Any recommendations for router circle-cutting jig

Re: Any recommendations for router circle-cutting

Mark Nowicki

https://www.busybeetools.com/products/circle-guide-kit.html

https://www.langevinforest.com/en/circle-edge-guide-w-offset-base-47608

https://www.elitetools.ca/en/product/milescraft-router-circle-edge-guide/

Elite Tools has the Ellipse jig in stock.

Rockler ships to Canada

Re: Any recommendations for router circle-cutting

JL

I purchased the Milescraft jig from Rockler (rather my wife purchased it for me).

It worked great for cutting out large circular cutouts out of plywood.

Re: Any recommendations for router circle-cutting

Keith L Newton

Howard, What I've done for years, is to rip a scrap of 1/2" plywood about as wide as the base of my router. Then drill a hole of the same size as the router's template guide bushing to insert into. Then set the router down on it, and lock the bit flush with the bottom and roll it onto it's side to measure from either side, whichever your cutting inside or outside, then drill a small hole for the center to rotate around. I never felt a need for any stinking store bought jig with this.

Now, you didn't mention size, so if you want a really large arc where a wooden arm gets cumbersome due to drag and flex, >8', like some years ago when I needed a series of concentric arcs from 30' out to 40' to make nosing for the steps of a church choir loft, I used a 100' steel tape measure. By taking the lower fence portion off the router edge guide, I used the fine adjustment screw hole to attach the hook on the end of the tape, then clamped the measurement I wanted to a porch post out on the back of my parking lot. To keep the tape from snagging, I laid some pvc pipe across so it would slide easily. A waste board under the sheets actually being cut was nailed to the asphalt. That was back in the days before I had a friend with a big CNC router, and even now I might could cut with this set-up as fast as writing the program for the CNC.

Maybe someday someone will stop by and help me do a video of the ellipse jig I made about 30 something years ago.

Re: Any recommendations for router circle-cutting

Howard in Toronto

Thanks for all your replies.

Keith, your output sounds extraordinary - I’d love to see ANY pics you might have!

I liked the Rockler trammel *LINK*

Tim Greif - West of Chicago

I used the Rockler circle trammel with my PC 690 and got really nice results.


My circular picture frame project

Re: Any recommendations for router circle-cutting

Grant Smith

Woodhaven makes a Circle jig for the bandsaw as well as one for larger tasks. I have the latter, and have found it to be well made, accurate, and fairly simple to use once you set it up the first time. Indeed, all of their products are very well made of high quality components (and made in USA, too). If you aren't familiar with Woodhaven, have a look at their website, I am certain there are other items you might find useful. I have several of their jigs, and I would put them up against almost any company at similar price ranges.

https://woodhaven.com/products/woodhaven-3260-circle-jig?variant=11920716740&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItqaUmsWu8QIVsA2tBh3xdQD1EAAYASAAEgLgR_D_BwE

FWIW,

Grant in Iowa

Make one.

Ellis

Mike L

didn't you have plans for a circle cutting jig that also did an ellipsis?

Ellipse jig

Ellis Walentine

Hi Mike,

Yes, when I was at American Woodworker magazine, we designed a jig that can be used to create ellipses with a router. This jig was not the typical "BS grinder" design where your router is mounted on an arm that cycles through an elliptical path by way of pins that ride in opposing tracks. It involved a platform that could be made to rotate in elliptical fashion while a router was held stationary above it. With it, you can rout a perfect ellipse of any dimension.

Ellis

That sounds great for an over-arm router, BUT?

Keith L Newton

How does a small shop support that router, especially if the ellipse is very large?

Sometimes for architectural projects I've needed to cut parts about 5' x 15'. Of course you know that the pins need to be half the distance between the long and short radii, so in that case, 7.5 - 2.5= 5' apart. Then you would need room to rotate some pretty large parts on the mounting surface. I'm having trouble visualizing what you describe in action?

Standard router

Ellis Walentine

The "overarm" in this case is a 3/4" x 10" x 7' piece of VC plywood with the router mounted to one end. There's also a pencil holder on the end, so you can use the jig to draw any ellipse, too.

For some reason I haven't been able to find the article on Google Books or anywhere else on line recently. It used to be there. Anyhow, here is a dressing mirror I made for the article, so you can get the idea of the scale and proportions of some of the ellipses. Every shape and section, besides the big round-overs and the chamfers, is elliptical. You can even rout ovals up to 9' and more with excellent accuracy.

I'll find the article online if I can.

Ellis

looks like Ellis should start videos

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

beginning with the elliptical mirror.

Re: looks like Ellis should start videos

Ellis

I actually made a promotional video showing how our jig works. Sadly, I know of no existing copies of it. Too bad. And now, my shop consists of a one-car garage and the jig is in my neighbor's shop in British Columbia. If they ever open the border I may see it again.

Re: looks like Ellis should start videos

Mark Hennebury

I'm with Bill on this!

That's a nice mirror and a demo on how this jig works to make it would be worth seeing.

Lot's of great ideas and processes have been figured out by those that have been working at this trade for decades. Stuff that was thought out to solve problems at the time, to get work done. Some of the jigs and template and processes are brilliant in function and simplicity. Much was done years before the internet and never made its way to the general public, It is a shame not to share this knowledge. My guess is that you have a lot to share.

Re: Ellipse jig

Carlos

Is this the article?

https://www.woodworkingarchive.biz/chop-saw-station/by-ellis-walentine.html

I know the link says chop saw station but it is an ellipse jig.

Re: Ellipse jig

Ellis Walentine

That's it, Carlos. I didn't know about that site. The original article was five pages long though, and had a lot more photos and illustrations, but this will give you the gist of it.

Thanks,

Ellis

Re: Ellipse jig

Carlos

If you follow the links that don't seem to apply, you will see more of the article and pictures.

And there is a great picture of the author.

Check the border rules - they changed today

Henry (Raleigh NC)

Hey Ellis

As of midnight last night, the rules on entry to Canada have changed. I have not verified it, but met socially yesterday with several Canadian/American friends living in USA and having aging parent(s) in Ontario (my situation). One was planning a drive in trip shortly because the rules have changed, as of midnight last night.

As I understand it, now you need a neg Covid test, and then get another test at the border (unsure of how vax status plays into the rules). You need to quarantine 24-48 hrs (family ok, as long as there is no one immuno-comprimised and no one over 65) until neg Covid test from border provides the all clear.

So your BC digs may have just become accessible!

Henry

Hope springs eternal

Ellis Walentine

Thanks for the heads-up. I believe the relaxed rules pertain only to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. We're still hopeful that they will admit vaccinated Americans soon, but so far no joy.

Ellis

Agreed

Henry (Raleigh NC)

Sorry to have raised your hopes Ellis - possibly without merit.

I had not read through the requirements, and the group I was talking with are all Am citizens that have immigrated from Canada, so likely dual citizens (therefore now likely/possibly eligible).

Not the easiest checklist to navigate, as I found myself going in circles (when answering as a dual citizen; easier and more clear when answering as a foreign national), but if I read it correctly, as a dual citizen I MIGHT be eligible. I will await news of my friend's trip before we plan any family visits.

Standards for paperwork are not easy ones; how exactly do I prove that my mother is my mother? I have a birth certificate and an expired Canadian passport, but I don't recall that these state the necessary info.

It's been awhile since I have seen my family in person, but even my octagenarian mother has learned to Zoom and Facetime!

Henry