Official Luthiers Forum! http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
Allied/Cochran Circle Cutting Jig- Any Go http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=5182 |
Page 1 of 2 |
Author: | GregG [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:25 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
I was looking at the Cochran circle cutting jig/base sold by Allied for the Dremel 395. Is the Dremel tool really powerful enough to cut soundholes and rosettes. Not only in the spruce top, but other hardwoods as well that I would use as the rosettes themselves. I don't want to buy another $150.00 router to use the other base they offer, I would rather buy the Micro-Fence in that case and use my P.C. 7310 router. What bit are you guys using in the Dremel tool for this type of work and where did you get yours. Thanks, Greg |
Author: | Pwoolson [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:50 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Greg, I've read a lot of people here using Dremel tools for rosettes. They must have better built Dremels than mine because mine has a lot of runout and I wouldn't beging to take it to a spruce top for a rosette (or soundhole in my case) I use a micro jig with a PC 310 on it. LOVE IT! |
Author: | Scott Thompson [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:00 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Paul, is that a home made jig? |
Author: | Pwoolson [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:04 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
No, it's an extremely accurate system. Check it out here |
Author: | crowduck [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:05 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Some use the Black & Decker RTX instead of the Dremel. Better made, more power, and fits the StewMac jig. Martin Guitar sells a fly cutter for less than $20. |
Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:05 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
I've used dremel on about sixteen triple rosettes. Using the StewMac base was an improvement, but I won't stop there. Getting ready to use the dremel on the OLF SJ to install purfling and red heart abalone rosette. The dedicated flycutters are what I intend to try next, mainly because they are inexpensive and use a bushing in the deck to hopefully keep the cutter aligned to great degree. As you can see, there are many ways to do the very same thing. Collings website or Frank's Frets.com shows their flycutting dedicated setups. Really cool and lends itself to folks with machining skills. Good luck with your selection of method. |
Author: | tippie53 [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:10 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
I gave up on dremels and changed to die grinders. Higher speeds , smoother cuts and longer life on bits. also the runout on the cutter on a dremel is often .015 the die grinders are under .005. John Hall |
Author: | Brock Poling [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:10 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
I have the SM jig and use it with my dremel. While I usually love everything about SM and their tools, I am just kind of so / so on this one. I use it. It works, but there is a big opportunity for improvement. My primary dislike is the dremel, and secondarily is the lack of a micro adjustment. I also have a Cochran base for my PC 310 trimmer. I have to say... that thing is da bomb. It is probably the best built tool I own. However.... It is a smidge too big to cut sound holes and make small rosettes with it. I haven't looked seriously at the dremel version of the tool, but I am sure it is great (too bad it uses a dremel). |
Author: | Pwoolson [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:18 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Brock, you might check out the micro fence system. Link in my last post above. |
Author: | Don A [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:32 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Paul, I thought that Micro-Fence was supposed to come out with a setup especially for luthiers. I looked through their site and don't see it yet. Could you tell us what parts you purchased to set yours up? I have a PC310 that I'd like to dedicate to such a setup. TIA. |
Author: | crich [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 2:37 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
I googled a PC310 and came up with a Canon copier ![]() |
Author: | Joe Beaver [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 2:54 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
I use a dremel with the Stew Mac attachenet for circle cuting, inlaying and bindings. Power is ok but sometimes I wish I had the Fordham. |
Author: | Dave Anderson [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 2:59 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
PC-- Porter Cable |
Author: | Shawn [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 5:50 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
The only thing that the Micro-Fence system does not do is plunge which the Cochran does well and the SM does okay. Supposedly they are coming out with one but I heard it will be pricey so I may add a cochran to my micro-fence. To use tbe Micro-fence with a PC 7310 you need the basic kit and then the radius jig that reduces the radius down to 2 inches. Once I was turned onto the micro-fence system by someone on this forum (I think Paul Woolson was the first to mention) I keep a PC 7310 dedicated to it for rosettes. The bars that set the radius have stops you can set so I keep one set for the inside of the rosette and one for the outside of the rosette and it works quickly and very accurate. |
Author: | Pwoolson [ Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:29 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Don A, sorry I don't know exactly what the part is. Give them a call and tell them that your looking to make between 4-6" circles, they should know what you need. crich, PC310 is a Porter Cable laminate trimmer. Not to be confused with other laminate trimmers, this one has guts and precision to spare. Shawn, you are correct. Plunging would make it perfect. But with a 310 you can loosen the adjustment nut "just a little" and dial it down. I do this at the neck exension area because loosening the nut will cause more runout. when I get the depth I need, I tighten it back up and continue around. But yes, I'd love to have plunge capabilities with it. |
Author: | GregG [ Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:04 am ] |
Post subject: | |
So you can use the PC 7310 with the Micro Fence and get down to 2" radius circle? That's perfect, what is the approx. cost of the set-up. And it's just the basic fence and the circle jig add-on? Is there a seperate base for the PC 7310, and is it purchased seperate? Thanks,Greg |
Author: | Don Williams [ Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:26 am ] |
Post subject: | |
I made a custom flywheel cutter. It was cheap, and relatively easy to make. |
Author: | Scott Thompson [ Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:51 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Don, any pictures? Paul. Ditto what Greg asked. From looking at the pictues, it doesn't look like it goes down to a small enough circle. Do you have to take part of the rails off to get down that small? |
Author: | Shane Neifer [ Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:10 am ] |
Post subject: | |
I made my own aluminum base for the flexshaft of dremel. It does not have the rubber bushings that are appearantly present in the dremel itself. You can see my base version here. It works very well for me and I can adjust using my digital calipers referenced off the bottom of the base. I cut all of the aluminum on the table saw and bandsaw and smoothed the edges with files and sandpaper, fun to build and works very well! The rosette in the avitar was put in with this jig. Shane |
Author: | Pwoolson [ Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:23 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Greg and Scott, I'm pretty sure they make a smaller circle jig. I can't remember what I ordered. Drop them a line and see what they offer. I'm thinking mine was in the $175 range but again, I'm kind of hazy on that too. |
Author: | GregG [ Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:25 am ] |
Post subject: | |
I spoke to Micro-Fence today. You can make circles from 1/2" - 12" with a few attachments, cost is approx. $250. That is using, in my case, a P.C. 7310 laminate trimmer. The plunge base is very expensive $500 plus dollars, didn't think I needed it anyway. This makes sense for me so I'm going to go for it. Greg |
Author: | Dave-SKG [ Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:26 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Greg, Do you have part #'s for the attachments and circle cutter? THANKS! |
Author: | Sylvan [ Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:21 am ] |
Post subject: | |
The micro fence attachment for the PC 310 will work however it sets the router in the air a 1/4" or so off the top. Probably fine until you try to use 1/16" bits and I believe they will break in a heartbeat. I made a new base for the PC 310 that accepts the micro jig and keeps the 310 on the ground and usable with 1/16" bits. I thought I had posted a photo before but I'll try to find a photo again and post it for everyone. It is the absolute Rolls Royce of circle cutters for guitars for the reasons Paul spoke of earlier. |
Author: | Sylvan [ Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:24 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Here is the photo. ![]() |
Page 1 of 2 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |