How do you guys do complex wood cutting?
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Man, this is not fun! You guys with more skill like 88supramki and vin78 need to chime in.
I'm trying to cut a baffle that matches the stock speaker enclosure in my LS400 out of 3/4" MDF. I plan to get this to mount to my door usign the stock holes, then I'm going to use some fiberglass and popsicle sticks to mold it to the door and create a "seal".
But cutting this shape out of the MDF is SUCHa pain! I'm using a jigsaw, and what I have to do is just keep attacking th epiece from 20 different sides, slowly cutting off more and more and seeing the shape form slowly.
Yesterday I went and picked up a router.. one of these:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes
Its the non plunge type.
But how do you guys use this thign? Use the router with a strait bit to "etch" the shape of the thing you're trying to cut out in the wood, and THEN attack it with a jigsaw? Or do you just keep using the router deeper and deeper?
Any wood working tips? I hope I don't have to buy a whole load of new power tools.. but I might have to.
Thanks!
I'm trying to cut a baffle that matches the stock speaker enclosure in my LS400 out of 3/4" MDF. I plan to get this to mount to my door usign the stock holes, then I'm going to use some fiberglass and popsicle sticks to mold it to the door and create a "seal".
But cutting this shape out of the MDF is SUCHa pain! I'm using a jigsaw, and what I have to do is just keep attacking th epiece from 20 different sides, slowly cutting off more and more and seeing the shape form slowly.
Yesterday I went and picked up a router.. one of these:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes
Its the non plunge type.
But how do you guys use this thign? Use the router with a strait bit to "etch" the shape of the thing you're trying to cut out in the wood, and THEN attack it with a jigsaw? Or do you just keep using the router deeper and deeper?
Any wood working tips? I hope I don't have to buy a whole load of new power tools.. but I might have to.
Thanks!
#2
Lexus Champion
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
jigsaw first, router second to make it all nice and smooth.
i busted out 4 templates the other night for my SC, well two for me and two for another member on here. It just takes practice to get better and better. Holes were the worst for me at first, now after watching the guys at work I picked up some better techniques.
i busted out 4 templates the other night for my SC, well two for me and two for another member on here. It just takes practice to get better and better. Holes were the worst for me at first, now after watching the guys at work I picked up some better techniques.
#4
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
jigsaw first, router second to make it all nice and smooth.
i busted out 4 templates the other night for my SC, well two for me and two for another member on here. It just takes practice to get better and better. Holes were the worst for me at first, now after watching the guys at work I picked up some better techniques.
i busted out 4 templates the other night for my SC, well two for me and two for another member on here. It just takes practice to get better and better. Holes were the worst for me at first, now after watching the guys at work I picked up some better techniques.
I think I need to pickup a nicer jigsaw.
#5
Lexus Test Driver
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
+1
How come your installer doesn't do any installs for you? When I installed, I had to do a bunch of stuff for my co-workers
Suneet:
Cutting perfect holes would require the hole cutting attachment such as this one - practical-technologies.com or http://www.tylertool.com/jaspertools.html
But you will need a plunge router or at least a plunge kit with the craftsman router. This will make life a billion time easer, unless you have really steady hands to make perfect circle cuts
You could always get ED to make custom rings for you don't intend to get too dirty though
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Suneet:
Cutting perfect holes would require the hole cutting attachment such as this one - practical-technologies.com or http://www.tylertool.com/jaspertools.html
But you will need a plunge router or at least a plunge kit with the craftsman router. This will make life a billion time easer, unless you have really steady hands to make perfect circle cuts
You could always get ED to make custom rings for you don't intend to get too dirty though
![Wink](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
#6
Lexus Test Driver
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
A flush bit will be useful to make exact duplicates or cutting perfectly straight cuts with a guide.
#7
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Ah see I'm not making a circular baffle. Let me post a picture.. I should have been more clear about that.
I am trying to make a wood version of this:
![](http://www.suneet.com/car/new_system/4.jpg)
My old speakers were 5.25". The new ones are 7". So the plastic piece just isn't going to cut it. Trying to make the same baffle out of wood.
I am trying to make a wood version of this:
![](http://www.suneet.com/car/new_system/4.jpg)
My old speakers were 5.25". The new ones are 7". So the plastic piece just isn't going to cut it. Trying to make the same baffle out of wood.
Last edited by Suneet; 06-29-07 at 05:18 PM.
Trending Topics
#9
Lexus Test Driver
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The plunge router is only useful in our application to make circle cuts such as speaker holes with the linked attachments.
If you are trying to make a duplicate of the speaker enclosure face, just trace it and cut it out with a jigsaw with a high quality bit (I use Bosch blades).
If you are trying to make a duplicate of the speaker enclosure face, just trace it and cut it out with a jigsaw with a high quality bit (I use Bosch blades).
#10
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The plunge router is only useful in our application to make circle cuts such as speaker holes with the linked attachments.
If you are trying to make a duplicate of the speaker enclosure face, just trace it and cut it out with a jigsaw with a high quality bit (I use Bosch blades).
If you are trying to make a duplicate of the speaker enclosure face, just trace it and cut it out with a jigsaw with a high quality bit (I use Bosch blades).
I use my dremel for cutting circles.. so do I even need a router then?
The jig saw works, but its tough to get those really sharp curves.. like the 4 little screw mounting points that stick out of the enclosure.
#11
Lexus Test Driver
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
As far as cutting around tight areas, just cut slowly with the jigsaw, try to find a thin blade.
For the baffle it self, I would use the thickest material as your installation allows. Be sure you seal everything - speaker to baffle and baffle to door sheetmetal.
GL and take your time.
#12
Lexus Champion
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I get some of the guys to do more complex things for me. I'm a total novice with the router, I just do a lot of paying attention and ask a TON of questions ![Wink](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
in this situation you really don't need to use a router unless you want it to look fancy under the door panel. I would use a router when you are doing some custom work that requires nice rolling lines around the speaker.
take that lovely plastic piece and lay it on a piece of MDF, then trace it with a pen or pencil. mark the holes for mounting and start cutting away. take your time and remember to move the wood as your doing the rounding, tends to help make it look nicer. it also works well for cutting the hole for the speaker. that's a relatively easy shape to do, the ones for the MKIV supras are a pain in the rear.
![Wink](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
in this situation you really don't need to use a router unless you want it to look fancy under the door panel. I would use a router when you are doing some custom work that requires nice rolling lines around the speaker.
take that lovely plastic piece and lay it on a piece of MDF, then trace it with a pen or pencil. mark the holes for mounting and start cutting away. take your time and remember to move the wood as your doing the rounding, tends to help make it look nicer. it also works well for cutting the hole for the speaker. that's a relatively easy shape to do, the ones for the MKIV supras are a pain in the rear.
Last edited by 88supramki; 06-29-07 at 06:22 PM.
#13
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Like others have said, use a jig saw with a blade made for cutting circles. Also, cut a pattern on 1/4" material. Take your pattern and transfer it to 3/4" using a router, router table and flush trim bit.
If you don't want to use the router table method, then cut 3 patterns in 1/4" material and laminate them together.
-Robert
If you don't want to use the router table method, then cut 3 patterns in 1/4" material and laminate them together.
-Robert
#14
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
OH MY GOD, I bought a new jig saw, and some bosch blades.. WOW. This thing cuts through my 3/4" MDF like BUTTER. Thank god for this thing.
Also that tip to turn the wood instead of turning the jigsaw helsp a lot.
Cutting is going a LOT more smoothly now. My old jigsaw was SO terrible! I used to have to put my entire body weight on the saw just to get it to move. This one, I just turn it on, and it just wants to cut right through everything by itself.
Craftsman is![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Also that tip to turn the wood instead of turning the jigsaw helsp a lot.
Cutting is going a LOT more smoothly now. My old jigsaw was SO terrible! I used to have to put my entire body weight on the saw just to get it to move. This one, I just turn it on, and it just wants to cut right through everything by itself.
Craftsman is
![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)