I am wondering if casting resin can be used to create a custom mortise router template? As some background, I have a slab table that to be "reverse engineered". Let me further explain. I recently made a Nakashima inspired coffee table using Japanese joinery. Unfortunately, I want to remove the slab top because it was too small.I am going to use a router to remove material close to the tenons that are sticking through the top of the table, and then carefully pare back to the tenons with a chisel. Once the slab is off, I will need to route a mortise in the new (larger) slab to exactly match the custom tenons, like I did in the first place. However, I will no longer have access to the router mortise template when I built the table.
I have been trying to determine if I could pour casting resin over the exposed (after I route down say 3/4'' into the slab and chisel) tenons to produce a "negative", which I could then use as a mortise (router) template using a pattern bit?
I will attach a few pictures to give you a better mental picture than my words can describe.
Thanks for your input!!
Joe Meadows