Light Switch Covers

Why not use a small metal plate and cover it with the "thin" wood plate.
That is what I did in one instance and it looks quite good. My plate
is birch.

Phil

Frank J. Vitale wrote:
> I think you need a metal plate on the back to meet code.
>
> I am not quoting the code, but that is the way the ones I saw were made.
>
>

It is possible to design a "slip" cover for the plate.
I have made them out of Corian and Avonite. Wasn't the greatest but they
were an experiment done with little overhead or tools.
You create a jig the shape of a cover to hold a certain size. Using a
pattern bushing big enough to leave an edge, hollow out the center (leave
about 1/8" thickness) Cut out the holes with another jig or one
incorporated into the first.
They did this at work with a Pin router which worked much better.

--
Young Carpenter

"Violin playing and Woodworking are similar, it takes plenty of money,
plenty of practice, and you usually make way more noise than intended"

"HerHusband" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We would like to make some custom wood light switch covers. Has anyone
here
> done this, and do you have any tips you can share?
>
> I was thinking of planing down some wood with my planer, tracing a plastic
> light switch cover onto the wood as a template, then using our scroll saw
> to cut out the final design.
>
> Also, what wood types would be good for this application? I'd like to use
> Western Red Cedar as that's what we'll be using for trim in our house, but
> I'm concerned it might be too soft to use as a light switch cover?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony




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"HerHusband" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We would like to make some custom wood light switch covers. Has anyone
here
> done this, and do you have any tips you can share?
>
> I was thinking of planing down some wood with my planer, tracing a plastic
> light switch cover onto the wood as a template, then using our scroll saw
> to cut out the final design.
>
> Also, what wood types would be good for this application? I'd like to use
> Western Red Cedar as that's what we'll be using for trim in our house, but
> I'm concerned it might be too soft to use as a light switch cover?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony

I have done this at our very old church when we had to put surface mounted
boxes on the baseboards. I built a box around the metal box and then made
outlet covers (electrical and sound) to go over them. The process works
fine as you described it. However, you will also need to hog out some area
on the back in order to get it to sit flat against the wall because of where
the screw mounts the receptacle to the box. A rotary tool works well for
this. Just slow going.

I used red oak. Even so, I have cracked a couple. I suspect you will have
problems with the cedar. Give it a try though, it might work.

Does anyone know where I can buy a router template for making switchplate
covers?
"Bob Bowles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Recently did this for a neighbor. I used hard maple about 1/4" thick.
> Routed back by hand leaving about 1/4" at edge, traced and cut holes
> with scrollsaw, crooked so suggest practicing prior. If there's a
> next time I'll mark prior to routing. Be careful when countersinking
> for machine screws.
>
> On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 14:55:06 -0000, HerHusband <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >We would like to make some custom wood light switch covers. Has anyone
here
> >done this, and do you have any tips you can share?
>

Bob,

Thanks for the first hand experience on making light switch covers.

I appreciate your feedback (and others who responded as well).

Take care,

Anthony

> Recently did this for a neighbor. I used hard maple about 1/4" thick.
> Routed back by hand leaving about 1/4" at edge, traced and cut holes
> with scrollsaw, crooked so suggest practicing prior. If there's a
> next time I'll mark prior to routing. Be careful when countersinking
> for machine screws.

>>We would like to make some custom wood light switch covers. Has anyone
>>here done this, and do you have any tips you can share?

"Frank J. Vitale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I think you need a metal plate on the back to meet code.
>
> I am not quoting the code, but that is the way the ones I saw were made.
>

not in the US.

Recently did this for a neighbor. I used hard maple about 1/4" thick.
Routed back by hand leaving about 1/4" at edge, traced and cut holes
with scrollsaw, crooked so suggest practicing prior. If there's a
next time I'll mark prior to routing. Be careful when countersinking
for machine screws.

On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 14:55:06 -0000, HerHusband <[email protected]>
wrote:

>We would like to make some custom wood light switch covers. Has anyone here
>done this, and do you have any tips you can share?

I think you need a metal plate on the back to meet code.

I am not quoting the code, but that is the way the ones I saw were made.

I don't see why you couldn't use just about any wood you want - just put a
durable finish on it and let it fully cure.

And there's a multitude of designs other than the simple rectangular shape,
all you have to do is have the slot for the switch and the screw mounting
holes aligned. Not much to that.

Mike


--

There are no stupid questions.
There are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.


"HerHusband" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We would like to make some custom wood light switch covers. Has anyone
here
> done this, and do you have any tips you can share?
>
> I was thinking of planing down some wood with my planer, tracing a plastic
> light switch cover onto the wood as a template, then using our scroll saw
> to cut out the final design.
>
> Also, what wood types would be good for this application? I'd like to use
> Western Red Cedar as that's what we'll be using for trim in our house, but
> I'm concerned it might be too soft to use as a light switch cover?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony