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Within the course of a few days I've come across two seperate queries regarding turning square stock into PERFECTLY round by using a router on the standard lathe. A while ago (I won't admit how long) I started making this jig with the intention of routing flutes on some of my projects. The steel bar on the bottom is a perfect fit between the ways and the whole assembly slides freely. The outer box gives plenty of course height adjustment whilst the plunge router plenty of fine adjustment. An opening in the rear to allow the tailstock to protrude into the box will no doubt be necessary.

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A very clever design…

Did you make some Flutes with it… those tings with all the holes in them?

That was a HUGE piece to make into such a small round piece… must have been scrap for testing… right? LOL

Nice job… as usual…
 

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No flutes yet Joe, it isn't finished, the router is only sitting on the top waiting for me to find the time to mount it. Are you referring to the Acrylic indexing disc with the 36 holes, if so I have posted a pdf some time ago showing how I made it.
 

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I wish my grey matter worked the same as even some of the craftsman I see here. Nicely done, harry1, nicely done indeed.
 

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I saw this technique in a book once a few years ago. Didn't buy the book at the time; later changed my mind and went back to the store, but I couldn't find it again. Well done, and could work without a lathe, too. Since the router is providing its own cutting power, the work piece could just as well be turned leisurely on a hand crank or some such.
 

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This is a great step up in most of the box on a lathe jigs I have seen & used. The plexi top is a good upgrade so one can see better. i have used boxes like this to make through flutes in hollowforms. ( I posted one done like this 2-3 days ago) Good jig!
 

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Harry, that is a cool idea. The box moves instead of the router. What would you use for stops when making flutes? Will you mount them on the bed?
I just noticed that is a Dremel on top in a plunge base!!What model is the Dremel. I just bought a 4000 but it does not accept 1/4" cutters.
....................Jim
 

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I thank you all for your kind comments.
Jfouse….......I see no reason why it wouldn't work with a hand crank device or possibly even better, modify an oldie worlde treadle sewing machine after tossing out the machine itself.

Michelletwo…...After being alerted to your latest turning by a fellow member this very morning, my initial reaction was something like "WOW", then after studying it for a while I felt like composing a FOR SALE sign for my wood lathe and accessories. If I was only 19 instead of 79, there wouldn't be time enough for me to reach such a standard of excellence. The imagination and skills which you have can't just be learned, only the techniques can, the rest is inherent in your DNA. I'm sure that you have one or more galleries that can't get enough of your pieces.

Jim, the stops would be no problem, a start and stop strip of wood placed across the bed with a supermagnet embedded at each end. My Dremel is model 300 and doesn't take 1/4", the one shown on the right is the largest that Dremel make whilst the one on the left which could be any size with a 1/4" shank and is turned down easily in the metal lathe.
 

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That is an excellent solution for me, not being able to use a skew chisel on my lathe. I'll have to look int this.
Just kidding, but it really is nice.
 

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Great idea Harry. There's nothing like a good jig.
 

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I'm pleasantly surprised in the interest shown in this jig and again thank you all for your comments.
Mention of a skew chisel still makes me cringe because of all the dig-ins that I experienced in my early attempts at the wood lathe. A time when a turning that was intended to be perhaps 7" diameter might have ended up only 5" after corrective surgery! I'm not quite that bad now and own a 1/2" and 1 1/4" skew but I'm still not sure what will happen when steel touches the wood.
 

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G'day, Harry.
That's cool adapter. I have not tried that yet. I have a router base for a Dremel but it fits a 6000 model and I cannot find one! I guess I'll use the PC router when I build a box like yours!!............Jim
 

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Good idea Harry and well made too. A benefit not mentioned is that the dust from the router would seem to be encapsulated by the box and a vac hose could probably be attached too for a relatively dust free way to do this kind of work.

I have been using a fluting gig I built many years ago, but dust flies all over the shop when I use it.
 

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Harry, I think the main objective, that your jig provides, is the ability to make a round rod that has a Uniform diameter, which is not very easy to do BY Hand!

COOL… SUPER COOL!

Thank you!
 

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That certainly is one use I suppose but not actually what I designed it for Joe, which is to rout flutes on spindles and patterns on curved objects in conjunction with the indexing system that I made and posted some time ago, I do however thank you and Dennis for your kind remarks and reminding me that it is still "a work in progress"! Jim Jakosh long since made his precision more versatile version of this jig.
I'm at last back in my shed after a few months absence and will, no doubt start posting the occasional photo-shoot showing what I made and how I made it.
 
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