Help requested - cutting a circular recess in wood

[Lewisd]

Hi

I wonder if you guys can help me.

I am making some center pieces for my wedding and plan to use offcuts from dead wood branches with a glass bell jar sat on top for the centres.

I need to sit the bell jar onto the sawn wood surface and thought that a shallow (3mm width glass, approx 7 inches in diameter) circular recess / groove in the wood would prevent the bell jar slipping.

Any ideas on the most cost effective way to produce this without a lathe / router?

Thanks

Lewis

 

[Steve Maskery]

Hi Lewis
What tools do you have?

 

[Lewisd]

Hi

I have a fairly basic set of stuff from my dad including the normal drills and there is a small pillar drill I think.

Quite happy to purchase something, but want to do this as cost effectively as possible really and as its just for 10 centre pieces the cost of a router is not justifiable.

Lewis

 

[xy mosian]

Might I suggest a circular wooden plug, to fit inside the bell jar, glued and or pinned to the timber. It need only be sufficiently thick to steady the jar.
xy

 

[Steve Maskery]

Well if you want cheap and have access to some very basic metalwork, you could make a scratchstock on a pivot point and just scratch the wood away. It's far from ideal, but it is cost-effective.
S

 

[UTMonkey]

Might I suggest a circular wooden plug, to fit inside the bell jar, glued and or pinned to the timber. It need only be sufficiently thick to steady the jar.
xy

I like that one, how about a magnet at the bottom of the jar?

 

[xy mosian]

Sorry, my earlier post assumed the bell jar to be mouth down. If not them I am with Steve.
xy

 

[Steve Maskery]

Well I was assuming mouth down too but actually I like your idea better.
S

 

[dickm]

If you don't mind having a small hole in the middle of the surface, an old tank cutter used in a wood brace might do the job? But, again, depends what hand tools the OP has, and how fast it all needs to be done.
Maybe a request to forum members - someone with a router in your neighbourhood could do the job pretty fast with a template.

 

[Lons]

A router is the tool really. normally I would never advocate buying a cheap machine but I've seen small B&D for less than £40 and probably even cheaper makes will be available - try ebay. Add say £5 - 10 for a cutter and you have a tool you can use on other projects. Cheaper than hiring!
Failing that, is there anyone who would loan you a machine or actually make the cuts for you?

You'd still need to mahe a template but that isn't too difficult.

Bob

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

As your in chesterfield (30-40min) from me. If you do wish to do them yourself you could always pop in to my workshop and ill happily set you up with a router and a jig (or lathe if they fit and you prefer) for you to do the work. On the other hand if you would prefer someone to do these for you I would be happy to while you wait or via the postal services.

 

[JakeS]

You'd still need to mahe a template but that isn't too difficult.

Or a trammel!

http://woodworkingtips.com/etips/etip030201wb.html

The simplest way to get a perfect circle, IMO. If you use a bit of MDF/plyt/whatever at least as long as the diameter of your circle instead of the (minimum necessary) radius, then once you've routed out the outline, if you want to get rid of the wood in the middle of the circle as well, you can re-mount your router on the centre of the board, where the pin was, and use it as a wide base to prevent the router dropping into the hole you're carving out. If it's longer than the diameter then the board will sit either side of the cut-out circle and support the router at the same height throughout.

 

[Lewisd]

Dear all

I just wanted to say thank you ever so much for your detailed and really helpful suggestions - I might see if I can borrow / hire a router as this seems to be the ideal solution.

I also like the elegant solution of the wooden plug.

Thank you all - will keep you all updated on the progress and will probably be back for some more tips.

So great to stumble on what appears to be a great forum community.

Thanks again.

Lewis

 

[Lons]

Lewis

That's a very generous offer from HC. Loan of equipment and tuition if needed or wanted. =D> =D>
Might be worth serious consideration.

Bob

 

[johnwc812]

Hi,
A really simple solution would be to drill 3 holes, equaly spaced around the cicumference of the wood base and insert 3 dowels.
Even simpler would be to knock in 3 plastic map pins.
Congratulations for your wedding
John

 

[xy mosian]

Lewis, with a generous offer like that from HC. I would take it up. A chance to learn, see how a professional earns his living and likely a good natter to boot.
xy