Posted: 10/20/2025 2:42:26 PM EDT
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My fence has these pickets. 1x6x6 pressure treated. I used to buy them from a place when I needed some to replace older rotten ones. Apparently no one makes these anymore. So I'm going to have to make about 50 of these. Attached File I would use a template from an old picket. I think I can use a forstner bit to cut the circular holes, and the perhaps a router to make the pointy part. What router and bit(s) would you recommend that could do a 1x6? Thanks |
Team Ranstad
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Originally Posted By SpankMonkey: Use a jigsaw set to scroll. Very quick work. 120 grit sand paper to clean up. Thanks, what type of blade would you recommend? I liked the idea of a router, because I can make a jig. I suppose I could do the same with a jig saw |
Team Ranstad
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I would go with something like this. Roughly 12 to 16 TPI. More teeth will give you a cleaner finish but at a cost of having to slow down. If you want to go fast just get some T144D blades. The T144D will make very quick work of fence pickets. For finer finish go with these. Amazon link. These should do fine. Amazon jigsaw blades. |
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| Rough cut them with a jigsaw or bandsaw. Use a good one for a template with a flush trim router bit to finish.. Spend the money for a good spiral one.Bit |
When your state is shaped like a huge, droopy penis, you have to expect there to be some huge nuts as well.
Mech 2007
Mech 2007
| Definitely make a template from one, a jig saw will be fine, followed by a rasp/file and some sandpaper on a block and dowel to smooth everything out. Use double sided tape to stick the template onto a new picket and a router with a pattern bit to (these typically have a bearing on the top) to cut the new pickets. If you're using something like cedar, you probably won't even need to cut out the concave portions first, just take it slow and ease the router into it with a couple of shallow passes before the final clean up pass. A spiral pattern bit is great, but significantly more expensive than a straight one, and probably not necessary for this. Avoid the cheap as shit chinese bits on amazon. |
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A pressure treated board is going to shrink as it dries. Therefore, I would not try to sand wet pine to perfection. If it was my fence. I would use a good picket as a template, rough cut to shape with a jig saw and finish with a router and pattern bit. I like Bosch Progressor blades for jigsaw work and whatever flavor of router bits that you already use. If you don't have a router, make sure to get a model with a 1/2" collet. A D handle base is nice for pretty much all router handwork. |
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So after making some prototypes here is what I tried: 1. Cutting the circular part of the picket with a forstner bit in a drill press. This was was really slow and made a hell of a mess. Skipped 2. Use a picket as a template and use a router with a pattern bit to do the whole thing. This wasn't too bad, but the bit would dull quickly. Skipped 3 Use a picket as a template, and rough cut the picket with a jig saw. Leaving about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of material. Then finished up with pattern bit on router. This seemed to be the best way to do it. One thing is that the picket used as a template are shrunken. So let's say I take 4 old pickets out. 4 new pickets will not fit in this space, so I have to use a table saw to shave off 1/4" or so. I would imagine that the Gothic part will shrink. But not sure it will be noticeable. |
Team Ranstad
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Originally Posted By entropy: So after making some prototypes here is what I tried: 1. Cutting the circular part of the picket with a forstner bit in a drill press. This was was really slow and made a hell of a mess. Skipped Did you cut the holes in pairs, or one at a time? When I did my pickets, I placed two boards centered under the bit. The bit did twice the work and there was minimal/no chatter. A super-simple jig will space the two boards the proper distance apart and provide for clamping support. |
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Originally Posted By entropy: 2. Use a picket as a template and use a router with a pattern bit to do the whole thing. This wasn't too bad, but the bit would dull quickly. Skipped The router bit dulled??? Get better quality bits, especially for something like a pattern bit that will get used a lot. Good quality steel or carbide will not quickly dull. Steel picks up resin if the feed rate is not right. Clean that off with solvent. How many are you making/made? |
 
I used these. I've made about 20. End up needing 50 |
Team Ranstad
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A quality forestner bit with a stop on a drill press is going to be the way I would approach this. Infinitely easier than a router with a jig. At least from a production standpoint, which if you have 50 to make, you have entered that realm. Forget about a JS or BS. Too much sanding. Unless you like sanding. |