RDMELLO

Jr. Member. Since I'm Making The Circle Cut Outs On Top Of A Finished Desk, I Cant Put A Pivot Pin In The Top? If I Clamp Down A Piece Of Plywood And Use That For My Pivot, Then I Need A Long Bit To Cut Through The Three Quarter Inch Plywoo Top?

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bobj3

Hi Rdmello
Because it's a Finished desktop I would not use anthing that needs to spin (turn) on the desktop I would use a brass guide with a plunge router and a 3/8" or 1/2" solid carb. bit.
Make a template out of 1/4" plywood with the right hole size (with a Forrester bit or scroll saw) you want to put in.
Then clamp it to the desktop with card board under the template then just plunge and cut out the small hole (Circle) you need.

Jasper hole jig below, from 1" hole to 18" quick and easy.
http://www.routerforums.com/jigs-fix...html#post35262

Bj

Just a Note*** I see that Tom recommend using straight cutter keep in mind that straight cutters are not made to plunge in, they will work but you will need to make very small cuts (shallow cuts)
Unless you have straight cutter that is made to plunge in, that's a bit with carb.tip on the top of the bit.
see link below.
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shops.../bt_plung.html

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template tom

RDMELLO
You will require to make a Template then very carefully rout out the circle with a straight cutter
Tom

gimpy

Shopnotes magazine issue #83 has an article on building a small diameter circle jig (1/2 inch to 4 inch circles). Seems to be pretty elaborate, using a lazy susan in the jig. Issue 83 is from October/November, 2005. (begins on page 32)

Frank

mpphoto

I just put half-circles on the back edge of two desktops so I could pass power cords through them. I used a hole saw to cut a 2.5" diameter hole in a piece of 1/2" mdf. Then I clamped the mdf to the desktops and used a template bit to rout out the hole. Very nice, neat job. At some point I intend to make an mdf template with an assortment of circle sizes for future use.

Michael

sawstop

This may not be what your looking for but it is capable of cutting diameters from 1" to 7-1/2" in 1/16" increments and is calibrated for use with a 1/4" straight bit.



Precision Circle Jig
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,43000,43001

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Rosemary LYNDALL WEMM

For very small circles

1. use a hole saw on a drill press rather than the router.

Or

2. use a template with a very long handle and a backing of doublesided tape together with a flush cutting bit and a sacrificial backer board beneath your work piece.

Hamlin

Perhaps I've misread the entire question but, if all you are doing is cutting "holes" smaller than 1", a drill & bit/hole-saw is the only way to go. If you are making circles such as small "wheels" then a jig is needed.

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Mike

One of the handiest tools for making small circles is a RotoZip or similar product. The circle cutting jigs work well. Just be sure to use a "Sabercut bit" designed for cutting wood. These bits will also work in trim routers, so if yours has a circle jig you have another possibility. Spiral cutting bits make clean cuts so dont rule out these small machines.
Another thought would be to build a simple jig for making different sized small holes. A 1/4" thick piece of Plexiglas or Masonite(hardboard) 6" wide by 3 or 4' long. Drill different sized holes using Forstner bits, hole saws or even adjustable hole saws along the centerline. The 6" width will provide good support for your router, the length will allow easy clamping. By using a combination of pattern following bits and guide bushings you can figure on making at least 5 or 6 variations on each hole size. To keep life simple I suggest using a 1/4" plunge bit and figuring your hole sizes from this. If you are likely to build projects with many different sized small holes this is the way to go.

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dan_public

Hi. Does anyone know if the Jasper Jigs will fit the Festool OF1400 screw pattern?

Thanks,

Dan.