At the September 16 Meeting, I showed ornaments with a v-groove cut with a router. Someone asked for a picture of the router setup I use. Several folks may have wanted to know more. Here are some pictures and a quick explanation.
The jig can be set up in 2 configurations. One configuration creates slot in the ornament at a 50 degree angle across the ornament. The other configuration runs a slot along the ornament. Both configurations use a standard 90° v-bit with a sharp point. (Some v-bits have a slightly round end, that doesn’t work if you want to place inlays in the groove.) The bit is either 1/2” or 9/16” in diameter.
Configuration 1 is shown in pictures 1 and 2.
Dimensions of this jig: 3/4” plywood for the main parts. Length: 13”, width 9”, height 10 13/16 plus track (see track in photo 2). The Plywood holding the router is approximately 1 1/2” thick. This is for a Jet 12 X 21 lathe. These measurements would need be adjusted for a different lathe.
Picture 2 shows the router is guided by the T-track in the back. The T-track also keeps the router from tipping off the stand. The wood rail on the front is a spacer, the same thickness as the T-track, to keep the mounting level.
There’s a vertical board attached to the router base, above the the T-track. The board is used as a base in the second configuration. See the picture below.
Configuration 2 is shown in picture 3.
I can reconfigure the jig by sliding the base off the top T-track and attaching it to a secondary configuration base that holds the router horizontally in a T-track that allows movement left and right.
In the back, you’ll notice I’ve added a hard board indexing wheel. My lathe didn’t have one built-in, but, this one works well to allow accurate positioning at intervals.