Main > Main Forum
Another router question
planetjay:
The last time I did that was top make a real Tempest spinner fit into 3/4 plywood. And I freehanded it. But for any thing that shows... use that straight edge.
u_rebelscum:
--- Quote from: Wienerdog on April 28, 2003, 10:15:31 pm ---Holy shmokes, use a straight edge...
--- End quote ---
On the underside where no one will see it? Fah, I freehanded it.
Now, the edges, top, or holes that go all the way through, definitely use a straight edge. Unless you're planing on covering it anyway. But T-molding is not enough coverage for freehanding the edge unless you are really-really good at it.
skirge66:
me personally what i did was just measured from the edge of my bit to the edge of my housing 6.5cm, outlined my holes at 6.5cm from the cut and quickly clamped down boards along those lines just close enough together to not allow the router to go between them. the extra time was less that 10 minutes for all 4 sticks, and they all came out neat and perfect, i think it was worth the extra 10 minutes.
bionicbadger:
--- Quote from: Wienerdog on April 28, 2003, 10:15:31 pm ---Holy shmokes, use a straight edge.
Think of:
-The cost of the wood
-The time you spent cutting the cp out
-How pissed off you would be if your router jumped grain and cut through the end of the wood
--- End quote ---
???
- A couple square feet of wood doesnt cost that much unless you are using a non traditional wood (other than mdf/plywood)
- if your router "jumped grain and cut through the end of the wood" while you are routering out the bottom of your control panel (likely only for joysticks & trackballs, cause if you have to do this for buttons you should be using thinner wood or different buttons) then you would have a larger problem than worrying about the wood on your control panel. A router is dangerous and if you cant control it, you shouldn't be using one. I've never heard of "jumping grain", sometimes if you arent careful it may dig in and you might go a 1/4" off of where you want, but if you are worried about going off the end of the wood, you should be more worried about losing fingers and other serious injury.
ErikRuud:
Skirge66 has the right idea. You do not need templates and bushings. Just build a jig out of scrap wood. The jig would be a rectangular frame.
Maesure from the edge of you routers base to the cutting edge of your bit. Double that measurement the add that to the hight and width of the cut that you want to make to get the size of the frame. Clamp the frame in place and route away.