you! Question: I was looking at all the "Inside" 90 Degree corners on your table towards the end of the video. Can you get sharp corners like that with that bit or do you have to do something else?

Thanks for the note ... and now you've got my curiosity piqued when I say project ... lol ... can you elaborate for me :) Thanks again for commenting Colin

Great instructions. Thanks. Subscribed.

I always appreciate your videos. What tips do you have for making a good initial pattern piece?

Hi Steve ... I didn't forget about you and I finally found that magazine. It is in something called Weekend Woodworking, fall 2008, you might source it through woodworkers journal dot com. The table was designed by Mike McGlynn, who, sadly, has passed away after a rock climbing incident. Hopefully that will get you the info you need. Cheers Colin

Great idea with the zero clearance insert!

what brand/kind of tape did you use to stick pattern on?

Great video, as for the lip in the second pattern, I would have just dropped the bit down and used the same technique to get rid of it. Love the little table, great to use patterns even if making one table can use the first side to make a matching second

Yikes ... not sure what happened there, I think that might be a gap in the editing. Thanks for the note ... something we will really have to watch in the future, thanks for commenting, we really appreciate it. Great to have you with us Colin

good video...can't get over how you say project.

Great info as usual

Yes, using templates is a great way to go. For a good, multiple re-usable template, I would probably go with a good quality 1/4" plywood, in something like a Baltic Birch or Apple Ply. If those are not readily available, just a good quality ply should work fine.

The best way to cut around a template is to use a bandsaw to cut the bulk of the wood off first, then let the router bit do the final cutting. This is especially true with harder woods like maples, oaks, purple heart etc. Only other suggestion, is to take your time and maybe try a bit of a test cut first, just to get the feel. Hope this helps, would love to see you project when it is done. Thanks for commenting Colin

Thank you. Great Video.

Hi Colin . Always amaizing videos , can you tell me what kind of material(wood) use for make you pattern or templete?. thanks

Thanks for explaining it nice and simple. I have been looking to start a pattern and got bogged down in other videos that explain what a table is ....

Thanks for the video. I have a question though, are the steps essentially the same if using a router without a table? I'd like to build an arcade cabinet and I need to ensure both sides are exactly the same size/shape.

Very Nice Job, Collin CAB

Hi Colin, Well another great video! From Osmo Oil to pattern making. I am greatful for these easily understood videos. Can you tell us which magazine had the article on the small Arts & Crafts table that you featured at the end of the video? Thanks again! Kind Regards, Steve

Excellent video and process thanks

@knecht105 Thanks thats exactly what I was asking. If you wanted to cut up to say 4-5cm deep round a template are there any alternatives you would suggest?

@6488ott We appreciate your comments ... Thanks Colin

very good video for people learning english and also to make a cutting board

Colin, subscriber here saying thanks for the content. Watching the videos you have provided has been very informative. What about you producing a video on making the actual templates? Is the process bandsaw/jigsaw, rasp/file & sand along with a great deal of patience? I believe your viewers would be helped greatly by any tips and techniques for making custom templates. Thanks so much once again!

Love the video! Thanks so much! Any advice on how to make the actual pattern? I usually have trouble with that and any errors get replicated over and over again.

I have the same tablesaw insert that you do. For the zero clearance insert, did you put anything on the opposite end of where the screw goes for that little metal spring type piece that holds the front of the insert down or just leave it off?

Question for you Colin, I have a board that's half the thickness of what you're using. I'm planning to use a pattern with it. Is it really necessary to cut the piece out initially with the band saw? Do you think I would face any issues just by running my board+template outright onto the router?

Colin, Speaking of Routers, I've had a router for about 17 years and never used it. For a novice, should I learn by using it or should I use a router table? I respect every tool I use, however the router has attention at this time.

This is fantastic! I have a question on materials. I want to make a geographic pattern ( state map) and then duplicate it over & over. What type & thickness should the wood be? THANKS!!!

Yeah, I love that little table, it's a great design, wish I could take credit for it. I just completed 3 vids on making and finishing this little table if you haven't seen them, check my most recent vids. Thanks for posting ... Colin

Thanks for commenting, sorry, I'm not sure I understand you question, so will try this. When using a flush trim bit of this size the thickest wood I would cut would be about one inch. Hope this is what you were asking, if not please re-word. Great to have you with us Colin

What a great video Colin, unfortunately I don't have a router table. How would I use a hand router with a plunge action for pattern/template making and cutting?

Colin, do you have an old Craftsman saw with an undersized slot?

Great vid, I learned quite a bit. I had supposed from the title that it was about making the patterns. Is that just a question of saws, rasps, files, sandpaper and patience?

What I did today was cut 1st cut with pattern bit and the left over I replace bit with trim bit and run that along the finished edge It worked

excellent explanation on template making.

Colin, Great video thanks. I want to make a zero clearance insert. Can I use MDF, as plywood doesn't work well on the router? It seems to splinter when I try to do the radius on the ends. If you don' t recommend it I'll get somthing like a maple or some other wood available at Home Depot. 1/2 " plywood fits my saw throat plate thickness perfectly. I don't have a planer but one heck of a belt sander. Or I'll build a router planer sled. All recommedations helpful. Thanks again, Jim

I’m new to this and I get how you follow along with a flush trim bit, But how did you make the original pattern?

Great Pro-jects

Lol it's fine :D Nice vids!

Enjoyed ! Any suggestion as to what type, size, brand of double face tape that you use ? Thanks - another randy

Hello, I have. A technical question about filling wood grain after using a router bits, I started to make my own various shapes wood plaques, mostly oval shape, and places where a router bit went against the grain I get rough surface as you can imagine, so how do I make all that surface all around it to be perfectly smooth , I can sand it of course but those cut shapes can be damaged easily . Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.

sehr gut

Excellent idea using router templates to add form to function. How about using the rounding bit from the beginning? Wouldn't it save a process step?

Enjoying getting to know your series. I'm fairly new to woodworking and these have been very helpful. About templates for router projects, do you purchase them, or create/save them once you have a project you want to replicate?

Im not trying to tell you how to run your shop but I just thought it would work and after researching this lots of woodworkers do same thing I take it your in Canada.Im in Stanwood Washington. have a real nice shop that I built a few yrs ago. I build many Vintage screen doors and beds of all kinds etc

Um Rick, he is a teacher!

@mcclau71 Saludos, gracias por el mensaje, me alegro de tenerte con nosotros

Well, the basic answer to that is you can't because your bit will only cut 3/4 inch. You would need a bit with a bit more cutting surface (if I am following your question properly). So you would need a bit with say 1.5 inches to cut 5/4 material. Colin

What material are you using for your patterns? Do you want to make patterns out of thin material for the most part? Thanks Colin