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How to Build a Template for a Router Base Plate

A router is an upright rotary tool that is used to cut, shape and form wood. Routers are used to make recessed carved wooden signs and to uniformly sculpt items like bowls or trays. The router runs on a flat base with the tool tip projecting downward from the center. A template is used to confine the router within a specific shape or area. This template can be made of metal, thick plastic or MDF (medium density fiberboard). The template is used to guide the roller part of the router along the sides of the template shape. Usually templates are clamped or otherwise attached to the cutting surface at the time the router cutting blades are being used. Woodworkers commonly make templates for any shapes they wish to repeat consistently.

Things You'll Need

1/4-inch graph paper
Pencil
Templates
Ruler
Compass
Object
Carbon paper
Tape
1/4-inch thick MDF (medium density fiberboard)
Drill
Jigsaw
Sandpaper 60 grit

Instructions

- 1
  Place 1/4-inch graph paper on your design table. Use small plastic templates, rulers, compasses or other shaping tools to draw the design you want to replicate as a template. If you wanted to replicate a hinge shape so that you could recess the hinge into a door edge, you would trace a hinge shape onto the paper using the hinge as a pattern.
- 2
  Enlarge your template to account for the thickness of your router bit and the offset created by the bit collar or guide bush. Measure the bit across its diameter width and divide by 2. Measure the collar or guide bush diameter and divide by 2. Add these two measurements together. Increase your outlined shape by this measurement on all sides. The bit collar guide bush is a metal tubular circle that surrounds your router bit and acts as a guide. This collar will rest against the inside wall of your template.
- 3
  Transfer your modified image to your template material. Typically a template will be thicker than the thickness of your router collar or between 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick. For our example use 1/4-inch thick MDF (medium density fiberboard) as it is readily available and commonly used as template material.
- 4
  Place the fiberboard on the table. Position your drawing on the fiberboard in the location you want. A hinge template may be 3-sided since the hinge depth is open on one side. Other templates such as a door knob circle would be centered in the template material. Place a sheet of carbon paper under your drawing. Tape down your drawing using tape.
- 5
  Trace your shape onto the template material. Drill a hole inside the shape for most material locked designs. (A material locked design is a shape that is surrounded by wood or the template material.) To reach the design, you need to drill a start hole inside the shape itself. Insert the jigsaw blade into the drill hole and cut out the shape. Sand the edges to make them as smooth as you can for the best shape. Use a medium 60 grit sandpaper.

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