Bear Router Template (Clear Acrylic)

Bear Inlay Acrylic Router Template

Create bear inlays, epoxy-filled wildlife details, outdoor-inspired accents, and decorative woodworking projects with this reusable clear acrylic router template. This template is a great choice for adding a bear detail to charcuterie boards, serving boards, live edge pieces, trays, signs, wall art, furniture accents, cabin decor, and custom gifts for nature lovers.

The clear acrylic makes it easy to position the bear profile exactly where you want it, allowing you to work around grain, knots, cracks, live edge features, epoxy areas, or other natural details in your board.

What You Can Make With This Template

• Bear epoxy inlays
• Wildlife-themed charcuterie board details
• Decorative accents for serving boards and trays
• Live edge board details
• Cabin, cottage, hunting, camping, and outdoor-themed signs
• Wall art, furniture accents, and custom gifts
• Small-batch market products and repeatable shop projects

Why Use a Clear Acrylic Bear Inlay Template?

• Wildlife-inspired detail: Add a clean bear profile to boards, trays, signs, plaques, and decorative woodworking projects.
• Great for epoxy inlays: Route the bear pocket, fill it with coloured epoxy, sand it flush, and finish your project.
• Clear placement: See the wood underneath so you can position the bear around grain, cracks, knots, live edge details, or other features.
• Reusable acrylic: Made from 1/4" thick clear acrylic for repeated use when handled and stored properly.
• Useful for small shops: A simple way to add repeatable decorative detail without drawing the bear profile by hand.

Recommended Products to Use With This Template

To make a finished bear inlay, most customers will need a way to secure the template, the right router bits, suitable wood, epoxy, pigment, and a finish for the completed piece.

• Template Tape - used to secure the acrylic template to your wood while routing the inlay pocket.
• Pocketing Bit - useful for removing the majority of the material in larger, less detailed areas.
• Small Detail Pocketing Bit - useful for smaller details, tighter areas, and finer parts of the bear profile.
• Dimensional Wood - choose from kiln-dried hardwoods for boards, trays, signs, panels, and custom woodworking projects.
• Live Edge Wood - a popular choice when adding inlay details to charcuterie boards and natural edge projects.
• EcoPoxy UVPoxy - a good epoxy option for filling shallow inlays up to 1/4" deep.
• Beaver Dust Pigments - use pigment to add colour, shimmer, or contrast to epoxy-filled bear inlays.
• Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil - a good choice for food-contact boards when your project is being used as a serving board or charcuterie board.
• Grand Finishing Hardwax Oil - a great option for decorative boards, trays, wall art, signs, furniture accents, and other non-cutting-board projects.

How to Use This Bear Inlay Template

1. Choose your project: Start with a flat, stable piece of wood, serving board, tray, sign, panel, or live edge board.
2. Plan the inlay location: Place the clear acrylic template over the wood and position the bear where it works best with the grain, knots, cracks, or design of the piece.
3. Attach the template: Apply template tape to the back of the acrylic template and press it firmly onto the wood.
4. Route the larger areas: Use the pocketing bit to remove most of the material in the larger areas of the bear profile.
5. Clean up the fine details: Use the small detail pocketing bit for tighter areas and smaller details. Take your time, especially when working with hard or dense woods.
6. Remove the template: Carefully remove the acrylic template from the wood and store it flat for future use.
7. Fill the inlay: If desired, fill the routed pocket with epoxy and pigment. UVPoxy is a good option for shallow inlays up to 1/4" deep.
8. Sand flush and finish: Once the epoxy has cured, sand the inlay flush with the surface and apply the right finish for your project.

Design Note

This bear inlay template was inspired by the work of @rockymtnwoodcraft.

Watch: How to Use Acrylic Router Templates

New to template routing? This video walks through the process and helps explain how acrylic templates, router bits, and template tape work together.

Template Details

• Material: Clear acrylic
• Thickness: 1/4"
• Overall template size: 11.75" wide x 7.875" tall
• Bear profile size: approximately 10.25" long x 5.5" tall
• Use for: Routing inlay pockets, epoxy inlays, wildlife details, decorative accents, and repeatable bear designs
• Product type: Reusable acrylic inlay router template
• Finished project style: Bear inlay, epoxy-filled wildlife inlay, charcuterie board detail, live edge board accent, cabin sign, wall art, tray detail, or furniture accent
• Template SKU: 04-003

Helpful Router Template Guides

Not sure which router bit to use or how to get started with acrylic templates? These guides can help before you begin your project.

• Template Guides
• Router Template Guide
• What Router Bit Do I Need?
• Template Routing for Beginners

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a finished bear inlay?

No. This listing is for the reusable clear acrylic bear inlay template only. Wood, router bits, template tape, epoxy, pigment, sanding supplies, and finish are sold separately.

Can this bear template be reused?

Yes. This acrylic template is reusable when handled carefully, cleaned as needed, and stored flat between uses.

Can I fill the routed bear profile with epoxy?

Yes. You can fill the routed bear pocket with epoxy and pigment. UVPoxy is a good option for shallow pours up to 1/4" deep.

What router bit should I use with this inlay template?

For bear inlays, we recommend using the pocketing bit to remove the majority of the material and the small detail pocketing bit for tighter areas and finer details.

What projects work well with bear inlays?

Bear inlays work well on charcuterie boards, live edge boards, serving boards, trays, cabin signs, wall art, plaques, furniture parts, and custom gifts for outdoor or wildlife-inspired projects.

What finish should I use?

For food-contact serving boards or charcuterie 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 another great option.

Create Bear Inlays With a Repeatable Shape

Whether you are adding a bear detail to a charcuterie board, filling the design with coloured epoxy, or creating a custom cabin-inspired gift, this clear acrylic inlay router template helps you create a consistent routed pocket while still letting the natural beauty of the wood stand out.