Three Trees Router Template (Clear Acrylic)

Three Trees Inlay Router Template - Clear Acrylic Woodworking Template

Add a clean forest-inspired detail to your woodworking projects with this reusable clear acrylic Three Trees Inlay Template. Designed for routing recessed inlay pockets, this template is a great fit for charcuterie boards, cutting boards, live edge boards, serving trays, signs, wall art, and epoxy-filled woodworking projects.

The three-tree profile works especially well on rustic, cottage, cabin, outdoor, and nature-inspired pieces. Its horizontal layout gives it a strong presence without taking over the whole board, making it a useful accent for serving boards, live edge slabs, and decorative panels where you want a clean tree or forest theme.

What You Can Make With This Template

• Three-tree inlays for charcuterie boards and serving boards
• Epoxy-filled forest details in live edge wood
• Cabin, cottage, camping, and outdoor-themed signs
• Nature-inspired cutting boards, trays, panels, and wall art
• Custom gifts for hikers, campers, cottagers, and outdoor enthusiasts

Why Use a Clear Acrylic Three Trees 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 better placement: The transparent acrylic lets you see the wood grain, live edge, knots, figure, and layout marks before routing.
• Great for natural-looking projects: The tree design pairs well with walnut, maple, cherry, live edge slabs, figured boards, and epoxy-filled details.
• Reusable and consistent: Made from 1/4" thick acrylic, this template helps you repeat the same three-tree profile across multiple projects.
• Works well with epoxy: Route the tree pocket, fill it with epoxy and pigment, let it cure, then sand it flush for a clean finished inlay.

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 tree inlay.
• Small Detail Pocketing Bit - Useful for tighter areas, smaller openings, and finer details around the tree shapes.
• EcoPoxy UVPoxy - A good epoxy option for filling routed inlays up to 1/4" deep.
• Beaver Dust Pigments - Add colour, contrast, shimmer, or a dark filled look to epoxy inlays.
• Dimensional Wood - Great for cutting boards, signs, trays, panels, and repeatable inlay projects.
• Live Edge Wood - A natural fit for forest-themed charcuterie boards, rustic serving boards, 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, wall art, display boards, and trays.

How to Use This Three Trees Inlay Template

1. Prepare your wood: Start with a flat, clean surface. This template works well on dimensional boards, live edge boards, cutting board blanks, charcuterie boards, signs, trays, and decorative panels.
2. Position the template: Place the clear acrylic Three Trees Inlay Template on your project and use the transparency to line it up with the grain, live edge, board edge, 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 most of the material in the wider areas. Use the small detail pocketing bit for tighter corners, smaller openings, and finer details within the tree 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 tree 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: Three Trees profile
• Three Trees profile size: Approximately 6.625" long by 6.25" tall
• Template size: 11.75" wide by 7.875" tall
• Material: 1/4" thick clear acrylic
• Use: Routing recessed inlay pockets, tracing, and repeatable layout work
• Template SKU: 04-001

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 three trees template for cutting out a full board shape?

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

Can I fill the tree inlay with epoxy?

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

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 corners, small openings, and finer details around the tree shapes.

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 three trees inlay?

This design works well for charcuterie boards, cutting boards, live edge serving boards, cabin signs, cottage decor, camping-themed gifts, wall art, trays, and nature-inspired woodworking projects.

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 tree inlays with accurate placement, consistent routing, and a professional finished look. This clear acrylic Three Trees Inlay Template is a practical shop template for cutting boards, charcuterie boards, live edge pieces, signs, trays, wall art, and epoxy-filled woodworking projects.