router question

actually a router table would be the way to – NOT do it :)

much easier with a handheld router, and a circle guide. set the guide in the middle of the circle, set it’s radius to be the one you wish your circle to be, use a 3/4” straight bit, and set depth of cut to 3/8”, and start routing – take 1/8” on each pass, and you should be done and done in no time.

do a search for circle-guide here and google. there are some store bought ones, and there are homemade one that you can make – a very useful jig to have if you’re using a router – when you need it -there’s nothing better.

EDIT: you can see my Bosch guide on my blog here

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

I would think you would want to look into an inlay set with bushings and the smaller bits. There are a ton of guys here that can explain the details. I don’t think it would require a router table to do, but I may be wrong. Most of the inlay work I have seen has been done with templates that you rout through using the bushing as a guide.

~DB

-- He said wood...http://hickbyassociation.blogspot.com/

If I’m correct, the holes are 3/8” deep and 3/4” wide….if that’s right, I would use a plunge router with a 3/4” stright bit…..simple

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

If I understand this correctly, like Moai just posted, you want holes 3/8” deep, and 3/4” diameter – use a forstner bit and a drill press. If you don’t have a drill press use a hand-held drill, but first drill through some 3/4” scrap sheet good to use as a jig. Clamp the sheet good on your picture frame and use it to hold your bit in the right spot while you drill. That way you don’t have to worry about slipping and messing up your picture frame. For your depth of 3/8” just take it easy, and you can sneak up on all four holes, of course if you have a drill press just set the stop on it.

-- Rand Richards, Wood.Shop@mac.com, wood-shop.org

That’s less dangerous than a router, I agree with Rand
If you decide to go free hand, a good way to know if your forstner bit is going straight, is when it starts to make a FULL circle in the wood surface…I did this many times when fixing those Hafele connectors on melamine shelving.

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.