Descending Ashtray

Well, I finally finished the big shop cleanup on Sunday (pics tomorrow), and I was glad to get out to the shop tonight for some fun. Before I start any new projects, I wanted to try a new circle-cutting jig idea I had for my small laminite trim router. The first circle jig is nice, but a little bulky, and can only work with fixed diameters. I was hoping for something a little more manageable and adjustable. I think I’ve got it.

As you can see, there is a sliding machine screw which can be inserted into a hole drilled into a workpiece. The radius is determined by the screw’s distance from the router bit, and can be adjusted by loosening the thumbscrew and sliding the screw closer or further to the bit. Here’s a shot showing the bottom of the jig and how it’s attached to the router.

A little closer view shows how the machine screw is tightened - by a small nut which slides in a routed channel in the jig. Works great.