How To Make Wooden Signs With A Router

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A wooden sign can bring a lot of aesthetic value to your property and it’s not something that only professionals can make. In fact, you can use a piece of wood and a router to make your own wooden signs.

This article discusses a detailed method that you can use to make different wood signs including nameplates, humorous signs, and address signs using a router.

How To Make Wooden Signs with A Router

Making wooden signs is a creative and fun project that you can carry out on weekends. Use the following method to make attractive wood signs to showcase your creativity. You can also give them to loved ones as a perfect gift.

Supplies You’ll Need

Step 1: Select Design

Planning is the most important step in making a wooden sign. First, you need to choose the best design for your wooden sign that you can use depending on the size and type of board you’re planning to use. The letters of your selected design should be clear and visible but not exclusively large.

Keep in mind that the bigger the letters the smaller the board will appear. So, choose the design that suits the size and type of the board you have.

Note: Redwood, cedar, and pine are the best wood types if you’re planning to make a wood sign for outdoors.

Step 2: Draw Selected Design on Wooden Board

Once you have selected a design, it’s time to draw it on your wooden board. You can do it by hand or with the help of a stencil. However, the easiest way is to print the pattern and design on paper using a printer and attach it to the board’s surface using packing tape.

Not only will it keep the paper with design in place but it’ll also allow the router base to slide smoothly. It’s a quick and easy step that keeps you from the hassle of drawing the entire design by hand. Drawing your selected design with a pencil or marker will take a whole lot of time and it will also increase the risk of ending up with inaccurate results.

Step 3: Take Safety Measures

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends people wear protective gear to keep their eyes and face safe from woodworking hazards.

You must wear a face mask and safety glass before you start working with your router. While you can also wear gloves, it’s not necessary for using a router.

Step 4: Choose Router Bits

Square end, rounded nose, and V groove are the best router bits to create wooden signs. 

  • Square end bits will allow you to produce square corners, which is a good option for simple and slat designs. 
  • V groove bits will produce sharp V-shaped grooves. You can also use them to create a beadboard effect. 
  • Rounded nose bits will produce grooves with a perfect radius, ideal for funky designs. 

Set the depth of the router-bit no more than ¼ inch to keep the board from breaking or getting damaged. Going any deeper than that will also make it very difficult for you to get rid of the wood residue stuck inside.

Step 5: Start Routing

First, you need to stabilize the wooden board onto your workbench. Place the grip/rubber pad beneath the board and secure it properly using clamps so that it doesn’t slip or slide while you’re carving the design.

Using a router table for the project will help make your cuts more accurate.

Once everything is in place, use your hands to guide the wood carefully along the letter design at a slow and steady pace.

Move the router constantly to avoid keeping it on a single spot to avoid burn and smoke. If you want to get rid of small wood particles or your arms need rest, make sure that you turn the router off first.

Step 6: Finish Your Wooden Sign

Once the routing process is complete, remove the clamps and pick up the wooden sign to give it the desired finish. You can apply a varnish finish or paint your rough and unfinished wooden piece to achieve the desired look.

Make sure that you remove the packing tape and the remains of the paper from the wooden board before starting the painting or varnishing process.

Once the finish has completely dried, hang your wood sign where designed.

Tips to Use a Router to Make Wooden Signs

Use the following tips while making wooden signs with a router to achieve the best results. 

  • Make sure the workbench or table that you want to use to carve designs on a wood board with a router is fully stable. 
  • Place your forearms on the table and use your both hands to grab and move the router.
  • Even using the best plunge router, be careful not to plunge the router in without placing your forearms on the table. It’ll increase the risk of damaging the wooden board and you’ll also put your safety at risk.
  • Turn your router off if you need to take a break and don’t leave it sitting on the wooden board.
  • Trim and sand your rough wood to make the surface smooth before using your router on it.
  • Understand the different types of router bits that you can use to make wooden signs.
  • If you’re using a smaller, beginner router, it will take a little longer to make the wooden sign. Be patient.
  • Avoid designs with high-end details and complex patterns if you don’t have enough time.
  • Make sure your design doesn’t reach the edges of the wooden board for better aesthetics.
  • Test your router bit on a scrap wooden piece before using it on the board you’ve prepared for a wooden sign.
  • If you’re placing your wooden sign outside, you’ll need to repaint or reapply the varnish after some time (once a year depending upon the weather conditions) to keep it in a good condition.
  • While you can use the method discussed above to make a wooden signboard with any design, consider starting with the basic designs if you’re a beginner. Use a cheaper router and start small. A good strategy is to go with straight lines, heart shapes, stars, zigzag designs, or English alphabets for your first project and then gradually make your way to complex designs.

FAQs

Can You Use Routers to Make Plywood Signs?

Yes, you can use a router to make plywood signs if you want. However, your router will not work as smoothly as it does on the hardwood. You also won’t get the more precise results if you’re using plywood to carve different designs and shapes.

Can You Use CNC Bits in a Wood Router?

CNC or computerized numerical control bits are specially designed to be used with automation systems. They’re meant for industrial and heavy-duty purposes rather than personal use. While you can attach them to some wood routers like the ones offered by DEWALT and Bosch, I don’t recommend you use them with a manual system.

What Type of Router Do I Need to Make Wooden Signs?

You can use pretty much any type of wood router to make wooden signs. DEWALT and Bosch offer some great routers for beginners that offer everything you need to carry out the wooden sign-making process easily.

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Final Words

Understanding how to make a wooden sign using a router will allow you to make your own personalized designs. Not only can you use it to improve the beauty and character of your outdoor space but you can also give it to your loved ones as a perfect gift on special occasions.

We hope this step-by-step method will help you come up with a wooden sign by personalizing it with an image, your name/address, or anything else you want. Don’t forget to wear a dust mask and safety glasses to ensure your safety.

An expert at home repair, remodel, and DIY projects for nearly 40 years. His first experience came in completely restoring an antique home. Completely redone from the inside out, and restored to its original form, the home is a featured design by renowned Southern California Architect Cliff May, considered to be the father of the California Ranch Home. Now Dennis spends his time on fine woodworking projects and tool comparisons.