Clamp Rack Router Template

This is a router template for cutting the pattern for a clamp rack for F-style clamps.

This pattern is used to cut the 'shelves' that hold the clamps. The slots are each 5/16" wide, and 2 1/4" deep, and spaced 1 1/2" on center. Originally, I made this with a shallower depth, but found that it didn't do a very good job of holding the clamps; so I went back and made a deeper ne that worked much better.

To use the template, first you will need to glue up a suitable shelf. I laminated 4 pairs of 1/2" pieces of plywood, cut into 24"x4" strips. This gave me 4 shelves that were an inch thick, and super strong to resist flexing. Next, I marked out the innermost cuts. To save myself burning through a LOT of router bits, I pre-drilled each channel, and then rough cut the remainder of each channel with the band saw.

Once all the individual channels / slots were rough cut, I could use the router template and a palm router with a 1/4" up-spiral, flush trim bit to clean up each chann