Alphabet Lettering Guide

[pat logue]

This is the first message to the message board. I just joined a couple of days ago.
I have been scrolling about 17 years when I was given a Delta 18" scroll saw for my retirement gift. I immediatly got hooked and started making desk names for almost anyone I meet or have contact with. In those years I have probably made at least one or two thousand names, I don't keep track but I gave one to Tiger Woods and the other Pros that play in the tournament at Sherwood Country club each December.
The lettering guide set I have is starting to crack and is almost unusuable.
I have attempted to find a new set and have had no luck. Maybe someone knows where to purchase one. The capital letters are around 1 1/8" high and the small letters are about 3/4" high.
They are made out of thin [1/32"] thick plastic. The guides consist of 6 pieces, the first one is lower case letters 'a to m' the second one is lower case 'n to z'. third one is upper case 'A to I' the fourth 'J to Q' fifth 'R to Z' and the last one is numbers '1 to 0'.
If anyone knows where I can buy a new guide set, I would appreciate the company name and address.
PAT LOGUE
PS, First one that gives me the information I will make their name.

[Bruce P]

Pat,

Not sure what font you are looking for, but these might have something useful.

http://www.woodlandmanufacturing.com...-stencils.html
http://www.stencilplanet.com/index.a...TS&Category=90
http://www.alphabetpatterns.com/
http://www.stencilease.com/

Bruce P.

[GrayBeard Phil]

Pat Logue:

1st - Welcome to the site. I hope your visits here are enjoyable. We're here to have fun.

I am unable to assist you in finding a replacement plastic lettering guide template you seek.

But if you are willing to try something else, your computer just might be able to help you: You can use a computer word processor program to print out the words, in your choice of fonts and your choice of letter sizes. Then just attach the print out to the wood, and cut away.

If you have a Windows XP, you have a free program Word Pad. If you have one of the 'usually' add software packages, you might have Microsoft Works, or a reduced version of Microsoft's Office packages.

The higher end word processor programs will allow you to just print out the letters with just the outline of the letters and no fill so you don't waste so much ink. This effect is very easy to do on many word processor programs. There is even one which is free, Open Office (www.openoffice.org).

Several members here use that technique, and if you are interested, I am sure you will get the help you need to try it out.

Phil

[Litlhof]

Hey Pat: Walt Rollison here in Seymour, TN. The lettering guides that they sell at Woodcraft and at Seyco Sales sound like the kind you have. I have three sets different in size and font style. They are easy to use and are about $40.00 a set.
Best regards, Walt/Litlhof.

[dtoggs]

I know this is not what you asked about,but going with the other contributor's thoughts,just print out the name you want to copy,take it to the local library(its cheaper than doing it your sefl) and make it the size you want. Thats my technique and I even have the plastic lettering stencils. The big thing here is;you can make the name in any letters you want,fancy,script,old english etc,. Thats how I make name plates. I used to rout them out,now use the scroll saw. I'm not convinced one way or the other is superior.pw

[jigsue]

Like Phil, I just use standard computer fonts. If I require alterations (ie middles not dropping out of Os etc), I save my lettering as a jpeg and use photoshop to alter them. This way you can have many fonts, all different sizes and the letters are correctly spaced. Just print out your finished article and stick it to your wood, then scroll away.

Sue

[Dragon]

how would you save your lettering as JPEG?

[jigsue]

Dragon

Didn't see your post until now, sorry. You can open a Word document in Publisher, or any drawing package Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, save them as non-text file and manipulate as drawings in there

Sue

[michaelK]

Pat,

Did you look at Office Max, Office Depot or maybe Staples?
Most of these places have all kinds of lettering guides near the drafting and drawing equipment.

Mike

[Tor]

Dragon, another possibility is that your graphics program has a text tool, and after creating text, you should be able to convert the text layer to raster (photo mode. JPG is a raster file format.) Let me know what program you are using, and I'll see if I know how to do it.

Tor