Cutting an arched frame in wood

Sibbee · Post by **Sibbee** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:34 pm

I need to cut a circular frame in wood or MDF, however, I do not possess a bandsaw and I am having difficulty finding any wood yards who will cut it for me. I have marked two circles on the wood, one with a radius of 14 inches and another at 16.5 inches (making a 2.5 inch frame), but I cannot accurately cut it using a jigsaw. Has anyone got any suggestions to make my cut more accurate?

Thanks Sibbee

skiking · Post by **skiking** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:43 pm

Is it not possible to cut it close to your desired shape then use a power sander to get it to the exact shape.

Sanding MDF is messy - use a mask!

Sibbee · Post by **Sibbee** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:49 pm

Thanks for reply. Already tried that but the cutting is too wavy making it difficult to rub down. Also had other people try to cut it but no joy.

sibbee

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:10 pm

use a router. cut a peice of 9mm ply about 5 inches wide and about 6 inches longer than half the measurment of the diametre. drill a hole in one end big enough for a guide bush to sit in and drill a 4mm hole the other hend to take a screw as the centre point. put your router with guide bush in the bigger (snug) hole and cut away. do it in about 3 passes.

good luck.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:10 pm

jigsaw drill 2 holes in the baseplate

a piece of mdf or ply 12mm the width of the baseplate up to the 3mm behind the blade screw the other end to the pivot point turn off the pendulum brand new 101b or 101d cut slowly

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:03 pm

surely anyone looking to do diy will have a cheap router knocking about?

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:11 pm

The router will be the neatest option.

Dont forget to do the outer circle first

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:44 pm

Hitch wrote:The router will be the neatest option.

Dont forget to do the outer circle first

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:45 pm

can just see his face when hes looking for the middle to connect his jig for the inner circle

Hinton Heating · Post by **Hinton Heating** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:28 pm

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:53 am

I read an article in one of the woodworking mags the other week about making a circular window. I have it somewhere but not to hand at the mo.

Anyways it was a quite a dull article apart from one top tip. which was to use the fence attachment on your router as a trammel bar, I think that is the right term

Any way set the fence on the router but attach it in reverse so it sticks out from the router. Then drill a hole in the centre of the piece you want a cut out in. The attach the router fence over the drill bit in the hole and rotate the router about this point.

I thought this was clever

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:22 am

yeah, to cut out a polo mint size

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:48 am

no large holes

Sibbee · Post by **Sibbee** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:37 am

Thanks to all who replied. The router idea seems good but I have never used one. Will it cut through 3/4" MDF?
By the way I am a 64 year old woman whose husband is a defeatist, i.e. can't do it, won't try.
The circle I am trying to cut is to be further cut into 4 quarters, which will create the 4 curved corners of a frame I am making for an arched opening in a through room, rather like a door frame on either side of the arch opening.
I know most arched opening are just finished in plasterboard and painted but I like wallpaper and the corners keep getting damaged, hence the idea of a frame to paper up to.
Thanks again for your ideas.

Sibbee

skiking · Post by **skiking** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:56 am

Sibbee wrote:Thanks to all who replied. The router idea seems good but I have never used one. Will it cut through 3/4" MDF?
By the way I am a 64 year old woman whose husband is a defeatist, i.e. can't do it, won't try.
I have tackled many diy jobs including fitting a new kitchen and bathroom,
building wardrobes etc. so i'm not a novice. Although I admit that I sometimes need help.
The circle I am trying to cut is to be further cut into 4 quarters, which will create the 4 curved corners of a frame I am making for an arched opening in a through room, rather like a door frame on either side of the arch opening.
I know most arched opening are just finished in plasterboard and painted but I like wallpaper and the corners keep getting damaged, hence the idea of a frame to paper up to.
Thanks again for your ideas.

Sibbee

Good on ya for attempting this

Never let age of sexuality get in the way of things

Rather than making a wooden frame for a arch opening why not use this or this

Good luck with it all