an important question

[hen]

Hey Everyone, i am doing a 41.5 x 13 sign on a slab of white ash. it's
at least 1.5 inches thick the whole length,now the background scene is
a pair of pine limbs with cones coming in from each end of the slab,with
the name of the family routed in at the bottom,what i was wondering is
what type of router bit do i use to hog out the waste,and the depth at which to do it? any help is greatly appriciated!

thanks,hen

[rales]

1/2" & 1/4" straight bits with 2 flutes work well... best with a plunge router. Depending on how hard the ash is - I'd take a 1/4" maximum at a time - and if you see the bit struggling back it out even more. You can use a 1/8" spiral bit in tight spots - but you need very good control of your router. D-Handles are nice for control...

[pallin]

One of the considerations about depth is the final use: Will this piece be outdoors? (See previous threads about relief depth.) Have you thought also about doing the family name as raised lettering?