Any router experts there?

[Knot Competent]

I need to make a kiddie's table top from 18mm MDF, (it's going to be painted) and round the corners. I would guess that the best way to round the corners (2" or 3" radius) would be with a router, but I just can't work out how to do it. Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

 

[Gary]

Make something similar to this.

http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/trend/cutter.php?id=8740

 

[9fingers]

Measure the distance between the edge of the router base and your cutter.
typically this will be 2-3". If this is an acceptable radius for your job, then simply clamp a square cornered piece of scrap onto your workpiece suitably offset and run the router base around the corner to create the radius.

hth

Bob

 

[Paul Chapman]

If you want to use a router, you could make up a small circle-cutting jig like this http://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog/tips_4.html It would mean drilling a small hole in the underside of the table top, but that wouldn't show and could be filled with a dowel.

However, a simpler way would be to draw a circle of the correct diameter (use a saucer, coin, or something similar), then cut near the line with a jig saw or hand saw, then sand to the line with some sandpaper over a cork or wood block. I would do it this way. Keep it simple :wink:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbloke]

The other way is to make a template and bearing cut it...though the way Paul has suggested is simpler and is how I'd do it - Rob

 

[JohnBrown]

I second Bob's method. Quick and accurate, no need to make a jig or do a lot of sanding. It does require that you have a circular router base, and that the base is concentric with the cutter, so don't use the cheap Bosch router I bought a year or two ago to rout out some hinge housings.

 

[9fingers]

If the guide corner is offset by just less than the difference between base and cutter radii, then a slight error in concentricity is not likely to be noticeable.

Bob

 

[wizer]

I'm a router expert.... :wink:

 

[woodbloke]

I'm a router expert.... :wink:

...we know 8-[ - Rob

 

[Knot Competent]

Thanks guys. That gives me several avenues to explore, but I didn't want to go down the "do it by hand" route as I don't think I'm consistent enough for it to look good.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I didn't want to go down the "do it by hand" route as I don't think I'm consistent enough for it to look good.

Try it out on a few scraps of MDF. I think you'll find it's surprisingly easy to do it by hand.

Cheers :wink:

Paul