Woodpecker Variable Router Jig - Now In Stock

[rst]

View attachment 1Ben R, I've used mine to rout out cutouts for commercial locks in aluminum door edges.  Granted, I had to make my own accessory angles to attach to the MFS, but it really wasn't that challenging a project.  I used aluminum 1x2 angle, cut down the 1" side to the height of the MFS, drilled a row of holes and bought extra MFS nuts and screws to attach to the MFS.  This allowed me to clamp the jig to the edge and make it stable enough rout the 3/8 - 1/8 aluminum out.  I used an Amana aluminum routing bit and copious amount of WD-40.  Worse part of routing aluminum is the horrendous noise created.  I would have to pay Kawneer $800.00 extra to buy the door custom prepped from factory.

 

[rvieceli]

[member=64030]TinyShop[/member] I don't have either to measure but from the literature I believe the MFS is 16mm thick and the Woodpecker offering is 18mm. So not that much difference.

Ron

 

[Cheese]

Yea, the MFS is 16 mm.

 

[Cheese]

Hey [member=25351]rst[/member] , what diameter is that Amana cutter and what RPM do you run it at?

I've also used my MFS with the 1010 & a carbide end mill to rout out clamp insertion slots in 80/20.

Boy they sure charge a premium for the door prep!!    [eek]  I'd think something in the $200-$250 range would be more equitable.

[attachimg=1]

 

[rst]

I used a .250 Amana from Toolstoday.com.  The # is HSS1656  - HSS Aluminum down spiral. 
Kawneer does not do "equitable".  I live 16 miles away from the Bloomsburg, PA site.  When I started 39 years ago, If I needed repair parts, I could stop in, call a rep, he would have the parts brought out, I'd sign the paperwork and be on to the repair.  Quite some time ago they dropped all distributors that did less than $250.000/yr.  Now I have to buy from a distributor out of Pittsburg and they ship over the road and I pay shipping.
"Today we are courteous and helpful...this will cease as soon as we become successfull"

 

[jarbroen]

I've been really happy with the Woodpecker VRJ.  It was a surprise from my wife last year.

It made cutting a bunch of door hinge mortises easy.  I cut a fascia board to fit a louvered vent and the fit was spot on - with just a quick measurement and some subtraction.  I like using the metric side with metric sized router bit and the 30mm guide ring on the OF1400.  It simplifies calculating the jig sizing.

It's also great for specific sized cutouts in plywood panels, or recesses.

I'm looking forward to making some inlays with it when I get some time.  I have a bunch of neat looking figured maple and walnut I want to put together.

I also plan on using it as part of a slab planing setup.

I'd say the biggest limitation of the jig is having time to play with it.

Really?! I imagine these types of setups would be too large and cumbersome to used on material as thin as the edge of a door. How did you clamp it to the door?

Check out the MFS supplemental 'instructions'.  I forget who wrote it but it talks about all kinds of uses and they apply to the Woodpecker version as well.

I stood the doors on their backside and clamped to the side of my MFT.  I set the jig on the edge of the door and just used a block and some shims to level the back of the jig.  Easy peasy.

 

[Farming_Sawyer]

So sell me on this vs mfs 700.... I need a tool like this for various upcoming projects... Like routing vent register holes in floors and placing patches where other vents were removed.... Best I can find is an mfs700 for around 500$ from Europe.
The trend jig is tempting, but looks flimsy. I'd also want to use the jig for flattening slabs. Does the woodpecker jig have an accessory like the mfs sled (an additional $175....)?
Seems like the woodpecker jig with 60" additional tracks is still way cheaper than an mfs700.
Can the woodpecker tracks be joined end for end?

 

[Svar]

So sell me on this vs mfs 700....

WVRJ definitely has better connectors conveniently accessible from the top (not the side as in MFS). Not sure why WP chose 2 screws instead of 1 centrally located.

 

[cpw]

WVRJ definitely has better connectors conveniently accessible from the top (not the side as in MFS). Not sure why WP chose 2 screws instead of 1 centrally located.

I think one on each side helps prevent "wobble".  You're going to have both the left and the right side of the track cinched up to the perpendicular track.  With the Woodpecker design, if there was a single screw in the center, the tracks could more easily get out of plane.

 

[Svar]

WVRJ definitely has better connectors conveniently accessible from the top (not the side as in MFS). Not sure why WP chose 2 screws instead of 1 centrally located.

I think one on each side helps prevent "wobble".  You're going to have both the left and the right side of the track cinched up to the perpendicular track.  With the Woodpecker design, if there was a single screw in the center, the tracks could more easily get out of plane.

There is a plastic piece that fits into the slots and ensures proper alignment. Hence, only one central screw is required.

 

[TinyShop]

[member=64030]TinyShop[/member] I don't have either to measure but from the literature I believe the MFS is 16mm thick and the Woodpecker offering is 18mm. So not that much difference.

Ron

I had a question into Woodpeckers about something else and so asked them to clarify the thickness spec for the template. The spec for the aluminium profile is .700" (17.78mm) but in practice it varies up to, and this a direct quote, "+/- .010"[(.25mm)], but typically it is better than that". So there you have it!

Also, corroborating the earlier responses by [member=3192]rvieceli[/member] and [member=44099]Cheese[/member] , Brice Burrell's Supplemental Manual for the MFS states that the profile measures 16mm thick:

 

[cpw]

There is a plastic piece that fits into the slots and ensures proper alignment. Hence, only one central screw is required.

The plastic piece has little nubs that fit into the perpendicular rail, which get you 99% of the way there and are probably sufficient with a single screw.  When I had one screw tightened, but not the other; there was a fraction of an mm of flex that I could push on with my finger and get them out of plane.  I could not do that with both screws tightened.  Of course, that's not particularly real world.

 

[Farming_Sawyer]

The mfs can be used for routing circles... Can the woodpecker?

 

[Cheese]

The mfs can be used for routing circles... Can the woodpecker?

All the Woodpecker extrusion needs is a pivot point.

I know it may be blasphemous to some, but I've drilled holes through my MFS to secure it to the substrate with screws. It's just an aluminum extrusion.

 

[Farming_Sawyer]

The mfs can be used for routing circles... Can the woodpecker?

All the Woodpecker extrusion needs is a pivot point.

I know it may be blasphemous to some, but I've drilled holes through my MFS to secure it to the substrate with screws. It's just an aluminum extrusion.

Good point. I've thought about doing the same once I get something, so I can secure it to the floor......

 

[Cheese]

Good point. I've thought about doing the same once I get something, so I can secure it to the floor......

FWIW...here it is screwed to 3/4" ply to allow me to rout out some HVAC vents in Brazilian cherry. You really don't notice the screws or the holes, however it makes for a very robust method to prevent any movement of the MFS. I have no regrets...none. [smile]

[attachimg=1]

 

[bkharman]

Good point. I've thought about doing the same once I get something, so I can secure it to the floor......

FWIW...here it is screwed to 3/4" ply to allow me to rout out some HVAC vents in Brazilian cherry. You really don't notice the screws or the holes, however it makes for a very robust method to prevent any movement of the MFS. I have no regrets...none. [smile]

[attachimg=1]

Cheese, that looks like a better job for the Shaper Origin [emoji15]

After a week long delay mine comes tomorrow. Can’t wait to eat some wood and domino tape!

Cheers. Bryan.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Farming_Sawyer]

Good point. I've thought about doing the same once I get something, so I can secure it to the floor......

FWIW...here it is screwed to 3/4" ply to allow me to rout out some HVAC vents in Brazilian cherry. You really don't notice the screws or the holes, however it makes for a very robust method to prevent any movement of the MFS. I have no regrets...none. [smile]

[attachimg=1]

Thanks. That's exactly one of the applications I have in mind.

 

[Cheese]

Cheese, that looks like a better job for the Shaper Origin [emoji15]

After a week long delay mine comes tomorrow. Can’t wait to eat some wood and domino tape!

No kidding Bryan... [smile]  That Shaper Origin would have made this HVAC grill madness a lot easier. Here's a photo.

I received my Origin right before Christmas but haven't fired it up yet. I'm still trying to figure out .svg files.  [crying] [crying]

[attachimg=1]

 

[PeterJJames13]

Cheese, that looks like a better job for the Shaper Origin [emoji15]

After a week long delay mine comes tomorrow. Can’t wait to eat some wood and domino tape!

No kidding Bryan... [smile]  That Shaper Origin would have made this HVAC grill madness a lot easier. Here's a photo.

I received my Origin right before Christmas but haven't fired it up yet. I'm still trying to figure out .svg files.  [crying] [crying]

[attachimg=1]

I'm with you [member=44099]Cheese[/member]  - still working on my Fusion skills.......