Just retired, and need help with cutting project.

[Ol'Roy]

I have never joined or posted on any message board before. I may have trouble finding answers to my question on this web site, but I will start learning here. Thank you for your patience.

I want to make three inch diamater wheels. I drilled a hole in the bed of my saw 1 1/2 inches from the side of the blade. I next drilled a hole 1 1/2 inches from the edge of a 3/4 inch pine board. I fastened the board to the saw table with a pin, and started cutting a circle.

The blade broke. I could see the cut was progressively more crooked. It started straight, but by the time the circle was 3/4 complete the top of the blade had to be forced far to the left of the bottom of the blade. The blade broke, but if it had not, it may have damaged the saw.

I am open to suggestions. My saw is an older, inexpensive Delta parallel-arm which was imported from Taiwan under several brand names.

Thank you, Ol'Roy

[greatdane2]

Wellcome to the crew, Pine can be hard to cut as it is a soft wood and as you cut the growth rings can deflect the blade a bit. I would try a larger blade and go slower. It might help to hand cut your wheel just a bit on the big side first. Hope this helps.

Alan.

[lucky788scroller]

You need a better blade! Get a precision ground blade. The manufacturing process makes an average blade want to drift a little bit to one side, so using your method will never create a nice perfect circle. Using a PGT (precision ground tooth)blade will help get you closer to round, but I think you may be happier trying a circle cutter on a drillpress, or practicing until you can freehand cut your circles without trying to have a fixed axis to spin the wood on.Also, the placement of any pivoting point is crucial to its relation to the teeth of the blade and where they contact the wood.A fraction to far forward or to far backwards of that point will cause you as much grief as not having a good blade.

[Steviegwood]

Originally Posted by Ol'Roy

I have never joined or posted on any message board before. I may have trouble finding answers to my question on this web site, but I will start learning here. Thank you for your patience.

I want to make three inch diamater wheels. I drilled a hole in the bed of my saw 1 1/2 inches from the side of the blade. I next drilled a hole 1 1/2 inches from the edge of a 3/4 inch pine board. I fastened the board to the saw table with a pin, and started cutting a circle.

The blade broke. I could see the cut was progressively more crooked. It started straight, but by the time the circle was 3/4 complete the top of the blade had to be forced far to the left of the bottom of the blade. The blade broke, but if it had not, it may have damaged the saw.

I am open to suggestions. My saw is an older, inexpensive Delta parallel-arm which was imported from Taiwan under several brand names.

Thank you, Ol'Roy

Hi Ol'Roy, you can also use the same set-up principle on a table saw to cut your circles/wheels. I know that there was a thread about that somewhere but can not seem to find it at the present. There was also a video demonstration somewhere. Maybe if someone knows where that is they can share that info here. Hope this helps. BTW welcome to the forum. Steve

[AKAkopa]

Here is a quick way to cheat for cutting 3 inch wheels. Get yourself a 3 inch hole saw and use your drill press. I know I have one heck of a time cutting circles that large and having them come out truly round.

[Wood Dog]

Welcome to the site Ol'Roy
Here is the video Steve was talking about I think, but I don't know if it would be safe to use this method for such a small circle unless you made a jig for it.
YouTube - Cut a Circle on a Table Saw

[Pajaro]

I cut the circle by hand, ( I've been blessed with nack for circles) but they still need to be tweaked a little. I cut a little outside the line then sand down to the line. More control on the disk sander than the saw.

[Sandy Oaks]

Hi Ol'Roy,

First, welcome to the site. Lots of friendly people and good information.

I cut circles much like described by Pajaro Pete. Works best for me.

Denny