How to Carve a Wooden Plaque

Plaques can be used to commemorate people, events or places.

Creating your own wooden plaque is an easy craft that requires few tools. Before beginning, determine if you want your plaque to be displayed indoors or outdoors. This will help you select the appropriate type of wood. Plaques meant to be hung outdoors should use treated wood so that the effects of weather, age and wood-boring insects can be mitigated as much as possible.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden slat or board
• Pencil
• Coping saw
• Ruler
• Letter/number stencils
• Dremel
• 600 grit sandpaper

Instructions

1. Select the type of wood for your plaque. Trace the desired shape on it. Shapes with straight edges are recommended for novice woodworkers.

2. Cut out the shape with the coping saw, taking care to make smooth, even cuts.

3. Dust off any wood debris from the face of the plaque. Use the ruler to help place the letters and/or number stencils evenly atop the plaque.

4. Trace the outlines of the letters and numbers carefully, checking frequently to make sure the lines you're making are visible against the wood.

5. Set aside the stencils. Use the dremel to begin carefully carving out the interior of the letters. Chisels, both hand or battery operated, would suffice in lieu of the dremel.

6. Use the edges of the sandpaper to sand inside the carved-out letters and numbers until they are smooth.

7. Sand the face of the plaque until smooth.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also paint, stain or varnish your plaque if desired.

• Add picture-mounting hardware to the back if you want to hang it on a wall.

• Use manufacturer-recommended safety procedures when operating both the saw and the dremel to avoid injury.

References

• Address-Tiles; Carved Wooden Home Address Plaque
• Fresh Home Ideas; How to Carve a House Sign