Router Jigs - Show me!

[alex grams]

I am looking at making a router jig to machine mortises/flat faces on some turnings. I've seen a few from retailers (pennstateind) but figure I could come up with something more economical and more suited to my needs. I would love to see some pictures of what you guys have built and what you like/don't like about your setups. I'm pretty sure I could make whatever I need, but would like to see input from those with experience for ideas/applications/methods I haven't thought, and to make my design more 'future-proof'.

Thanks in advance.

[alex grams]

hmm, thought this would get some more traction/feedback, doh!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Alex.....I am busy but I will post photos in a hour or so that show mine I made out of 3/4" plywood. I used it not only to mill flat faces on a turned pedestal but used it also to mill the dovetails for the 3 legs on a copy of Norm's Martha Washington's Candles Stand.

[Greg McClurg]

Alex,

Check out this jig by John Lucas.

http://cumberlandwoodturners.com/PDF%20Files/fluting_jig_for_the_lathe.pdf

Greg

[Peter Blair]

Sorry, I read your post earlier but just didn't quite know how to respond.
I started out following Harvey Fein and now I am in sort of another dimension.
Check out his ideas here. I don't have the ability to fabricate his mechanical monsters but you can see where he started here:
http://incising.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Read-me-first.pdf
Pretty easy to start but where do you go from there. I now have two routers, the same type as he suggests, one on a platform and the other sort of on a pivot. As well I am trying to build/design a stand that will move on 3 axis on which I can mount a high speed dental tool.
I have so many design ideas floating around in my head it is sometimes hard to focus on what I should do first.
I'm pretty sure that whatever you do to start, it will be a long way from where you end up!

[Glen Blanchard]

I will be following this thread as this is of interest to me also.

[John Terefenko]

I have adapted John Lucas' jig to fit my Jet midi lathe and have used it to make several pen designs with it. It works well and I have many more designs I want to try.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/IMGP0818.jpg



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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/CopyofIMGP0937-1.jpg

[Marvin Hasenak]

Check out the Flute Master's jig, Google Flute Masters Lathe Tool, $125 simple and built like a rock out of plate steel and aluminum. Cannot build one for that price.

[Mike Golka]

I have a home made "Eli Avisera" type cross slide that I use. With depth stops I have very good control for repeatable cuts. I also have a pivot that use with it. I will try to post some pics of mine later. Here is a link to a commercially available one:
http://www.canyonstudios.org/aviseramajig.htm

I made the prototype out of wood then replaced the wood with aluminum that is easily machined with wood working tools. I used 3/8" steel roundbar inserted into groves cut with a ball router bit and roller blade bearings for the slides.

[Glen Blanchard]

Here is a link to a commercially available one:
http://www.canyonstudios.org/aviseramajig.htm

I looked into that a few weeks ago. That thing is like two grand!!! That's U.S. dollars, boys.

[Mike Golka]

I looked into that a few weeks ago. That thing is like two grand!!! That's U.S. dollars, boys.

The hefty price tag is why I built my own, less than $100.00 in material.

[Mike Golka]

Here are the pics as promised:

[Glen Blanchard]

Way cool, Mike!

[Peter Blair]

Wow! Mike that is really cool. I'm sure I couldn't make anything as good as that.
I have been fooling around with lots of ideas as I said earlier in this post.
If you want to see my latest attempt it can be seen on my Wordpress site.
http://woodbowlsandthings.wordpress.com
I initially set out to make an attachment that would allow me to finish the ends of the 'wings' of my negative space designs. Previously I was sawing, filing and sanding and of course was not getting a very repeatable finish. This little devise does allow me to do all sorts of very fine details but I really want to be able to cut deeper and do more so, as I explain on the blog, I will next try to do something more like what you have done but I will in all likelihood have to utilize milling machine attachments as I don't feel confident in making anything like yours.
Thanks again for sharing!