Accessories for a hand router: what you can make with your own hands or buy. How to cut a circle in plywood: selection of tools, shaped cutting technologies with a jigsaw, router and improvised means Devices for cutting circles with a jigsaw

Let's look at what stencils for wood carving are, how they can be used and what they are. Today it is ancient craft captivates many, but this is a rather complex and painstaking task, which requires not only talent, but also artistic skills. If everything necessary for this task has been acquired and you know how to work with each of the tools, then determine the drawing.

Stencil pattern for applying a design to wood

But it is not always possible to choose and draw the one you need. In this case, purchase stencils for wood carving, which help the novice craftsman do everything correctly.

Let's look at what a stencil is. This is a device that helps to apply a pattern or identical symbols to a surface. For example, they occupy a special place in this niche, since they are produced specifically so that the master can perform complex work, intended for external walls.

Stencils for carving wood with a jigsaw exist for the following interior items:

pilaster;
towels;
brackets;
and etc.

Stencil with a complex pattern for carving

These are specialized templates; it is from them that three-dimensional ornaments and patterns are created. They make the task of change much easier appearance interior After all, you don’t have to look for a stencil, but you can simply download it or order it through the World Wide Web. And then create your masterpiece.

How to choose and where to find a stencil

Exists a large number of various patterns for: from simple ornaments to an animal, bird, person or a whole picture. When making a choice, you must remember the following rules:

if they hold it in their hands for the first time, they don’t buy a template old painting or engravings, since it is quite difficult to work on it and can be ruined raw material;
For certain type carvings have their own stencils;
In order to complete the work accurately, all lines are transferred accurately to the source material.

Stylish stencil ornament for carving

And nowadays it is available through digital libraries, which publish complete editions. Therefore, you can look into these rare publications and “take inspiration” from there. An artist, decorator, designer or woodcarver will appreciate such a source of information, as it makes it possible to understand and feel not only the past era, but also the spirit of that time. After all, it was then that everything was produced by hand, and objects were decorated with fancy patterns.

Before choosing a design, compare the dimensions of the workpiece and the image. For a correct and good reading, you must remember the following points:

if the product is large, then do not choose openwork or small ornaments;
Large drawings are not suitable for small ones;
proportions must be observed.

A selection of various geometric patterns for carving

All this concerns not only the floral pattern, but also the image of an animal, bird and ethnic ornament.

The jigsaw is a well-known tool manual type, designed for cutting patterns on various surfaces. In terms of its importance, it is as important as a drill or hammer drill.

A jigsaw is used for sawing various types of materials (wood, metal, etc.).

They can make straight and curved openings in wood of any species and other non-natural materials, precise cuts geometric shapes with a complex trajectory. The tips and recommendations listed here will help you figure out how to cut a circle with a jigsaw.

Properties of metalworking tools

The jigsaw is intended for household and professional needs. Devices of the first type are characterized by low power and are designed for work in small volumes. The purpose of using special equipment is the professional orientation of the tool, its productivity and a long period of work.

Usually Appliances have standard set functions:

frequency of moves;
method of fixing a sheet for cutting;
pendulum type movement;
turning the saw.

A jigsaw is used for finishing surfaces, cutting out uneven edges, internal holes, and making furniture. The processed material is securely fixed to the base. Marks are made on it in advance, then the holes are sawed. Rotational vibrations of the shaft are converted into translational movements. The saw is fixed on the rod, its quality determines the life of the product. When choosing a device, preference should be given to round shapes and thickened stems.

The jigsaw is distinguished by such positive qualities, How:

Cutting holes in any samples.
A simple device allows you to quickly replace saws.
Possibility to make round or rectangular cuts.
Ease of use.
Does not require special knowledge and skills.
Availability significant amount saws with different step limits of action, tooth shapes allow for different kinds work in conditions of one device.
Reliable fixation of the cut sample allows any distance from the edge of the product.
Device universal action allows you to cut to any depth.
During the work, the material is practically not damaged.

Disadvantages:

The shortened movement of the blade ensures slower operation of the device.
Possibility of injury.
Possibility of cord failure.
Checking the battery charge level.

The jigsaw has a built-in protection system, pneumatics and an electric drive.

The new products being released are equipped with improved functions: reducing the number of vibrations, improving productivity indicators, and equipping the device with convenient functions. Depending on the method of fixing the cutting part, saws are:

with holes;

with a cross-shaped element;

with a smooth base.

In some ways, a jigsaw can replace a router, a hand saw, a circular saw, chain saw, corner grinding machine. The tool is necessary in any household; it allows you to carry out wood carving.

The current supplied to the device from the network gives an impulse to the motor, causing it to move. Together with the gearbox, it transmits the impulse to the gear, which secures the rod. The circular action of the shaft is modified into the movement of the working element of a reciprocating nature, moving up and down. The saws are fixed using screws or clamping mechanisms. Such fasteners help to change the canvas in a short time.

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Rules for working with a jigsaw

To understand how to properly saw a circle in wood, it is important to study the features. This carpentry tool helps to cut out ovals, wavy patterns, figures with uneven outlines, non-standard carved boxes, shelves with end-to-end patterns. To ensure that interaction with a jigsaw is organized and safe, it is important to adhere to the following rules:

In order for work with a jigsaw to proceed quickly and safely, do not forget to fix the product before work.

To avoid inconvenience, special stands should be prepared during work. A slot is made up to the middle of the support, somewhat reminiscent of a lock hole.

The stand is fixed with clamps or screws to the workbench.

At the time of work, you need to sit down, position the file strictly vertically relative to the floor and perpendicular to the surface.

The workpiece is placed in the middle of the stand, holding it with your left hand; you can saw the plywood with your right hand. The location of the cuts should be in the middle part of the support hole.

The tool does not tolerate strong pressure: just a small touch and gradual movement up and down, and it will begin to work effectively.

Attributes:

pencil;

drill;

drill;

jigsaw

Plywood (and to a lesser extent other sheet materials such as chipboard or oriented strand board) has significant decorative potential. If there is enough simple tool and certain skills, you can cut almost anything out of plywood.
But in order for the parts obtained as a result of such carving to look quite presentable, the master should have a few tricks in stock. We will talk about them in our article.

Getting started with sheet materials, many craftsmen only have an idea of how to cut in a straight line. Because the question is how to cut smooth circle made of plywood, may confuse many. And indeed, ordinary or circular saw can't cope with the task.
Figure sawing Most often done using the following tools:

The simplest device used for sawing. With the help of a jigsaw, even the most delicate work You can do it yourself, but it’s practically unsuitable for thick material or long cuts.
Jigsaws. There are two types of devices you can use here:
- regular, with a vertical file;
- artistic, whose role cutting element performed by steel sheet.

Regular jigsaws will come in handy when working with thick ones. But if you are looking for a way to cut letters from plywood or make other complex elements (for example, parts children's construction set), then it is best to use a model with a band saw.

Advice! Naturally, for each type of jigsaw there are several types of files and blades. Right choice cutting element is a necessary condition High Quality products.

In addition to jigsaws, you can use a furniture router for curved cutting. Despite how difficult it is to operate, it is many times superior to most models of plywood saws in terms of the quality of the holes it makes. Using a router you can.

Also, do not forget about available devices, but we will talk about their use in the appropriate section.

Cutting from plywood has several nuances that the master needs to take into account:

Firstly, you can only cut on dry material. High humidity leads to an increase in the resistance of plywood, therefore, with excessive force, either the veneer will begin to delaminate or the file will break.
You need to change the saw or cutting blade immediately after the first signs that the teeth have become dull appear.
If we are cutting from plywood using a jigsaw, then to obtain cleaner edges, the main cutting lines should be placed along the grain of the veneer. But with hand files it is easier to work across the grain: there will be slightly more chips, but there is less risk of the file getting pinched or moving away from the intended line.

Advice! When transferring designs for cutting from plywood onto the workpiece, try to place the template in such a way that the elements to be removed fall on areas with defects: knots, chips, stains, etc.

Shape cutting technologies

Jigsaw

As we noted above, a jigsaw will come in handy if we are looking for how to cut a word out of plywood or make other parts of complex shapes:

We transfer pre-printed drawings or templates onto the workpiece using carbon paper.

If the structure has through sections, we do it thin drill starting holes.
Insert a file or jigsaw blade into the hole. Secure the free end of the file with a fastening screw or clamp.
We make a cut along the intended line, pressing the workpiece to the workbench. The saw moves either automatically (for electric jigsaws) or manually.

After all the arc elements have been sawn, we remove unnecessary areas and process finished part file or sandpaper.

Fraser

A furniture router is great for cutting out thick plywood. Certainly, complex shape You can’t make it with it, but you can easily cut an arc or circle:

We fix the standard ruler included in the router in the center of the circle using a self-tapping screw.
If the length of the ruler is not enough, you can assemble a simple bracket from metal profile or wooden planks.
By rotating the cutter along a fixed radius, we select a groove along the circumference, resulting in an almost perfect hole.

Note! When calculating the diameter of the circle, you should take into account the dimensions of the working cutter. The instructions for the device will tell you the exact numbers.

In this way, you can cut not only circles, but also individual arcs - for example, in order to make grooves for furniture brackets.

Using improvised means

For curly elements it is advisable to have special devices, but to do about round hole in a laminated veneer slab can be needed by any craftsman. Below we will tell you how to cut a circle from plywood when you have nothing at hand.
Well, almost nothing:

Used for cutting plywood wooden plank with two nails.
One nail is driven through the strip into the workpiece, exactly in the center of the hole being made.
We drive the second nail into the bar so that the point protrudes on the wrong side by at least 5-10 mm. The distance from the first nail should be equal to the radius of the hole being made.
Rotating the bar, use the tip to draw a groove on the plywood, deepening it with each turn.
Instead of a stick, you can use a strong cord. The operating principle remains unchanged.

The sharper the nail used, the faster the hole will be made.
It should be noted that although the price of such a device is low, it is worth using it only when other methods are not available: the edges still turn out to be far from ideal.

Similar materials

Any design, whether in your home or in production, involves working with metal.

Often, during the operation of this material, the question may arise: how to cut a circle in?

It deserves attention because of the choice the right tool and technology directly depends on the complexity of the process of performing work and the quality of its result.

Metal can be thin or thick and durable, so a variety of tools are used to cut it.

The choice of materials and cutting technology also depends on what diameter the circle is needed and how even it should be.

Using a jigsaw

If you need a perfectly even circle, you can use an electric one to cut it out.

The work is carried out in several stages:

First, the thickness of the metal is determined and the appropriate saw blade for an electric jigsaw.
Before cutting a circle in metal with a jigsaw, the outline of the circle that will be cut is drawn on the working plane.
Using a drill and a drill (with a diameter of eight to ten millimeters), a hole is cut out from which work will begin.
A jigsaw saw blade is placed in the resulting gap and cutting continues as planned.

Cutting using this tool does not take much time and effort. Moreover, using a jigsaw you can get a circle with perfect edges. But this tool is used only for working with metal of minimal or medium thickness (for example, 2 - 3 mm).

Using an angle grinder

The grinder is used when working with thin metal. You can create a round hole with this tool by following these step-by-step tips:

Before cutting a circle in metal with a grinder, markings are made so that its contours are clearly visible.
Along the entire length of the intended drawing, short sections are cut with a grinder disc, which will eventually be connected.
The figure will look more like a polyhedron than a circle. Therefore, after cutting is completed, the product is processed and cleaned until the edges become sufficiently even and smooth. You can also use a grinder for processing. If the circle is wide, you can sharpen the contours with a large disk.

When processing a cut circle using a grinder, you should be careful that the disk is inside the hole and, at the same time, is located in the same plane with the work sheet.

Cutting a circle in thick metal

In order to outline the exact contours of the figure that will be cut out of metal, you should use a ruler, a marking compass and a marker.

First, using , the required width of the compass connector is set so that it matches the required diameter of the circle.

Then the center point of the circle is determined on the metal plane.

Contours are drawn from it using a compass.

So that they are clearly visible during the work, they should be drawn with a marker.

Application of cutting torch

A circle in medium-thick metal can be cut using a gas cutter. The work takes place in several stages:

The outline of the circle is outlined.
The instrument burner lights up.
The combustion torch is adjustable.
The torch is carefully and slowly drawn according to the drawn drawing.

Using this method, you can cut a hole in metal that is about four or five millimeters.

Application of welding machine

If in home arsenal There is no gas cutter, you can use a welding machine.

It needs to be adjusted to the most high level current.

Then the burning arc is placed against the contour and held there until a hole is formed.

Then you just need to slowly move it along the drawing until you get an even circle.

But the most important thing is to correctly adjust the power of the tool.

For example, if metal about four millimeters thick is used, a device operating at about 150 amperes is needed. If the metal is thicker, the power of the tool will be greater.

To speed up the process, it is better to use thin electrodes. However, they burn out quickly and need to be replaced. Because of this, there will be a need for frequent heating of the metal, since during the replacement of the electrode it will have time to cool down.

How to cut an even circle from metal with a cutter is shown in the video:

Round corners of furniture

You can even get injured by hitting a sharp corner of the table. Therefore, we recommend cutting corners where possible. U homemade furniture they need to be rounded off from the very beginning.

Cutting circles and curved lines is no more difficult than making an absolutely straight cut on a workpiece, but under one condition: in your hands the right tool and you are good at it.

Mark missing parts

It may happen that the holes that you drilled to insert a narrow blade of a hand or electric hacksaw will end up on useful areas To avoid such errors, you should mark all missing parts of the workpiece with shading.

What is suitable for the template

You can make a circle on a workpiece not only with a compass. Any object of a similar shape is suitable for this purpose. This could be a pan, plate, cup or bowl. However, when starting work related to the repair of furniture or some piece of furniture, calculate in advance the need for parts with rounded contours or with round holes. It may be enough to make only minor changes to the design.

Instead of a compass

A school compass can also be useful in a home workshop, but its range of action is small. What if you need to draw a circle of large diameter?

An easy way is to do this with string, a nail and a pencil. The nail is carefully driven into the workpiece, the rope is secured to it at one end, and a pin is secured to the other end. The length of the rope determines the radius of the circle being drawn. The only condition is that the rope must be taut along the entire path of the pencil. Then the distance from the center (nail) to the circle in all sections of the marking will be the same.

Strip of cardboard or slats

No less simple, but more reliable way- use a strip of cardboard or, even better, a wooden plank instead of a rope. Drill two holes in this bar (strip) - one, smaller, for a nail, the other, larger, for a pencil. The distance between their tips should correspond to the radius of the desired circle. All that remains is to install in in the right place nail and turn the bar around its axis.

Two sharpened nails and a wooden strip or a strip of thick cardboard can replace a compass.

How to draw ellipses

An ellipse is a rather complex shape, but to draw it on paper, you only need two thumbtacks, a piece of string and a sharpened pencil.

Attach two buttons to the surface of the workpiece at some distance from each other. Take a piece of rope, tie both ends into a knot and hook the rope onto the button heads. Now, with a pencil, draw a line that the stretched rope allows you to describe. You can change the shape of the ellipse at your discretion.

The distance between the two focal points of the ellipse is indicated by buttons. If you guide a pencil within the boundaries assigned to it by a rope, then the outline of an ellipse will appear on the paper.

The ellipse shape can be larger or smaller, thicker or narrower, depending on the distance between the buttons and the length of the rope.

Templates

Shot glasses, cups, plates, pots or baking dishes - there are many items in any household round shape, which can be used to mark a circle. If you are making something and decide to give your product a rounded shape, then first look to see if there is a suitable template among the household utensils. To be sure, select a few items and take them to the workshop. There you can immediately try them on the workpiece and determine what is most suitable. With some practice, you will be able to make rounded lines from several round objects with different radii. Arcs of a circle can be drawn sequentially, or bridges-transitions can be made between individual arcs.

Preliminary drawing

Before attempting to draw a curve on a workpiece, design it on large sheet paper or piece corrugated cardboard. Only after the result is satisfactory in all respects can you cut out a template from paper and make markings on it on the workpiece.

You can draw circles and fragments of a circle using a cup or plate by simply tracing them with a pencil.

Inserting a sink according to a template

Washing is one of the essential elements kitchen equipment. If you decide to cut your sink into your kitchen worktop yourself, the first thing you need to do is prepare an exact template.

First, transfer the outer outline of the shell onto a thick sheet of paper. Next, measure the width of its sides, which will rest on the tabletop. Usually this is 2-3 cm. Now step back from the outline drawn on the paper, inward by the width of the side and draw a parallel line. This will be the cutting line.

When applying markings, make sure that the position of the template itself on the plate is correct. Of course, if all the corners of the sink are symmetrical, then nothing bad will happen if, according to the markings, it appears to be in a mirror image. But if the sink has the shape of a trapezoid and the roundings at the front corners differ from the roundings at the back, then under no circumstances confuse the front and back parts.

Using a similar pattern, make templates and cut out holes for the devices. wall lighting or for loudspeaker mounted on wooden panels.

The line drawn around the sink is auxiliary. The second, drawn parallel closer to the center, is the sawing line.

Electric hacksaw

If you need to cut a round-shaped part and saw a round hole in the workpiece, then an electric hacksaw is the most suitable tool. With its help, you will save effort and time, since such a saw has great advantages over a manual one. Thus, the blade of the electric hacksaw is narrower, which provides increased maneuverability. Further, it has replaceable blades with different teeth, which allows you to process workpieces of any type, that is, wood, plywood, chipboard (it is no coincidence that the tool is also called a jigsaw).

To cut a section inside the workpiece, a hole is first drilled for a hand saw. But if you have an electric hacksaw, then this is not necessary. The tool is brought to the workpiece with a slight tilt forward and turned on in this position. The saw will cut the hole itself. Just don’t put too much pressure on the body - this can lead to breakage of the saw blade.

Lead in a circle

This device, simple in design, makes cutting out round holes or arcs much easier. It is enough to mark the center of the circle on the workpiece, fasten the device along the mark and connect the rod coming from it with an electric hacksaw. The divisions on the rod help set the saw blade at the required distance from the center of the circle. As a result, without preliminary marking, you can cut a circle or saw an arc with a radius of 5 to 20 cm.

The device (more precisely, its “sole”) is attached to the surface of the workpiece with screws. They should be well tightened. If the fastening is not rigid and starts to wobble, then an even circle will not work.

Suitable for lefties too

Left-handers can also use the device, since the guide rod is attached to the movable unit both on the left and on the right. So cut at your own discretion - clockwise or counterclockwise.

Using such a device, you can cut a round hole with a diameter of 10 to 40 cm in the workpiece without preliminary marking.

Jigsaw

When cutting holes or curves in small workpieces, sometimes you can’t do without a jigsaw. Replaceable blades with teeth of different shapes and locations allow you to work with wood various densities. However, it should be taken into account that the depth of the cut is limited by the arc of the jigsaw, that is, the saw blade will not be able to move further than 30 cm from the edge of the workpiece.

Very thin, narrow saw blades can be easily damaged if the jigsaw is used incorrectly. The saw must be operated with careful, methodical movements. The main thing is to prevent the canvas from skewing. Otherwise, small and light workpieces will begin to move with the saw, which may ultimately lead to the blade bursting.

The thinnest jigsaw blade will “master” the narrowest curve, but only in small workpieces, since the advancement of the blade is limited by the arc of the jigsaw.

Drill saw

Neither a hand saw nor an electric hacksaw will help if you need to cut a small hole in the workpiece - less than 10 cm in diameter. A jigsaw may also be useless if the workpiece is large. In this case, the most suitable tool is a drill saw. With its tip, it bites into the tree like a drill and thus makes a “starting” hole for further cutting. Externally, the saw is similar to a round file with the difference that its shaft is surrounded by a spiral around the cutting edge.

Drill saws are available with interchangeable attachments of various diameters, designed for processing both soft and hard wood, as well as a variety of materials made from it.

The working body of a drill saw is metal rod with a cutting edge, like a gimlet, and cutting edge, which goes around the rod in a spiral.

This is what the narrowest one looks like hand saws. Thanks to the fastening unit, the blades in the hacksaw can be changed depending on the nature of the material being processed.

Drill attachment

One of the most popular and convenient options The hole is cut using a special attachment on the drill. It is made in the form of a crown comb and has a rounded shape. With this attachment, cutting holes occurs quickly, and they turn out quite smooth.

drill bit for holes

Nozzles come in different diameters, which allows you to cut a hole of the required diameter. If you have already prepared a hole, we can advise you to try your hand at options trading.

Drill

Cut big hole You can also use a drill. To do this, it is necessary to pre-mark the outline of the hole to be drilled. Next, use a small drill to drill along the contour prepared in advance, through holes. Next, use a jigsaw or very sharp knife, cut off the holes, thereby connecting the holes. After which you can smooth the circle using sandpaper of various grain sizes.

Chisel

Cut required hole You can also use a chisel. It is enough to remove the wood layer by layer along the contour. This option is the least suitable for interior decoration. The hole must be smooth, which cannot be achieved by using improvised and unsuitable materials for the job. The best option will be using a bit on a drill. The hole is even and has smooth edges.

Thus, to summarize, it becomes clear that you need to choose a tool for cutting a hole based on your goals. If necessary high-quality cut, then you can’t do without a special tool.