Router Jig

[Dalboy]

Thought I would take a break from the waggon and make a router jig to use on the lathe as I have a few ideas that I want to try.

Managed to cut a few parts ready for it as well as a bed for it to run on. Still some cut outs to make before assembly comences

 

[CHJ]

Interested to see your take on the subject, been on my to-do list for some time, I have several routers just sitting in the cupboard doing nothing.

 

[Dalboy]

Partly from pictures as well as making it up as I go. Should be able to get some of the cut outs done tomorrow

 

[hawkeyefxr]

Looking forward to seeing this in use. Like other i have thought of it but done nothing about it.

 

[Dalboy]

Nothing done to it today just too tired been up all night in A & E and got home about 8 this morning and the wife has banned me from the shed for the rest of the day. But it has given me time to work out how to best hold the router in place which as it turns out was a simpler solution than i was orininaly thinking. All will be revealed as the build goes on.

 

[CHJ]

Sorry to hear you have had to visit A&E, one of those places we are all truly thankful for but hope we never have to visit.

As they say "the Boss knows best" so do as you're told for once.

Guilty of over thinking things myself as well, spent several hours pondering how I was going to accurately align some fixings on a project recently, sketching out jigs etc. to hold things true, came to prepare the stock and quickly clamped it up to see if it looked right and a simple no brainer solution was obvious.

 

[Dalboy]

Sorry to hear you have had to visit A&E, one of those places we are all truly thankful for but hope we never have to visit.

As they say "the Boss knows best" so do as you're told for once.

Guilty of over thinking things myself as well, spent several hours pondering how I was going to accurately align some fixings on a project recently, sketching out jigs etc. to hold things true, came to prepare the stock and quickly clamped it up to see if it looked right and a simple no brainer solution was obvious.

Thank you Chas.

Sometimes there is a simpler way and most times it comes after spending a bit of time building the complete item could just kick yourself .

 

[Dalboy]

After the other morning I am taking it easy in the shed.

This is the router that I intend to use on this jig.

Today I found a spare bottom to a old cheap router that packed up on me.
As it turned out the hole which holds the motor unit was a fraction to small less than 1mm so I set to it with my dremel and a sanding drum this did not take to long and now the motor fits. This will mean that I can just unbolt the motor and replace it in it's original assembly for use as a hand held router, but I can see this staying in the jig as I have two of this model

All stripped down of anything not needed

Time to cut a mounting board. i know I could use the router bracket without but felt I needed this board, it is only 1/4" thick. As you can see from the two holes the first one ripped out on the reverse as I drilled straight through even with a backing board. The lower hole is nice and clean after drilling from both sides

Board all marked out

Checked the board for fit just the right size for what I need. I noticed the handle lugs stick out a bit

A quick hacksaw job and a file ready for the next parts

 

[Dalboy]

Again not a lot done. The old router bit I am using as the clamping piece for the router body has two large holes for the uprights to fit into to larger diameter for using as a securing point so to be able to secure it to the jig and as it needs to slide up and down the jig the bolts would flop about in these holes.
So the solution is to make a couple of fillers from wood so I managed to make these. I will be using some penny washers on the tops of these when it comes time to assemble otherwise this would just slide off of the inserts.
They still need some trimming I am also thinking that the posts these fit into could do with being shorter, will have to see as the build progresses.

 

[Dalboy]

I did cut down the posts as they are not needed at the length they where. I also glued in the wood dowels in place as well as turn a collar to hold a piece for keeping the depth of cut even on a curved surface. The collar will need a little adjustment before that is glued to the mounting plate. So in the next three pictures I have the router clamp, mounting plate and the collar

Now that the router clamping assembly parts are made I could measure the upright to match that the slots were either cut or routed out. I have done this so that it can be used on various lathes as centre heights differ from lathe to lathe

The following pictures show how all those parts will look now I can start to glue up the stand part of the jig

 

[Dalboy]

Now that all the cutting out is done time to start the assembly. This is the main router support all glud up and dry

With the router fitted into the holder I was able to see if any needed cutting off of the collar and also drill a hole and thread this for a locking screw to lock the spacer in place when I have made them. The collar now glued in place and the lock knob in position you can now see the completed jig minus the spscers which I will make as needed depending on the size of the router bit I wish to use. I am sure I will end up with a few of these.
Also in the pictures you can see the base I made up for it to run on. It has a fair bit of up and down adjustment so it can be used on different lathes it would mean that I may have to make a base board but then I don't change my lathe that often'
I will be using this in the near future so will take some photos of it in use as well as the end results.
Total price of this jig is £2.04 not including glue and my time everything else is what I have been given in the past.

 

[RickG]

Thanks for posting. That looks interesting. As a newbie, I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

 

[Dalboy]

Thanks for posting. That looks interesting. As a newbie, I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

Getting ready to make something, I will make a start tomorrow and then post pictures once complete as it may take a few days.

 

[CHJ]

Getting in the grove in a new direction now Derek, yet another collection of ideas in the 'to-do' list I suspect.

 

[Dalboy]

Getting in the grove in a new direction now Derek, yet another collection of ideas in the 'to-do' list I suspect.

Something I saw on a decorating piece of equipment sparked the idea for this project. Always looking for new ideas, so many to-do on my list. I also need to put together a talk on decorating woodturning for the club, needs to be at least 2 hours worth so the more techniques that I know the better as I can make the subject matter varied when presenting it.

 

[andy43]

Nice build Derek, am I right in thinking the jig fits to the base on the bed bars then moved through slots to produce flutes etc?
cheers
Andy

 

[Dalboy]

Nice build Derek, am I right in thinking the jig fits to the base on the bed bars then moved through slots to produce flutes etc?
cheers
Andy

It just sits on the base and can be moved to any position so you can follow the contours of a piece. All will become clear when I photograph it in use

 

[Dalboy]

Have just started a new thread on a piece I am playing with HERE