My mother in law asked if I could make a few of these for her crafts. It's basically a doughnut shape in hardboard. (This one she bought has a mirror in it.) Exterior diameter about 10 1/4" and interior about 6 1/2." I'm thinking either use this as a template for my router or use a circle cutter on the drill press. Other thoughts?

Use that one as a template with your router. That's what I would do. I'm sure others have different ideas.

Flat..no problem, just a template and a router. I would not use a drill press and circle cutter or hole saw. A saber saw and some sanding will be fine. A saber saw or bandsaw on the outside diameter would be fine also.

Dished? ...other than a lathe I have no ideas. It may be been made with a glue sawdust mixture compressed in a mold. bill

It's perfectly flat. I think the angle of the photo makes it look dished or oblong. I don't think I've routed hardboard before. Any issues or does it work clean?

I could turn you a million of them on the lathe, but they'd be solid wood, not hardboard. If it has to be hardboard, then a router and use that one as a template. If it's dished and not flat, run down to the local craft store and buy them. Looks like they're about 10 bucks a piece.

Question is, how few is a few. If I were not going to make more than a dozen I would just cut them out with a band saw and jig saw and sand the edges. The time it would take to make the router templets and get it set up you could be done.

Circle jig?

Stack 4 square pieces and use a some double sided tape between them. Saw out the inside circle first with a saber/jig saw, then the outside diameter. Sand the edges and you'll have 4 of them in no time. Depending on your equipment, you can possibly stack up to 6 at a time.... bill

I would make a template from a substrate...3/4". Secure the hardboard with hot glue or double stick tape. Drill a hole for the router bit (flush trim) for the inside curve, and just run the outside. A 3/8" flush trim bit will cut easy.





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I was thinking I would use this to create a more robust template out of 1/2" or 3/4" MDF. I've found hardboard a bit too thin to get a bearing bit on and only cut the workpiece.

To my eyes that thing looks like it is thicker in the center then on the edges. Sort of a flying saucer shape.

George

Do the inside and the outside with a router, cleanest and best way to go.

yes, a router is the way to go, for the inside and outside


woodrouterreviewsguy, wood router

Thanks all. I think we have a winner! Appreciate the input.

And the winner is.
Dominick. Lol. JK. Whats your plan? No really who's the winner?

Correct on the first guess! You are indeed the winner of a new trim router. You can collect it at the door.

Laughing MAO. Thanks.