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| Figure 2 |
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The problem with using hard templates — made
directly from the sink — is that they are expensive and take a long time to
make. We asked some of the fabrication experts at StoneAdvice.com about this,
and they came up with a really efficient method. Here is how it goes:
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| Figure 3 |
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The tools you need are a wood router, a flush
trim router bit (mine is from Freud America, Inc., as seen in Figure 1), a
rabbeting router bit and bearing set, a roll of heavy-duty tape (we use Gorilla
Tape), and a sheet of ¾-inch plywood.
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| Figure 4 |
|
First, you line the top edge of the sink with
the tape to prevent any scratching (Figure 2). Second, you flip your sink
upside down on the plywood and use the sink clips to secure the sink to the
plywood (Figure 3). Third, you flip the plywood over with the sink attached and
drill a pilot hole in the center of the plywood so you can start the finger
bit. Fourth, attach the flush trim router bit to the wood router, selecting a
bearing guide that gives you the right negative reveal. For example, if you
want a 1/8-inch overhang, use a 1/8-inch bearing with the flush trim router
bit. Fifth, guide the router around the sink so the bearing on the finger bit
is rolling along the tape. Continue until you cut out all the plywood from
inside the sink (Figures 4 and 5). Then you remove the sink, and you have a
perfect template.
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| Figure 5 |
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We are able to adjust the reveal of the sink to
range from negative 3/8 inch to positive 3/8 inch in increments of 1/8 inch.
This level of precision is especially helpful when dealing with sinks that have
drop-in cutting boards.
To create a positive reveal, in which the top lip of the sink is exposed, we
must take the template-creation process one step further. We use the rabbeting
router bit and bearing set. First, select and install a bearing that will give
you the proper amount of reveal. For example, if you want a fine positive
reveal of 1/8 inch, you would select the bearing that is 1/8 inch smaller than
the diameter of the rabbeting bit (Figure 6). Second, set the depth on the
router to cut halfway into the thickness of the template. Then make a pass all
the way around the template. Then you flip the template upside down. Install
the flush cutting bearing and make a second pass all the way around.
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| Figure 6 |
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We use the template — along with a “Z Bit” (we
use the “Reubenator”) to produce a sink hole that’s ready for polishing in less
than 10 minutes.
