Measured three times, cut once and wouldn't ya know it...

[dbhost]

After all the painstaking measurements, and re measuring, I managed to be off 1/4" on my circle cutting jig, making my candle stand top 1/2" too small overall. The cut with my MLCS router bit wasn't as clean going across the grain as I would have hoped either... I need to re think my approach.

Any suggestions for using a router to cut a circle in 4/4 oak?

[Bill in Buena Park]

Dave - do you have to use the router to cut the circle? I'm sure you could make that work after some fine tuning, but why not cut large with a jig saw or band saw, then clean up with either the router or the lathe?

[dbhost]

You are working on my same thought process. I need double stick carpet tape to do this, but I need that for a mess of router projects anyway... (Signmaking jig stuff...)

[atgcpaul]

If I'm ever trimming a curve flush using a template or a jig (like your circle jig), I now always cut as close to the final dimension using a jigsaw or bandsaw.

[LCHIEN]

Measurement problem or fundamental math problem? Did you compute the distance to the inside edge of the router bit or the outside edge and subtract rather than add a half router bit thickness to the intended radius?

Using a spiral downcut bit will eliminate the tearout. Taking small depth passes will also make a cleaner cit. If you are using a 1/4" bit then passes of around 1/8" are almost called for. It will take a while but protect the bit and make a clean cut.

[dbhost]

Fundamental math problem. I measured center to center, forgetting the size of the router bit itself as a needed variable... (D'oh!).

I have enough material, and I wanted the top to be larger anyway, I am going to do a larger glue up, and add about 2" to the diameter of this thing... Now what to do with a messed up disk? I am thinking Lazy Susan for a Christmas gift for a friends Son and Daughter in law that just got married...

[LCHIEN]

Fundamental math problem. I measured center to center, forgetting the size of the router bit itself as a needed variable... (D'oh!).

I have enough material, and I wanted the top to be larger anyway, I am going to do a larger glue up, and add about 2" to the diameter of this thing... Now what to do with a messed up disk? I am thinking Lazy Susan for a Christmas gift for a friends Son and Daughter in law that just got married...

Take a long straight with the grain 1/4" wide strip of a contrasting hardwoord, steam it and wrap around the table circle top and glue and clamp in place.
Might have to make a steam fixture out of PVC pipe or something.

[dbhost]

Already moved on to the glue up for the 2nd one. But not a bad solution...