How to Cut Circles and Curves With a Router (page 1 of 2)
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Here's How To Do It:
- Step 1: Cut the Plywood Into a Circle current page
- Step 2: Drill Holes in the Circle current page
- Step 3: Screw the Jig Into the Router Base current page
- Step 4: Drill Pivot Holes in the Arm of the Jig current page
- Step 5: Cut a Circle current page
- Step 6: Drill Holes in the Wood Block page 2
- Step 7: Sand the Dowels page 2
- Step 8: Apply Wood Glue page 2
- Step 9: Lay the Dowels on the Sides of Router page 2
- Step 10: Cut an Arch or Circle page 2
Step 1: Cut the Plywood Into a Circle
Take off the sub-base of the router to determine how big the circular end of the jig should be. Cut the end of the piece of 36" x 14" x 1/4" plywood into a circle the same size as the router's sub-base.
Step 2: Drill Holes in the Circle
Drill holes into the circular end of the jig to correspond with the holes in the sub-base. Use the sub-base to guide the drilling.
Step 3: Screw the Jig Into the Router Base
Screw the circular end of the jig into the router's base, aligning the circles on the sub-base with the holes drilled in the jig.
Step 4: Drill Pivot Holes in the Arm of the Jig
Drill small pivot holes into the arm of the jig, spaced 1 inch apart.
Step 5: Cut a Circle
To use the jig to cut a circle, draw a line on the work piece from its center to the end of the desired radius of the circle. Center the router atop the end point of the radius. Drive a nail through the appropriate hole in the jig that corresponds with the center of the work piece (image 1). Set the router to the proper depth, and make a slow pass through the work piece, using the nail as a pivot point (image 2). Make deep cuts in several passes, lowering the router bit slightly after each pass.
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