Ribbon Router Template (Clear Acrylic)

Ribbon Inlay Router Template - Clear Acrylic Woodworking Template

Create clean ribbon-shaped inlays with this reusable clear acrylic Ribbon Inlay Template. Designed for routing recessed inlay pockets, this template is a strong choice for signs, memorial pieces, awareness projects, keepsake boards, cutting boards, charcuterie boards, live edge wood, wall art, and epoxy-filled woodworking projects.

The ribbon profile works well when you want a meaningful decorative accent that can be filled with a specific epoxy colour. Use it for awareness-themed gifts, remembrance pieces, fundraiser projects, custom signs, or personal woodworking projects where the ribbon shape carries a specific meaning.

What You Can Make With This Template

• Ribbon inlays for signs, plaques, and wall art
• Epoxy-filled awareness ribbon details in wood projects
• Memorial pieces, keepsake boards, and custom gifts
• Charcuterie boards, serving boards, and decorative trays
• Live edge projects with meaningful colour-filled inlay details

Why Use a Clear Acrylic Ribbon Inlay Template?

• Designed for recessed inlays: This template is made for routing a pocket into the surface of your project, not for cutting out a full board shape.
• Clear for accurate placement: The transparent acrylic lets you see the wood grain, knots, figure, live edge, and layout marks underneath before routing.
• Great for colour-filled epoxy: The ribbon shape is a natural fit for pigmented epoxy, especially when the colour has a specific meaning for the project.
• Reusable for repeat projects: Made from 1/4" thick acrylic, this template can be used again and again when handled carefully and stored flat.
• Helpful for meaningful custom work: The ribbon profile works well for personal gifts, awareness projects, memorial pieces, fundraiser items, and decorative inlay work.

Recommended Products to Use With This Template

• Template Tape - Use this to secure the acrylic template to your wood before routing.
• Pocketing Bit - Helpful for removing most of the material in the larger open areas of the ribbon inlay.
• Small Detail Pocketing Bit - Useful for tighter curves, smaller openings, and finer areas around the ribbon profile.
• EcoPoxy UVPoxy - A good epoxy option for filling routed inlays up to 1/4" deep.
• Beaver Dust Pigments - Add colour, shimmer, contrast, or a bold filled look to epoxy inlays.
• Dimensional Wood - Great for signs, boards, trays, panels, and repeatable inlay projects.
• Live Edge Wood - A natural fit for charcuterie boards, rustic signs, memorial pieces, and epoxy inlay projects.
• Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil - Recommended for food-contact boards after sanding and finishing.
• Grand Finishing Hardwax Oil - A strong choice for decorative and non-food-contact projects like signs, plaques, wall art, trays, and display pieces.

How to Use This Ribbon Inlay Template

1. Prepare your wood: Start with a flat, clean surface. This template works well on dimensional boards, live edge boards, signs, plaques, trays, charcuterie boards, cutting board blanks, and decorative panels.
2. Position the template: Place the clear acrylic Ribbon Inlay Template on your project and use the transparency to line it up with the grain, live edge, board edge, centreline, or layout marks.
3. Secure with template tape: Apply template tape to the back of the acrylic template and press it firmly onto the wood before routing.
4. Route the inlay pocket: Use the larger pocketing bit to remove material in the wider areas. Use the small detail pocketing bit for tighter curves, small inside areas, and finer details around the ribbon profile.
5. Remove the template: Carefully lift the template from the wood after the pocket has been routed.
6. Fill the inlay if desired: For an epoxy-filled look, mix epoxy with your chosen pigment and fill the routed ribbon pocket. Leave enough material to sand flush after curing.
7. Sand and finish: Once the epoxy has fully cured, sand the inlay flush with the wood surface. Use a food-safe oil for cutting boards and food-contact pieces, or a hardwax oil for decorative and non-food-contact projects.

Watch How We Use Acrylic Inlay Templates

This video shows the general process for using clear acrylic router templates to create clean, repeatable inlay pockets.

Template Details

• Design: Ribbon profile
• Ribbon profile size: Approximately 3.5" wide by 7" tall
• Template size: 7.875" wide by 7.875" tall
• Material: 1/4" thick clear acrylic
• Use: Routing recessed inlay pockets, tracing, and repeatable layout work
• Template SKU: 03-042

Helpful Router Template Guides

• Template Guides - Browse our main hub for router template tips, project ideas, and related guides.
• Router Template Guide - Learn how router templates work and how to get cleaner, more consistent results.
• What Router Bit Do I Need? - Choose the right router bit for pocketing, detail work, and template routing.
• Template Routing for Beginners - A beginner-friendly guide to getting started with acrylic templates and routers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this ribbon template for cutting out a full board shape?

No. This template is designed for routing a recessed ribbon-shaped inlay pocket into the surface of your project. It is not intended as a full board outline or cutout template.

Can I fill the ribbon inlay with epoxy?

Yes. After routing the pocket, you can fill the ribbon inlay with epoxy and pigment. Once the epoxy cures, sand it flush with the wood surface for a clean finished result.

Can I use different epoxy colours with this ribbon inlay?

Yes. This template is a good fit for colour-specific projects. You can use different pigments to create a ribbon inlay that matches the meaning, theme, or design of your project.

Which router bit should I use with this template?

Use the larger pocketing bit to remove material efficiently in the wider areas. Use the small detail pocketing bit for tighter curves, smaller inside areas, and finer details around the ribbon profile.

How do I secure the acrylic template while routing?

We recommend using template tape. It holds the clear acrylic template firmly to the wood while routing and avoids the need for screws or clamps in most inlay layouts.

Can this template be reused?

Yes. The template is made from 1/4" thick acrylic and can be reused many times when handled carefully, cleaned after use, and stored flat between projects.

What projects work best with a ribbon inlay?

This design works well for signs, plaques, memorial pieces, awareness projects, fundraiser items, keepsake boards, charcuterie boards, trays, live edge pieces, and wall art.

What finish should I use after sanding?

For food-contact boards, use a food-safe cutting board oil such as Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil. For decorative or non-food-contact projects, Grand Finishing Hardwax Oil is a good option for a durable, natural-looking finish.

Create clean, repeatable ribbon inlays with accurate placement, consistent routing, and a professional finished look. This clear acrylic Ribbon Inlay Template is a practical shop template for signs, memorial pieces, awareness projects, boards, trays, wall art, and epoxy-filled woodworking projects.