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Does anyone use a pin router for inlay? The folks who cut my fret markers offer a pin router template for cutting the fretbds. I'm wondering if anyone has a homemade one, or ideas. Pictures would be great if you have any!

I built one using ball bearing drawer glides, one set in the X and one set in the Y axis. I do not have the plans for it but could take pics this weekend if I get the chance. I am going to rebuild with linear bearing blocks and polised rods instead of the drawer glidesMichaelP39010.6685763889

Thanks michael, would greatly appreciate that

Mark, check the Tools and Jigs section of the OLF, or follow THIS link to a great Pin router Keith MacKenzie made. I have personally used this jig and it works fantastic..LanceK39010.6715856481

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance, thanks for the help. Do you know if there are any plans out there to build this?

Mark I forgot about that being in the jigs section. That is what I built min from. but I did not use plans.

No plans, but I think Keith has a ton of pictures some where on line.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

There were some plans in one of the wood working magazines within the past year. I'll take a look, I think I have a pdf of plans or something.

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found it. Popular Mechanics

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Thanks Rod! Nice article.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

The one by Keith MacKenzie shown in Lances link looks good.

Has anyone used a pin router to rout a saddle slot in a bridge? It looks like an operation that could be done by guiding the pin along an angled fence.

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

Great article Rod, Thanks

I still have this info online and will answer any questions. I have since switched to the John Hall type high speed pencil air tool (56000 rpm) but it also works well with a good dremmel.

http://home.mindspring.com/~keithmackenzie7/

I know (at least I think I know) that Mark Swanson cuts his truss rod slots with a pin router. Maybe he uses it for the saddle slot too.

I like the idea of repeatability on the headstock inlay and fretboard inlays, that would be fun.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Keith, I'm going to be inlaying detailed fret markers which is why I'm building this. is there a lot of play using these computer brackets?

Rod -- great article.   K2CNC sells motor mounts for various size routers through Ebay or their website. I picked up one of these for my the Duplicarver I plan on making. Porter Cable Router Mount

If you want to see an application of K2CNC's bracket used with a router check out this ebay item: http://cgi.ebay.com/LINEAR-MOTION-SLIDING-ROUTER-DEWALT-BOSC H-PORTER-CABLE_W0QQitemZ300039227464QQihZ020QQcategoryZ20781 QQcmdZViewItem

I bought it on eBay a few weeks ago with the Bosch router and it is a very interesting setup. I am using it for routing an inlay strip in joined backs. Oce of the other thins it is good for is repetitive slots in that the router head slides along the bar. I am planning on using this ability to route tail wedges by building my tail jig into the same table I have the rail system.

A true pin router has the advantage of having a retractable pin (in the case of the Onsrud Inverted Pin Router) or a plunging router head (as in the popular mechanics plan above).

Mark,
Side to side there is almost no play and the cavities come out very precise. As I stated in the original post I used a .028 guide pin and an .031 bit to allow clearance for the inlay to fit in the cavity. I know Lance was letting his daughter run the tool to cut that cool Kragenbrink headstock. There is some up down play but as long as you don't push up or down as you are using the tool it is quite satisfactory for maintaining depth of cut. Play with some scrap to get the feel of it.
When using .032 bits you must slow down the feed rate so that you don't break the bit. On larger inlays I use a larger pin/bit set to hog out the bulk of the material then come back with a small set to pick up the fine detail. The main reason I changed to a 56000 rpm air grinder was to increase the feed rate of the smaller bits.
Make sure your rails are dead parallel or your table will not move smoothly.
Hope this answers your concerns and good luck.

Just another note.
Since that first model I put the router and pin setup on a hinged plate that allows them both to lift at the same time and lower to a stop, making the plunge cut a little less nerve racking.

Thanks so much for your help keith and everyone else. Any luthier who has not found this site has no idea what their missing. There's a bunch of great folks here!

Hey, thanks Rod, i filed this article, will build me a new jig, cool!

Serge