368 Milescraft Router Pantograph
I’ve had this really neat router pantograph in my own shop for about a year or more and being able to use it to craft, out of the ordinary signs, that your typical router sign making kit just can’t do I was really excited when the guys from Milescraft asked if I’d be interested in demonstrating it at the Woodcraft Vendor’s/Dealers show in Charleston, West Virginia.
The beauty of the Milescraft router pantograph is that you can use a wide assortment of fonts, pictures and shapes to create unique signs with your own router that typically you might have been able to only do with a set of carving chisels or a lot of experience with routing freehand.
It’s no secret that Milescraft has provided the show with some great products to give away as part of our regular schwag drawings. So I hope you don’t mind if in the coming weeks I include this along with a few other items as part of a new segment I’m calling “Try It Tuesdays”. The goal is to hopefully be able to tryout some interesting tools that perhaps have either just come on the market or managed to fly in under the radar.
For more information about Milescraft and their products you can visit their website at www.milescraft.com, tell them Matt said “HI”!
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I watched your clip about the 368 Milescraft Router Pantograph. I was just given one as a gift. I have fee handed some signs of my own with difficulty but rewarding. What I am wondering is the 3D effect if there is a special router bit that should be used. I am sure on line drawings or lettering depending on the depth you want you could use a straight bit or v-groove bit. Is there a specilal bit for 3Dplease help me.
Hi Randy,
Sorry for the delay in responding to your question. Regarding a particular bit for the 3D routing, I don’t think there is any 1 particular profile that will excel over another.
For fine detail, I imagine a vee groove bit or narrow diameter straight cutting bit would be best. Maybe even a narrow diameter spiral cutter.
The only downside to this would be that obviously with a narrower profile, depending on how much material you need to remove, you’ll have to make more passes. But there’s no reason why you couldn’t use a larger straight cutter or spiral bit to remove more material and then switch to the narrower bit for the detail work.
I hope this helps a little or a lot preferably. Thanks for writing.
Hello Randy (though a response this late is mainly intended for future readers…)
This is Keith, Product Manager at Milescraft.
As Matt pointed out, there is no particular cutter style you *should* be using. As with 2D carving, the correct bit to use for 3D work is a matter of preference and style.
However, the original manual for this product was written for Craftsman about 30 years ago. In that manual they suggested 1/8″ Veining Bit for 3D Carving. You can find an adapted version of this manual on our website at
milescraft.com/instruction/1298en.pdf
I’ll be happy to answer any other product questions at kfyhr@milescraft.com or post the question here and I’ll try to come back sooner…
-Keith