cutting circles - carvex or router?

[VW mick]

yes true im usually using mdf that can easily be filled or im making formers for a larger curved item ..

but its fairly inexpesive to cut a template from 9 or 12mm mdf using the pivot and then clamp to the finished item and use a folowing wheel cutter to copy

 

[Stone Message]

I suppose the issue with all of this in my mind is the difference between clean and holed centres ... if you can put a hole / pilot in you work it simplifies things.

You can easily avoid making a hole if you clamp a piece of wood (with the pivot point hole in it) on the piece to be cut. For full circles you can use double sided tape or something similar.

Peter

 

[jmbfestool]

Figured i would throw this out to see what the preferred methods are for cutting large (40" diameter and up) circles in 5/4 + hardwood - sans bandsaw

Got the carvex and accessory kit but not all that blown away and not trusting the results from test pieces. maybe blade / set up issues?

If you are getting poor results check your pendulum stroke setting - it should be on position 3.

For large circles where you need a really good finish I would do the rough cut with the Carvex to within 2mm of the final size and then finish with the router. Using the router gives you loads of options for the shape of the finished edge.

Peter

Why bother waisting time cutting with a jigsaw? Take a while going round staying 2mm away from the line.  Might as well go straight in with a router.

Especially if your only routering something 18-20mm. Couple plunges and you are thru. 

Jmb

 

[Stone Message]

Why bother waisting time cutting with a jigsaw? Take a while going round staying 2mm away from the line.   Might as well go straight in with a router.

Especially if your only routering something 18-20mm. Couple plunges and you are thru.  

Jmb

Hi Jmb,

You are right but it depends on what you are doing and whether you want to end up with a particular shape where the cutter may not be suitable for a plunge and cut operation. Not all of us have razor sharp cutters that can do a decent job without giving them a head start.

Just remembered - you would probably do a circle freehand anyway !

Peter

 

[rst]

If the edge finish is critical cut oversize (1/8"-3/16") with jigsaw or router and than trim to final dimension with router.  Use the scrap piece with pilot double sided tape method if the center must be clean.  I use these to fabricate acrylic rounds that need a clear edge.  I actually use a self built jig with a Woods vacuum cup and a pivot arm that I fab'd with 8020 material an i do this sort of thing quite often.

 

[jacko9]

Router attached to a shop made pivot arm where you take shallow cuts until your finished and it leaves you a clean edge every time if you have a quality router.

Jack

 

[gtriderr]

I have always preferred using a router to cut an arch or circle. I may cut close to my my line with a jig saw to keep the heat down on the router blade yet like the smooth cut from the router.  Saying that I can say that I have cut a few circles with my Carvex and it does a great job. 

I recently cut moldings for a window in our house that I did in MDF with a 36" radius. I used my OF1400 with MFS 1000 rails. I like using the MFS rails as you can dial in right where you want to be.

John

 

[dltflt]

well i ran out to buy the carvex + acc kit predominantly for this task to replace the router method that i had been using. the irony

Are you sure you weren't just using that as aaa  excuse to get a new tool.

 

[rsh]

I totally was - but sadly the new tool did not make my life any easier or the quality of the work better, which is the whole point, right?

But i am thankful for the opportunity to try. I really hated returning it, even brought in samples of the cuts. Felt awful. But it was not for me.

 

[Stone Message]

I totally was - but sadly the new tool did not make my life any easier or the quality of the work better, which is the whole point, right?

But i am thankful for the opportunity to try. I really hated returning it, even brought in samples of the cuts. Felt awful. But it was not for me.

With Festool being so good it is easy to forget that a jigsaw is never going to produce the highest quality cuts and sometimes it is easy expect too much. I used to avoid using my old jigsaw but am now happy with the 420 to factor it into my work regime. The PSC 420, if correctly set up, will produce clean right angled cuts and flowing curves. I still like to finish off curved work with the router if it is a high quality piece.

Peter

 

[gstuartw]

Funny thing. I just used my Carvex for the first time today…its been in the Systainer for a couple months. I deliberated getting the accessory kit when I bought the saw. Well I was flush with cash I guess and I popped for both items. Later on I wondered if I was silly getting the accessory kit with all those table options.

So I'm putting together my shop dust collection system today and needed a few discs of MDF. I turned to the Carvex with the circle cutter and had a blast. At 5 discs my cost per disc right now is $40 but I know I'll be using that accessory in the future and with each time the investment wiser.

I appreciate all the comments though, being a hobbyist it was great to hear the suggestions offered the OP.