francis
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My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Feb 3, 2016 20:48:34 GMT
I purchased a Dremel router base from S-M just before Christmas and decided their circle cutting jig was a little pricey so I built one of my own today from some plywood scraps and bits of ali and brass in the metal draw... Francis
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alig
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Post by alig on Feb 3, 2016 20:58:42 GMT
That's a thing of some beauty - esp for home-made!
You'll be able to sell them yourself...
Alasdair.
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francis
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Post by francis on Feb 3, 2016 21:35:50 GMT
That's a thing of some beauty - esp for home-made! You'll be able to sell them yourself... Alasdair. Darn site easier than a guitar
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Feb 3, 2016 21:42:48 GMT
That looks like it'll do the trick pretty well. I've actually got a couple of the Stew Mac ones sitting in a cupboard they are much more fiddly to adjust than yours looks to be. One word of advice about the stew mac router base, yes I've got one of those in the cupboard too. Before every cut just check that the four nuts are tight, the adjuster on the leg with the spring is particularly prone to coming loose, and believe me it can wreck your day if it does and you don't notice. The newer Dremels are better, but the one I had showed a lot of runout in the main bearing so I switched to a Bosch laminate trimmer some years ago and made a circle cutter jig (I made one for Dave as well) this also allowed me to use 1/4" bits, which are stiffer so give less runout. Also, make sure when cutting the rosette trench into the spruce top to make climb cuts so that you are always cutting down the grain as with the lower power of the Dremel and the finer bits it can follow the grain rather than cutting through it so that you can end up with non-circular circles, if that makes sense. Same cutting regime as you use when cutting binding channels. In other words for the circle, cut first from 12->3, 12->9, 6->3 and 6->9, then go in a complete circle to finish. Sorry if this is all a bit grandmother and eggs. Colin
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francis
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Post by francis on Feb 3, 2016 21:53:53 GMT
That looks like it'll do the trick pretty well. ..... Sorry if this is all a bit grandmother and eggs. Colin Good advice Colin. I use an Axminster version of the Dremel. Very good little machine. I have a DeWalt laminate trimmer I use for most luthier work but find it a bit bulky for rosettes. Not had much luck in finding very small ¼ inch shank cutters as I use a 1mm cutter for inserting thin rings quite a lot with a small manual hand router to cut out waste between the 1mm channels when inserting veneers. Francis
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,320
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Post by colins on Feb 3, 2016 22:45:18 GMT
Oh yes the Axminster one is far superior, so you should be good, much better bearings. I do like the shear mass of the laminate trimmer as it seems more stable. I've got a DeWalt as well in my binding jig, great trimmers. Colin
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francis
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Post by francis on Feb 4, 2016 10:34:41 GMT
It worked: Octave Mandolin rosette. 1mm W/B/W lines with veneer infill
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missclarktree
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Post by missclarktree on Feb 4, 2016 18:54:31 GMT
A gorgeous looking circle cutting jig francis. You must be proud of it, especially as it works so well. I think you should write a dance tune; The Circle Cutting Jig. And when the day eventually comes when you have to give up doing that particular jig, you could use it as an attractive ornament for the mantelpiece.
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francis
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,391
My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Feb 4, 2016 20:20:54 GMT
Soundhole after initial clean-up: Still some local attention needed but that can wait until the body is assembled. Francis
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