So ya need to make a small or large circle..

Many projects require cutting a perfect circle or an oval, and you can accomplish the task with a router and a special jig to guide it.
The two jigs described below can be used with a router when you want to cut circles or angles.

Circle-Cutting Jig:

The first jig acts as an arm that guides the router in cutting circles or arches.

Materials:

1. 36" x 14" x 1/4" plywood
   
2. Drill and drill bits
   
3. Router
   
4. Screws
   
5. Ruler or measuring tape
   
6. Hammer
   
7. Nail
   

1. Take off the sub-base of the router to determine how big the circular end of the jig should be. Cut the end of the piece of plywood into a circle the same size as the router's sub-base.
   
2. Drill holes into the circular end of the jig to correspond with the holes in the sub-base. Use the sub-base to guide your drilling.
   
3. Screw the circular end of the jig into the router's base, aligning the circles on the sub-base with the holes drilled in the jig.
   
4. Drill small pivot holes into the arm of the jig, spaced 1" apart.
   
5. To use the jig to cut a circle, draw a line on the work piece from its center to the end of the desired radius of the circle. Center the router atop the end point of the radius. Drive a nail through the appropriate hole in the jig that corresponds with the center of the work piece. Set the router to the proper depth, and make a slow pass through the work piece, using the nail as a pivot point. Make deep cuts in several passes, lowering the router bit slightly after each pass.
   

Curve- and Circle-Cutting Jig

The second jig for cutting curves and circles with a router can be made from scraps you probably have around the workshop. Like the jig described above, it's attached to the router's sub-base.
Materials:

1. Two dowels, each about 2' long, with the same diameter as the holes in the sides of the router's base
   
2. Drill
   
3. Drill bits of same diameter as the dowels
   
4. 12" x 4" x 1" wood block (dimensions need not be exact)
   
5. Sandpaper
   
6. Wood glue
   
7. Router
   
8. Hammer
   
9. Nail

1. Drill holes the same size as the dowels into one long edge of the wood block. The holes should be as far apart as the diameter of the router's base.
   
2. Sand the tips of the dowels.
   
3. Apply a little wood glue to the holes in the wood block. Place the dowels inside the holes, and allow the glue to dry.
   
4. Place the dowels through the holes on the sides of the router's base.
   
5. To use the jig to cut an arch or a circle, nail the center of the block to the center of the desired circle. Slide the router to the appropriate spot on the dowels to correspond with the end point of the desired radius. Set the router bit to the appropriate depth. Slowly swing the router through the work piece, using the wood block as a pivot point. Repeat the process as necessary, slowly lowering the bit with each pass.
   

I hope you found this helpful!

Joke for the week....

Hope you find this amusing....
COWBOY POETRY - BUYING A BRA

I ain't much for shopping,
Or for goin' into town
Except at cattle-shipping time,
I ain't too easily found.

But the day came when I had to go -
I left the kids with Ma.
But 'fore I left, she asked me,
"Would you pick me up a bra?"

So without thinkin' I said, "Sure,"
How tough could that job be?
An' I bent down and kissed her
An' said, "I'll be back by three."

Well, I done the things I needed,
But I started to regret
Ever offering to buy that thing -
I worked me up a sweat

I walked into the ladies shop
My hat pulled over my eyes,
I didn't want to take a chance
On bein' recognized.

I walked up to the sales clerk -
I didn't hem or haw -
I told that lady right straight out,
"I'm here to buy a bra."

From behind I heard some snickers,
So I turned around to see
Every woman in that store
Was a'gawkin' right at me!

"What kind would you be looking for?"
Well, I just scratched my head.
I'd only seen one kind before,
"Thought bras was bras," I said.

She gave me a disgusted look,
"Well sir, that's where you're wrong.
Follow me," I heard her say,
Like a dog, I tagged along.

She took me down this alley
Where bras was on display.
I thought my jaw would hit the floor
When I saw that lingerie.

They had all these different styles
That I'd never seen before
I thought I'd go plumb crazy
'fore I left that women's store.

They had bras you wear for eighteen hours
And bras that cross your heart.
There was bras that lift and separate,
And that was just the start.

They had bras that made you feel
Like you ain't wearing one at all,
And bras that you can train in
When you start off when you're small.

Well, I finally made my mind up -
Picked a black and lacy one -
I told the lady, "Bag it up,"
And figured I was done.

But then she asked me for the size
I didn't hesitate
I knew that measurement by heart,
"A six-and-seven-eighths."

"Six and seven eighths you say?
That really isn't right."
"Oh, yes ma'am! I'm real positive -
I measured them last night!"

I thought that she'd go into shock,
Musta took her by surprise
When I told her that my wife's bust
Was the same as my hat size.

"That's what I used to measure with,
I figured it was fair,
But if I'm wrong, I'm sorry ma'am."
This drew another stare.

By now a crowd had gathered
And they all was crackin' up
When the lady asked to see my hat,
To measure for the cup.

When she finally had it figured,
I gave the gal her pay.
Then I turned to leave the store,
Tipped my hat and said, "Good day."

My wife had heard the story
'fore I ever made it home.
She'd talked to fifteen women
Who called her on the phone.

She was still a-laughin'
But by then I didn't care.
Now she don't ask and I don't shop
For women's underwear.
~ Author Unknown

Time to go shoppin......NOT!!!

Looking for great patterns for Scroll sawing?

Try this site for great scroll saw patterns...

http://www.advancedscrollsawpatterns.com/
Jeff even offers a free pattern from time to time so go back often!

For a great resource of free patterns!
Or help making a pattern!
Or sharing your patterns with others try joining this group.

http://groups.msn.com/FreeScrollsawPatterns

Mike's Wood-n-Things Hints & Tips

This is one of my latest scroll sawn items. Took several hours of cutting, and 5 blades..Cut it out of a bass wood round with bark attached, over layed a Baltic Birch Fish hook

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