Hey-anyone near Raleigh have a setup to easily cut wood circles (large size like 21 and 25 inch) or know of a shop that can? I need some shelves for the liquor cabinet.
Woodworking help in Raleigh
- Thread starter NCNole
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Get a little jig saw. Comes in handy and will cut circles for you.
NCFJ
Supporting Vendor
You can make up a router arm and use it like a compass and cut whatever size circles you want. Crisp and clean cuts.
- Thread starter
- #4
Those are both good options but I don't have a space to set either up. No workbench in the garage.
cboyd
GOLD Star
I've got a jigsaw and some portable tables if you want to borrow them. Tables are sized enough that you could probably make one continuous cut and not have to move the piece as you move around the circle.
Yes you do have a work bench! If you don't think it's big enough, get a couple of saw horses and use that!
Jig saw to cut the basic shape, sand the edge until it's perfect.
Jig saw to cut the basic shape, sand the edge until it's perfect.
Use a nail, string and pencil to draw your circle (nail in the center, tie one end of string to nail, tie other end to pencil with string equal to radius of inside of barrel). Draw your circle. Drill a hole on your circle to start your jig saw cut. Cut out using jigsaw. You can do this in your driveway using four bricks at the corners of the board as makeshift saw horses. Jig saw blades are short so if you can get the board three or four inches off the ground that's all you need. You can get a jigsaw and blades for under $50 and I bet you've got a drill, bricks and string laying around the house already. C'mon you can do it!
...via IH8MUD app
...via IH8MUD app
- Thread starter
- #8
Yes, I know I have that little workbench in the corner, but I really would like these to be perfect and only way to do that is to set up an arm. Not really wanting to free hand it. I can use the jig saw but still need to set up a base and arm to swing it on to keep it perfect. If I use that corner bench, I'd have to keep turning the wood and I just am not sure the result would be what I want out of this. I am cutting nice oak and don't want it to look bad.
Like Stan said?
I've got a router with a small selection of bits you can use if you want to build an arm and do it that way.
I've got a router with a small selection of bits you can use if you want to build an arm and do it that way.
- Thread starter
- #10
Yes, sorry, it's monday and a bad day at work.
That's my preference. I just want to make sure it's perfect.
That's my preference. I just want to make sure it's perfect.
It is Monday 
You can either come over and borrow the router, or come over and bring the wood, then we can cut it.
You can either come over and borrow the router, or come over and bring the wood, then we can cut it.
Keep in mind that the sides of the barrel are angled. If you do a 90* cut on the shelf then you'll have a gap on either the top or bottom of the shelf/barrel. That might not matter depending on your plans. A jigsaw will let you angle the cut to match the barrel. I'd do what Dave said but substitute a piece of cardboard for the string to rule out any string-stretching. Tack the cardboard to the shelf stock center and stick a pencil or nail through the other end at the proper distance and trace your circle. You can put the bricks or blocks inside the radius of the circle so that the waste falls away instead of the circle. Just make damn sure that they clear the blade! Make a few practice cuts and you'll be surprised how at how easy it is to freehand. Seriously. Find a scrap plywood and make a practice shelf.
OR….. Just buy bigger bottles. Magnums, perhaps?
OR….. Just buy bigger bottles. Magnums, perhaps?
I have used the string method for everything from wood to metal and never had an issue myself. Not saying it can not happen but not likely.
NCFJ
Supporting Vendor
If precise clean edges are what you want, find someone with a router than knows how to use it. Woodworking is about 99% set up for the cut and 1% with the tool running and making the cut. Goes like this:
-Make router base from something like 1/4" plywood. nothing fancy, just has to screw to the bottom of the router
-determine radius, measure from inside edge of router bit down the new router base and drill 1/4" hole
-set shelf material in desired position drill 1/4" hole at center of proposed arc
-secure shelf material so that router bit clears any obstruction
-install 1/4" bolt through router base and into shelf material, putting a piece of paper between router base and shelf material breaks friction
-start off the shelf material and rout your arc
-Make router base from something like 1/4" plywood. nothing fancy, just has to screw to the bottom of the router
-determine radius, measure from inside edge of router bit down the new router base and drill 1/4" hole
-set shelf material in desired position drill 1/4" hole at center of proposed arc
-secure shelf material so that router bit clears any obstruction
-install 1/4" bolt through router base and into shelf material, putting a piece of paper between router base and shelf material breaks friction
-start off the shelf material and rout your arc
- Thread starter
- #15
cboyd
GOLD Star
Turned out awesome!
I love that you used 40 series hardware for the door. Super pimp.
Now you need some logos or something burned into the wood.
Now you need some logos or something burned into the wood.
Nah, that's too much. The hardware speaks for itself to those who want to listen. Ninja style.
fourtrax
SILVER Star
Nicely done.
How about a set of whiskey glasses with the TEQ symbol. That would be a nice finishing touch.
