what's the kind of hole cutter i'm thinking of?

[chrisd]

I saw a neat tool that cuts holes in mdf and is adjustable. My dremel and circle cutter isn't cutting it. Makes a mess regardless of what bit I use, same with rotozip and circle cutter. I saw a hole cutter on tv that goes in a drill press. It has a regular drill bit in the middle (i think) and a long bar that ran perpendicular to the drill bit on one side. On that bar, there's some sort of cutting bit that cut through the mdf like butter. The second bit slides along the bar and is adjustable to whatever radius you want. What sort of tool did I see on tv?

Or, what bit should I use to cut mdf with with a rotozip or dremel? Wood cutting and tile cutting don't work too well. Just makes an ugly lopsided circle.

[dancarroll]

It's called a fly cutter, but you are better off saving up for a router and circle jig.

[bogie]

...requires another question or three first.

Is your insurance paid up? How attached are you to your fingers? Are you averse to debris embedded in your flesh?

[chrisd]

> ...requires another question or three first.

> Is your insurance paid up? How attached are
> you to your fingers? Are you averse to
> debris embedded in your flesh?
yes, very, and yes. I assume they aren't worth a damn? Oh well. I've been trying to talk myself into a router but after my latest purchase, it's not bloody likely. Perhaps my dad will get one, he's been talking about it.

[daryl]

Provided Link: Daryl's Speaker Stuff.


Hi CJ,

You definately want the router.

You can get setup with a router and jig for just over $100.

A router is not for advanced woodworkers either.

In truth you will need considerable skill to get good results without a router but any idiot can get excellent results with a router (so long as they are smart enough not to injure themselves with it).

I don't consider myself a woodworker and don't like to do it but I am pleased with the results I have achieved with my cheap Ryobi and Jasper Jig.

<A HREF="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-.../Satelite3.JPG">http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-.../Satelite3.JPG</A>
<A HREF="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/144711/Pb15-1.jpg">http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/144711/Pb15-1.jpg</A>
<A HREF="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...satelite41.JPG">http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...satelite41.JPG</A>

[chrisd]

Well, a router it is. Fly cutters don't go big enough anyhow.
> Hi CJ,

> You definately want the router.

> You can get setup with a router and jig for
> just over $100.

> A router is not for advanced woodworkers
> either.

> In truth you will need considerable skill to
> get good results without a router but any
> idiot can get excellent results with a
> router (so long as they are smart enough not
> to injure themselves with it).

> I don't consider myself a woodworker and
> don't like to do it but I am pleased with
> the results I have achieved with my cheap
> Ryobi and Jasper Jig.

>
> <A HREF="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-.../Satelite3.JPG">http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-.../Satelite3.JPG</A>
>
> <A HREF="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/144711/Pb15-1.jpg">http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/144711/Pb15-1.jpg</A>
>
> <A HREF="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...satelite41.JPG">http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...satelite41.JPG</A>

[shawn_a]

> Well, a router it is. Fly cutters don't go
> big enough anyhow.

A fly cutter is pretty much a one trick pony. With a router it opens up a whole 'nother level of woodworking capabilities. I know that once I bought my first router (and I've used a fly cutter before with pretty good results) I wouldn't go back to anything else unless I needed to. I use the Dremel and circle cutting attachment only on the smallest of circles. My Rotozip hardly gets used with the circle cutter attachment but it does well for quick and dirty jobs. So in short, get the router. Period. You will use it a lot if you really get deep into the addiction.

shawn

[bogie]

...has the distinction of having the most ER visits of any weekend warrior tool... When those little bits break while they're moving, they might go anywhere.

[robertcottiers]

> ...has the distinction of having the most ER
> visits of any weekend warrior tool... When
> those little bits break while they're
> moving, they might go anywhere.

I also have the Rotozip and I am surprised that Bosch puts their name on it!!...It would not surprise me if there was not a class action lawsuit initiated against this piece of crap.

Rant over! Bob C.

[johnastockman]

> Well, a router it is. Fly cutters don't go
> big enough anyhow.

CJ. the other kind gents gave great advice...Robert, bogie, Shawn, etc. I have 3 fly cutters and a roto-zip with quite a few attachments (a gift from a well-meaning girlfriend) and all the bits. The roto' is great for soft materials, even thin plywood, but for MDF or anything more than 3/4" thick, it sucks...takes way too long and the bit deflects if you put even a small amount of pressure on it. It now collects dust instead of making it. Even my radial-head drill press doesn't have a slow enough speed for a fly-cutter. IIRC, the slow speed is around 380rpm, but I was never comfortable using it. And that's with clamping the hell out of the workpiece. I have a fixed-base Ryobi (160) with a Jasper and it has served me well for over 7 years. Check out HD or Lowes, I think they have refurbished units w/warranty...a post a few days ago said something about this. Good luck!

John A.

[robertcottiers]

> CJ. the other kind gents gave great
> advice...Robert, bogie, Shawn, etc. I have 3
> fly cutters and a roto-zip with quite a few
> attachments (a gift from a well-meaning
> girlfriend) and all the bits. The roto' is
> great for soft materials, even thin plywood,
> but for MDF or anything more than 3/4"
> thick, it sucks...takes way too long and the
> bit deflects if you put even a small amount
> of pressure on it. It now collects dust
> instead of making it. Even my radial-head
> drill press doesn't have a slow enough speed
> for a fly-cutter. IIRC, the slow speed is
> around 380rpm, but I was never comfortable
> using it. And that's with clamping the hell
> out of the workpiece. I have a fixed-base
> Ryobi (160) with a Jasper and it has served
> me well for over 7 years. Check out HD or
> Lowes, I think they have refurbished units
> w/warranty...a post a few days ago said
> something about this. Good luck!

> John A.

John: I bought the RotoZip for doing small diameter cuts(Midrange/tweeter).I found the tool had too much play in the base which translated to innaccurate cuts with the circle attachment,I also used a regular router bit 1/4 inch straight,instead of the stock ones.

The tool could be more useful if they used less flimsy plastic parts in the base assembly.

It probably works fine for cutting sheetrock,but that's not what I wanted it for..One of these days I might try to tweak it for better performance.

Regards Bob C.

[johnastockman]

> John: I bought the RotoZip for doing small
> diameter cuts(Midrange/tweeter).I found the
> tool had too much play in the base which
> translated to innaccurate cuts with the
> circle attachment,I also used a regular
> router bit 1/4 inch straight,instead of the
> stock ones.

> The tool could be more useful if they used
> less flimsy plastic parts in the base
> assembly.

> It probably works fine for cutting
> sheetrock,but that's not what I wanted it
> for..One of these days I might try to tweak
> it for better performance.

> Regards Bob C.

Yeah, Bob, I bought two different circle-cutting attachments. The original one was way too "loose". I got the newer-model ones...they fit fine on my model of 'zip, but were still the same. Mine only could accomodate the 1/8" spiral bits and they would dull up fast cutting MDF. I ruined many-a-baffle trying to make the roto work! I never forced it or tried to use it with too-thick of a material. The new model that's out now looks like it MIGHT be a bit more stable, but after using a router/Jasper for so long, I wouldn't even consider the roto...not for speaker building, anyway. Love those Sequoia's!

John A.

[chrisd]

Well it turns out that I have a fixed based router at my mom's house that I'm "welcome to." It's an older one, not sure the model. I think it's black and decker before they turned orange and black, or it could be a craftsman/sears. So now I need a circle jig. And I just got a job today. Things are going my way!
> Yeah, Bob, I bought two different
> circle-cutting attachments. The original one
> was way too "loose". I got the
> newer-model ones...they fit fine on my model
> of 'zip, but were still the same. Mine only
> could accomodate the 1/8" spiral bits
> and they would dull up fast cutting MDF. I
> ruined many-a-baffle trying to make the roto
> work! I never forced it or tried to use it
> with too-thick of a material. The new model
> that's out now looks like it MIGHT be a bit
> more stable, but after using a router/Jasper
> for so long, I wouldn't even consider the
> roto...not for speaker building, anyway.
> Love those Sequoia's!

> John A.