(SOLVED) Need help with cabinet holes!

[lazorade]

Hey everybody!

I'm making the Mechano23. It's a pretty small bookshelf speaker - so small in fact, that the tweeter groove (made so that it's flush with the front cabinet wall) diameter is too small for the smallest hand router I could get my hands on (only by a few milimetres). Just so you know what I mean - I wanted to secure the hand router to the center and rotate it on that point - that point would however be in (or very close to) the actual hand router. This won't be a problem with the woofer groove - there is enough space there.

I reckon I could ask someone to make the groove on an CNC machine, but I imagine that would be kinda expensive.

Any tips how to do this 4mm groove??

Thank you!

 

[Ktacos]

I'm a little confused, is it the depth that is troublesome? Or the diameter?

I've done this sized route about a gajillion times with a jasper circle jig and router. On my router and jig holes this size often have the anchor pin running into the metal baseplate of the router, for those I just toss in a dab of super glue to make sure the anchor stays.

Feel free to elaborate on your troubles and I'll see if I can help.

 

[carbidetooth]

I like template guides for this reason, but their use doesn't seem widespread. If I'm understanding correctly, you've got to get the center pivot point under the base of the router. Get your radius figured out by distance from collet. Make an auxiliary base or drill a hole in existing subbase at pivot point. Drill hole in center of driver opening corresponding to pivot pin diameter and leave pin proud of surface so it can engage hole drilled in base. Cut rabbet first, then through-hole after. I like to run my pivot pin through baffle and into a sacrificial board underneath.
You could look at Jasper Jig for inspiration. I built many a speaker prior to having a CNC router. It's absolutely not a necessity.

 

[eddantes]

 

[lazorade]

I'm a little confused, is it the depth that is troublesome? Or the diameter?

I've done this sized route about a gajillion times with a jasper circle jig and router. On my router and jig holes this size often have the anchor pin running into the metal baseplate of the router, for those I just toss in a dab of super glue to make sure the anchor stays.

Feel free to elaborate on your troubles and I'll see if I can help.

The diameter was the trouble. But since posting I found out about jasper jigs. Which can form diameters smaller than the base of the hand router. They do not sell them in my country, but it is very easy to craft one.

 

[a4eaudio]

...They do not sell them in my country, but it is very easy to craft one.

(1) Yes, it is easy to craft one, so you can ignore (2) if you want
(2) Look for a general router circle jig rather than Jasper branded jig, although you may not be able to find them in your country - I don't think you stated where you are. Milescraft and Rockler make them, so there may be local jigs where you are. Also, check what routers a commercial jig can fit. They do not tend to fit smaller trim routers, like the Makita in your original post.