I have tried so many circle jigs my head spins just thinking about it.

I finally broke down and went with the Micro Fence version. I will never go back.

This is the first circle jig I have ever used that was precise enough out of the box to match radius's with a simple turn of a screw. I never, ever, could trim my inlays with a circle jig because of backlash or whatever. Even my Woodhaven Circle Jig which I consider fantastic is relegated to just cutting circles in ply for templates, but never used for cutting the edge of an actual inlay or used to make two matched radius pieces. Even with the Woodhaven's precision screw adjustment it was to wiggly and imprecise to produce two exactly matched radius's. I had to use specialized jigs. Until I went Micro Fence!

With this Micro Fence jig I now have no fear at all of damaging or ruining my work.

It is the perfect precision and quality to match up with the Festool routers.

Micro Fence

The Micro Fence stuff IS EXPENSIVE. If I had to pay for it myself I probably would not even have it right now.

I am going to take some pictures and post them showing how to match up two radius exactly using this jig. In the past I have made specialized jigs for the router to do this.

It is shown on their site, in short:

Just make your first radius, then measure your router bit thickness with a caliper. Then dial in that bit thickness to the circle jig to move the router the exact amount of the bit thickness. The next radius you cut will be an exact fit to the first radius.

Sounds simple and it is on the Micro Fence set up, not so simple any other circle jig I ever used. Heck most circle jigs only have 1/16" graduations to begin with! Lead screw technology with NO backlash is the key, just like on the Incra stuff.

Micro Fence is definitley Festool quality and compliments the Festool routers.

Nickao,

What are the size (smallest to largest) of the circles you can cut with the setup you have and your 1400?  I would love to have something like that to make speaker hole cutouts with.

I just read on the site....6 - 48 inches...  how would you cut holes for smaller than 6 inch holes?  MFS??

For speaker holes and rebates, I use the Jasper jigs. Definitely accurate enough for that purpose and with a precise 1/4" bit, I can find no error in the hole diameters. I utilize the Porter Cable 7529 plunge router dedicated for that and have not had any problems for this purpose. Now if I was doing what Nickao does, I would surely be looking for something that had micro adjustability.
Pete

Nick,

Did you get the vacuum base for your circle jig?  I've been looking at micro fence for a while, just haven't pulled the trigger yet.  Also which routers do you have it set up for?

Yep Rutabagared  is correct for the way I show the system you can not go smaller than 6"

Like he says they have the center bar and levers to go with the edge guide for smaller circles. I generally use a router and hole templates I have for almost any size less than 6" though.

I will be getting the edge guide and center bar  for the smaller circles when I do I will post.

Yep for that the Jasper Circle Jigs are fine, I have 3 different Jasper. I do use my Woodhaven for the templates as well and sometimes the newer Rockler circle oval combo jig.

The reason I stopped using the Jasper is that I make every inlay by hand and they always come out a little differnt size.  I have to make the inlays disc sized for the Jasper instead of making the circle jig work for the size I make(make sense). I think one Jasper I have goes to a 1/16", but for an inlay that can be a fairly big gap. Thinking about it, now that I have the micro adjustment to cut the inlays with the Micro Fence it would be simple to cut the disks to be sized for use with a Jasper. Just another reason to get the Micro Fence jig!

The main reason to spend the big bucks on the Micro Fence circle jig is for matched radius work, that is where it excels over the other jigs out there.

Their base does look real nice.  I'm a believer in you get what you pay for, but $400 would be hard to swallow, maybe not for you since you use routers so much. 

Nick:

How do you handle the "pivot"?

If I'm seeing your set up correctly, it seems that you would have some sort of center problems to account for.


Tom

Guys the Micro Fence is also Metric if you like:

Metric Conversion Kit

I think if you ask ahead of time you can just purchase it as metric instead of having to purchase the initial guide and then add the Metric at an additional cost. Micro Fence is really easy to work with and they are very accommodating.

I am thinking maybe both may come in handy for me on occasion if I want to take the time to switch the micrometer out.

'Sorry for dragging this on.

On the mfr's website, it seemed that they had a vacuum center clamping mechanism. I'm wonering if one could use that to avoid any holes in the center of something like the medalions you make, Nick.


Tom

Well I make the star independently first , than add the field pieces. It is only then that I start using a router to spin around the inlay or a disc sander with a circle jig to spin the inlay into the disc sander to make each ring a perfect circle.

I am not sure I answered the question.

Nick

Sounds like the hole goes in the backer board and he works with the good side down.