How to Build a Circle Cutting Jig for Your Router

[@livingimprovements4382]

Theres a number of "easiest" circle jig videos on here, this is the best and easiest ive seen, ill definitely be using this method. THanks

[@marktate6844]

I have to make a perfect circle in a t&g cypress ceiling to insert a medallion for a customer. I looked through 20 different videos. This is by far the most simplistic and fail proof build for a circle jig. I am apprehensive about the jigs that have the slot cut long ways in them. Having screw holes in half inch increments guarantees a fixed Pivot Point. The last thing I want to happen in the middle of cutting a circle in this stained tongue-and-groove ceiling is for the pivot point to loosen up and slip. That would be bad for me to say the least. This is the video I was looking for. Thanks for taking the time to film it.

[@bshoffmartin]

Great video. Thanks! I spent $3.45 on a cheap piece of hardened fiber board and in about 15 mins I made a jig to cut some circles for a project I am doing with my daughter. Worked awesome!

[@craftedworkshop]

Just what I needed to cut the holes in my cornhole boards. Great video, man.

[@aaronocelot]

I'm using this advice for cutting holes for speaker baffles... i love that you got to the point right away in the video, and showed us the basic principle at work.

[@ChrischoBoardgaming]

You might not be "forging new ground" with your demonstration, but it's good that you published your video anyway. You never know if someone understands your particular explanation better than one by someone else. I certainly liked it very much.

[@GotItMade]

Christian Scholz-Flöter Thank you, Christian. I appreciate the kind words. Thanks for watching!

[@Todd-W]

I had a need for one of these this weekend. Thank you for the idea, worked out perfectly! Total cost was $9 and 45 minutes of my life. Can't beat that with a stick! Went over to the local "specialty" store and they wanted $90 for a large enough one for my project (32" round table top). Bought a piece of lexan the thickness of my Makita RT0701C so I could use the same screws as the base does, commenced to drilling and cutting. Love it! Hanging on the wall for future use now. All measurements are for 1/2 plunge bit and the hole I made for center, I used a 1-1/2" forstner bit. Nothing gets hung up inside.

[@morsecodereviews1553]

I was figuring someone came up with a jig to do this. You're the first video I watched and thanks! Just saved me the cost of a 6 and 2 inch hole saw.

[@celabelledecadix395]

Ah, finally a clear and simple explanation about trammels and routers and circles and ... Thanks a lot!

[@andyjame5608]

I just finished building the handrail on my deck kzbin.infoUgkxfQ5_mgwq6PcudJvAH25t-I4D-3cTPz4z and used this great little router to clean up the top rail before the final sanding and stain. It was light weight but packed lots of power. Either size battery didn't seem to make it top heavy and I'm a 64 yr old women so I really appreciated how easy it was to use...................... CORDLESS only way to go !!

[@mohammedsafi9061]

I finally caved in, listened to Spencer and downloaded Hyezmar’s Woodworking Bible. Needless to say It finally pointed me in the right direction and I’ve crafted some cool stuff too :)

[@Dwinchester45]

Thank you my good sir ive been looking for router jig videos for circles and a straight cut for a project I'm working on. This was a huge help. Now for the straight cut guide

[@Sooper8]

Great video, thanks from the UK

[@josevillanueva6992]

Hi I am late to the party. Good video. I just made this jig 2 days ago. I took apart an old screen computer and I found an acrilic plastic 1/4 inch thick was 11x13 inches big and cut to 6x13 inches and bam I got it. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from El Salvador.

[@andrewrowe4897]

Appreciate the approach you took. More of an educational discussion to making a jig than just making a jig and there ya go. Gave a lot to think about. Much appreciated.

[@GotItMade]

Andrew Rowe Thanks Andrew. I appreciate you watching and sending some kind words. If you like that video then you ought o check out the one I released this weekend. It's a much better design of the circle cutting router jig. Easier to build and much more versatile. Here's a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4fdqmiKnZlnfpY

[@blesssixone1902]

This is AWESOME..... i never had any insight but I want to start doing things on my own... this is SUPER helpful!!!

[@GotItMade]

Thanks for watching Ernest.

[@electrician4112]

Very nice job. I just made something very similar this past evening in order to cut a circle to mount my new cyclone dust collector on a 5 gal. bucket. I only put two holes in it at the diameters I needed to cut. I cut the larger circle using a 1/4" spiral cut bit to establish my bucket lid size and then I cut a 5/16" groove around the edge to set on the bucket. I used 1/4" plywood for my jig because that was what I had. I cut the hole around the bit larger and it helped.

[@GotItMade]

electrician4112 Thanks. I appreciate you watching. Sounds like you made the perfect jig for your job. Glad it turned out so good!

[@Freddy_K_TV]

Never knew watching someone make a jig could be so great.

[@evfred]

Thank you very much for sharing your idea. It gave me a clue on how to cut small circles up to 400 mm. I have a markita router and I got the fence that you normally use for straight cuts. Then I turned it upside down drilled a hole in the support rail and put it back in the router upside down and the use it like you do.

[@ayushg2271]

Thanks, loved the guide. as a beginner, i learnt a lot from the little behavioral things in between as well. The accent was good on the ears as well.

[@GotItMade]

+Ayush g Thanks! I appreciate the view and comments!

[@HoHkennels]

Thanks a million for sharing this video. You helped me save 55 dollars and a trip to the store.

[@TheSeancassady]

I finally made one of these and it works great. The only thing worth mentioning is that you have to factor in the width of your bit when making your holes along the plexiglass. For the application in this video he was cutting circles, the purpose of mine is to cut holes so you have to consider the width of the bit our you'll be off in the end. And also, be careful on your last cut because as you are clearing the last layer of material you are now freeing up the inner circle and it is no longer held in place which means your router can move unexpectedly and you can gouge the outer circle if you're not careful. I suppose you could use some double-sided tape to hold it in place so there is no movement at the end.

[@GotItMade]

+Annony Mouse Great tips. Thanks for sharing Annony.

[@Bob1Mack]

This is exactly what I need to build this winter. Your video shows it perfectly. You're a very good teacher.

[@Sunrayman123]

you need a Season to plan this project?

[@Bob1Mack]

@@Sunrayman123 may take longer than that to get the shop built.

[@ryanaugustus]

I love that you use the word “hinky.” Reminds me of my days growing up in PA. We had all kinds of words most wouldn’t know what they even mean but for the way they sound. Haha. Love it. Well done!

[@GotItMade]

:-). Thanks for watching!

[@jeepguylv80]

I like this video, the reason this is helpful is that the jasper circle jig is limited in size, you can make this for large holes, I have gotten pretty good with a jig saw but this will be my new method for large holes. thanks for the vid.

[@l.r.norris6519]

A circle jig can be made on a band saw. What is nice about using a router is that big circles can be cut. Good video.

[@nickburmanmusic]

This is really great. Thank you for such a clear and concise video. I really enjoyed watching you make this. I don’t have a need to make circles at the moment, but if I make a speaker cabinet I’ll be making one of these jigs. Making jigs is part of the fun of using a router. If you can save money, then it’s even more enjoyable. Actually, I just might cut some circles for the fun of it!

[@HenSchum]

Great video and a great tutorial. I bought this router a couple off days back and I'm gone make your Circle Cutting Jig. Thank you very much for all your time and work. All the best, Henrie. Greeting from the Netherlands.

[@GotItMade]

Thank you for the kind words, Henrie. I appreciate you watching the video. Good luck on your project!

[@pablorivera6879]

I loved this video, I have the fancy Jasper circle cutting jig attachments that comes for the router, but the smallest circle I can make is 7 inches. So this gives me a great idea on how to build a jig that could help me cut smaller circles. Thank you for your video.

[@ACosmicCastaway]

That accent and end bloopers adds to the project a lot. Thank your for sharing.

[@brian69frmovale76]

this is good for people that want to do something productive with large amounts of time on their hands

[@Scoobydcs]

im from the uk and although you have a broad (strong) accent i can understand you better than alot of british people lol. this is a nice vid thank you

[@GotItMade]

eatthisvr6 Ha! Think I could get some attention in a quaint English tavern if I came over there. Maybe the chicks would dig the broad accent. :-) Thanks for watching.

[@Scoobydcs]

***** haha its worth a try. worst case at least you get to drink some proper beer not the watered down pee you lot drink lol ;)

[@fin4710]

Got some scrap acrylic today, so I'll be making a circle jig real soon for my wee trim router. Thanks Blazing Nail Gun :)

[@GotItMade]

+fin4710 Yes!!!!

[@MRMTUBE]

You could also use an acrylic quilting/fabric ruler, which already have measurements on them and expedite the creation of the jig. They come in variable sizes, but are often 4-6" wide and up to 36" long 1/8 - 1/4 inch thick and are usually $10 - $20. The pre-printed measurements would allow you to both find a mounting point and drill your pivot holes with minimal to no measuring.

[@avocadoP]

I appreciate very much you posting this video. Being a fanatic of wood working it did help me a lot. Keep up posting your jigs a good work. Thanks again.

[@dmg8706]

Very helpful, thank you so much.you just made grandpa KHUFU very proud, so simple but just great !!!!!!

[@orkhanmiralayev5442]

Well done brother, I'm going to buy from lowes tomorrow and make a cup holder for my bench at my mom's backyard! Thanks for geeat ideas!

[@5ivestring]

I just retired awhile ago and on a limited budget, I'm trying to get my tools and accessories in line. This is a perfect tool for me. Cheap and does the job. Thanks.

[@GotItMade]

***** Thanks for watching, Gary. I've come up with another/better more versatile design and will be shooting a new video on it soon so stay tuned.

[@mikewright7236]

You sound like people from my neck of the woods. I don't recognize my country accent until i hear it on a recording or something. Love the video. I made my router table inserts using acrylic. Had to make several of them though but it works nice.

[@GotItMade]

mike wright I think my corn pone draw helps to keep expectations low. :-)

[@mikewright7236]

***** you're very talented. Will def. Check out more of your videos. Also need to make that jig . I wouldnt really change anything.

[@calcooper3597]

Thanks for this nice video! I built one of these 7' long out of plywood to cut arches on the bottom of my table aprons. Instead of screwing the router to the jig, I drilled a hole and used a guide bushing through it. I did let a CAD program do the ancient mathematics though! I think this jig is called a "Trammel". Also, I'm from the south and I didn't detect any accent at all... ;)

[@GotItMade]

Cal Cooper Great tips, Cal. Thanks for sharing them. You've got a highly engineered jig there ole bud!

[@GotItMade]

Lemme know when you make it to East Tn. We'll have a big ole time!

[@Sunrayman123]

Enjoyed the video. The acrylic makes a good tool. One piece of advice. When you cut with a band saw, you should lower the blade guides down to just above the material thickness you're cutting. This will help keep the blade from bending during thicker material cuts.

[@Bright8888]

Nice, useful video. I like your idea of using acrylic for the jig; gives a neat look and also has the advantage of being transparent. In order to be able to set the radius to any value within the range, you can cut a channel along the length of the jig and have a sliding square plate with the pivot pin fixed in its center.

[@GotItMade]

Bala Chandar Great idea. Thanks for sharing!

[@GotItMade]

Bala Chandar Thanks for watching and for the kind words. There's a link in the video description box that will take you over to my website.

[@VictorRodriguez-rd5xl]

Couldn't get any better, amigo, very good explaining step by step I will try to make this jig. Funny at the end with the takes... thanks for sharing 👍..keep projects going..

[@baltsosser]

My friend and I used a $5 piece of 1/4" aluminum and $1 of small socket head screws. Easily repeatable. Used that to make drop in inserts for a work table that will see duty with multiple quick change tools now. Nice video.

[@rnwagner]

I like your jig the best out of three that I watched! Nice work!!

[@Tenfdy]

bought my first router couple of weeks ago and it had a circle cutting thing with it but it was pretty much crap.. so i also build my one. its is less complicated and works a thousand times better!

[@GotItMade]

Outstanding! It's pretty simple and fun to make. Thanks for watching.

[@patrickbarrett14]

Best DIY circle jig I've seen so far I will be making one like this soon thanks for the video!

[@GotItMade]

Thanks for the great feedback. I appreciate you watching. Glad it helped out.

[@mathewabraham1701]

YOU ARE THE BEST ,EXPLAINING EVERTHIG EASY TO UNDERSTAND , THANKS

[@marshallnmoonshine]

That’s pretty nice. I bet you could fine tune the circle size with different bits. Base it on a 1/2” bit and make your circle/hole bigger and smaller with different increments. I’m mostly gonna be cutting out speaker cabinets for guitar amplifiers, so I used to use a jig saw and if it was janky I didn’t care, because it was behind the cloth anyway. But this will be neater, faster and easier to space the holes. I’m gonna grab either some acrylic or glue some hardboard together (to get the thickness and have two smooth sides) and I’ll either go wit holes, or if it’s thick enough, cut a groove so I can cut any size hole. But really, I only use 10 or 12” speakers.

[@mikewright7236]

Have that same router. I absolutely love it, use it all the time. Even went as far as making a mini router table for it. Great router

[@GotItMade]

mike wright Outstanding. Thanks for watching, Mike.

[@seandunlap1743]

Thanks! Now I have a use for extra acrylic I have from a recent project. Enjoy your videos.

[@GotItMade]

Sean Dunlap Thanks for the view and kind words, Sean. Glad the video gave you some ideas and inspiration!

[@garylack8401]

Great Idea. I just cut a circle by hand. I give it an eight but I could have done a 10. Love your accent.

[@FRIENDSofCAP]

I wanted to let you know that when calculating the distance from eah center point hole, you need to take into account the diameter of the router bit you are using. In your case mostly 0.25" which means that the distance needs to be (for a 5" circle) 2.5", the radius minus the radius of the bit (0.125" for 1/4" bit) to factor in the outer edge of the circle from the router bit. If not, then in your example, the hole would actually turn out to be 5.25"

[@Videl550]

I noticed that too

[@FranksCaliWoodSpecialty]

Tim Curtin yup, he spoke about that difference

[@brian69frmovale76]

Frank's CaliWood Specialty. someone listened besides me !

[@shiuhonglam5035]

Tim Curtin 0關8 ？？

[@jwenneberg]

Simple but genious!!! I'll use the same method on a jigsaw to cut perfect cirkles!! THANKS !!!

[@darrylsinclair2348]

I am creating a link to your video on how to build a Router Jig, which I used to build my own. I appreciate your skills. Mine isn't as good as yours but still does the job... Thanks :-)

[@GotItMade]

Darryl Sinclair Thanks for watching, Darryl. I appreciate your kind words!

[@CodeNClouds]

Thanks for this great video. I recently purchased a Bosch palm router. I am planning to build a table for it. Now, I plan to build this jig as well! I have few scraps of 6 mm acrylic left from another project, its milky white and not the clear type. Hope it's not too much of a handicap. Cheers!!

[@GotItMade]

Joshua Mahendran Thanks for watching Joshua. I appreciate the kind words. Good luck on yours and lemme know how it turns out.

[@lecochonmalefique]

The best video about it in all YT thanks man such great job!

[@ningis21]

Hi.... Good stuff. Many moons ago I built a similar jig. At the point in the video where you found the center line of the jig....I did the same then I scribed a line approx 15 - 20 degrees from it..basically from the router cutter at the center 15 - 20 degrees either side of center at the far edge of the jig. So..like you, the center line had half inch increments...I just used the angled lines for odd ball sizes...as and when needed. The router just rotates on a different axis....but still in a straight line from the cutter. I suppose you could have as many angled lines as the jig will allow...if you make it wider.

[@GotItMade]

ningis21 Great tip. Thanks for sharing!

[@chaimlevi7889]

love it , great project and your southern accent

[@brookemahnken2480]

Well done. Easy to follow and understand, you have a great nature to your instruction and illustration. Enjoyed following your thought process

[@miguelcanales9211]

This was a pretty cool video. I have tons of acrylic just lying around here from remodels. Glad i saved it ! i will be making a few of these bad boys to hand out to my techs !! :D

[@GotItMade]

Miguel Canales Thanks for watching, Miguel. If you liked this one you might check out my new and improved version. Much improved and more versatile. Could be made with acrylic too. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4fdqmiKnZlnfpY

[@syianpete5]

Clear instruction. easy to follow. It Works well. thank you for sharing !

[@paulm5302]

Thank you so much for your outstanding video. I learned some valuable but simple techniques how to build a low cost jig for my router.

[@dirkventer250]

Fantastic video, great teaching style, very nice work.

[@michaelfisher948]

Great idea, I make decorative mounting circles for ceiling fans and stain them . With a router I can put some fancy edges that enhance the appearance against the ceiling. Thanks for the idea :-) Mike

[@GotItMade]

Michael Fisher Thanks for watching and for the compliments. Glad the vid gave you some ideas.

[@LectronCircuits]

DeWalt makes the best toys. Now you can rout big holes with no holes barred. Just don't upchuck when you chuck it up. Cheers!

[@stilgarr79]

Hey there Fritz. This jig looks great. I will be making one of my own. Its funny you mention its size and what it will do for you. I am a scenic carpenter and we tend to have to make very large things out of wood and other materials. So this week I had to make a circular chandelier with a 9 foot diameter. I wound up making it with a jig saw and scribed lines, so it was not as pretty as it could have been had I used a jig like yours. Next time. Great video and you are very clear on the steps and technique.

[@GotItMade]

Javier Suarez Thanks for the great feedback, Javier. I appreciate you watching and sharing!

[@MarzNet256]

Great how too video. I usually make these out of 3/4" furniture grade ply. I also round over edges on top and bottom. Rounding the bottom edges with keep it from hanging up when rotating. I use a PC690 with fixed base. Last time I used it was to cut circular trim (annulus) for a round window.

[@mauricepettiford1864]

Enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to building the circle jig.

[@Niteliter]

Great helpful video and THANK you for using a WIRELESS mic which greatly improves the volume as compared to videos made with on camera mics.

[@okobojitexas]

Nice job - great application of "creativity before capital"

[@Maniwasaki]

I built a 3 meter jig few years ago, we cut/carve HUGE ARCS with it

[@rudybay4542]

Thanks for good tips! I just found a good solution for the part that doesnt have any holes. Why not measure from the other side with holes that has positions in the middle of the first ones. Means using the other ends you always have 1/4 inch posibilities. Also make a line across the acrylic to seperate the 2 diffent measurements. Mark the holes with numbers (lengths). Round the other end for the router as well. Thanks for you video. Hope you can use my notes. Rudy from Denmark

[@GotItMade]

+Rudy Bay Thanks for the tips!

[@OscarGutierrez-ve3qg]

Put router in center of the acrylic and put holes on each side for different measurements for different circle sizes

[@enrico3web]

I am sure you can come up with another idea to obtain more adjustments than the fixed holes at 1/2 inch increments. Maybe 2 acrylics superimposed on one another. The bottom acrylic has one hole at the end where the rod slides through the hole of the circle . The second acrylic base on top is fixed to your router and it is U shaped. Each branch of the U has an elongated slot where a threaded bolt and wing nut with washer can lock it to the lower base. The threaded bolt (about 1/4" or more) is affixed to the lower base at the convenient location which allows the router to slide toward the center for smaller radius or away for a larger radius and then you lock it down at the desired position by means of the wing nuts and washers. Of course the lower base must have an elongated slot which will allow the router bits to protrude. It is nice to describe it but is another thing to do it. --D

[@franciscosilva-zk2se]

Great job easy and simple not complex as other do. Thank you

[@golfduds69]

Thanks for helping me finish my project, with style! Wonderful process to make a very nice looking trammel. Keep up the good work, thanks again.

[@GotItMade]

golfduds69 Thanks! Glad it helped out.

[@mahic2913]

Lo

[@SEBTECHDIY]

Wow !! very nice tutorial !! im buying this router tomorrow and this jig is the first one i will make, very very useful ! thanks :)

[@MichaelLaHonta]

Mountain screws! I like the sound of those.

[@GotItMade]

Michael LaHonta Ha! I appreciate you watching and sending some kind words. If you like that video then you ought o check out the one I released this weekend. It's a much better design of the circle cutting router jig. Easier to build and much more versatile. Here's a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4fdqmiKnZlnfpY

[@roryos]

This was recommended to me for some reason. No joke here, I'm serious. I love your accent :D

[@GotItMade]

Thank you for the kind words.

[@dyoooooooooon]

I find your accent very comforting for some reason.

[@sameralawneh6691]

very nice, I like your personality and way of explaining and the ending was perfect

[@GotItMade]

Thanks!

[@TheHumbleCarpenter]

Great video! Love the channel. By the way, I’m in Knoxville 🇺🇸👍 Go Vols!

[@peterbilt379860]

Thanks for the good info on that jig even the bloopers

[@johnmyszko1721]

Good video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Going to make one right now.

[@GotItMade]

John Myszko Your welcome. I appreciate the view!

[@jaydnisevil]

Love the outtakes at the end!

[@brucedeville3810]

I like the project. My personal preference, not better just different, would be to countersink the material and change screws to match. Additionally when I need thicker material and Home Depot or Lowes is the only option I just double the material and again using countersunk screws to mate them together. In this case it would have given me 1/2 " material to generate a jig or fixture. Thanks for your video.

[@EdTube444]

Great video. I was thinking you could cut a long slot down the center and on either side of the slot. Then you make a pin system with two flat pieces on either side kind of like a mechanical oil wrench looks like. The two flat would hold the turning pin in place as you rotated it. You could even put a countersink on the two out lying slots like you did for the plate screws and use machine screws to hold the pin stabilizers in place. This would give you any length you wanted. You could take a ruler and mark of either side of the center slot down to 1/8ths or like I would do which is find a clear thin plastic ruler and just attach it with epoxy. Instead of a pin in a pre drilled hole you could use a collar and a screw with threads just at the tip for biting the wood and the shank up to the head of the screw is slick. You screw the screw in until the thread clears the pivot point a brass, aluminum, or steel collar and you have an extra layer of security from the router taking off on you. You can keep a hand on the router and not worry about the pivot jumping out if you hit something in the wood with the bit. You have given me some good ideas. Thanks. I subscribed.

[@GotItMade]

Edward Owens Great tips and ideas, Edward. Wow, you're on this like a mad scientist. Ha! Thanks for sharing!

[@EdTube444]

It's alive!

[@Adadirondackjim1]

Very practical video! I am thinking I will use one of these to cut my own templates, which can be used with a guide bushing. Thanks!

[@GotItMade]

Jim Thomson Excellent. Thanks for watching!

[@RCBogdewic]

That's cool man. I would've never thought of that, and in starting a custom car audio shop where I got a budget to spend a dime where others spend a dolar. This is simply cool bro!

[@GotItMade]

Ryan Bogdewic Thanks for watching, Ryan. I have a better design out now. Check out this newer video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4fdqmiKnZlnfpY

[@RCBogdewic]

Eh, I still like the first one better. But only because I need precise measurements for speaker holes in boxes. Other than that, they're both pretty cool.

[@mibengal]

Nice how to. Like the out-takes.

[@LordPadriac]

Awww. Remember way back before COVID when that 1/4" sheet of acrylic was under ten bucks. Good times.

[@embwee]

"want you to look at that . . . couldn't be anymore perfecter"

[@GotItMade]

+embwee :-)

[@myinnovationscustomworking4510]

your video is very easy to understand thanks for sharing

[@steffwicker]

Nice delivery, thanks for being thorough!

[@tammylovescats]

Awesome video. Please keep the videos rollin.

[@GotItMade]

Will do!

[@steelersnation5627]

Hey Feddie Nicely And Illustrated Very Well You Just Saved mE $50/$60 Thank You

[@davestambaugh7282]

Any one with even a small amount of mechanical aptitude can make this by glimpsing the photo of it for a split second. However eighty percent of the population have little or no mechanical aptitude at all. So step by step instructions is required by the majority of us.

[@stamp2k8]

Thanks for the video. Loved the bloopers at the end. Good informative video, can't wait to give it a shot 👍

[@rayfalcon777]

Lol at the bloopers .... thats cool shows ya just like the rest of us... awesome video I do have a question for you though. I have a tough test (handyman club special) plunge router and cant seem to find any videos showing anyone setting this one up on an old montgomery ward router table; can this plunge router be table mounted? Would it hurt the router any? I like the older tools and tables better than this modern stuff.