Create a review for a woodworking tool that you are familiar with (Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith) or just post your opinion on a specific tool. Head to head comparisons welcome too.
RFGuy wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 7:52 pm
I own the Shopsmith keyless drill chuck and love it. I am just a hobbyist and much prefer a high quality keyless drill chuck to a keyed one. I even bought a Rohm keyless chuck to swap out on my Milwaukee cordless drill because I preferred the feel of the Rohm keyless chuck to the stock chuck from Milwaukee. Perhaps if I was a machinist I would prefer a keyed chuck instead? I can't answer your questions on using it with larger than 1/2" bits because I haven't tried this yet and I don't remember the smallest bit it can firmly grip. I have never liked those large circle cutters. I am sure if the workpiece is clamped securely and if the cutter is super sharp it would work flawlessly. For large diameter holes like this I much prefer a rotary tool. RotoZip made them popular, but most power tool manufacturers sell a version of these nowadays. Mine is from DeWalt...I have used it often and love it. These cut through plywood and drywall like they are butter. Just thought I would suggest it as an alternative here. Having a rotary cutout tool can be very handy around the house for DIY, etc.
I’d be in favor of using a router with guide bushings or a pattern bit, myself. But that begs the question: Where do you get the pattern or template for a big hole? I guess the obvious answer is a router circle-cutting jig. I actually have one for a trim router, now that I think about it. But these days, I’d probably just cut out that whole panel on my CNC router.
As a wise man once said: “It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.”
BuckeyeDennis wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 8:35 pmI’d be in favor of using a router with guide bushings or a pattern bit, myself. But that begs the question: Where do you get the pattern or template for a big hole? I guess the obvious answer is a router circle-cutting jig. I actually have one for a trim router, now that I think about it. But these days, I’d probably just cut out that whole panel on my CNC router.
As a wise man once said: “It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.”
Wouldn't using a router be an upscale version of using the rotary tool that I mentioned? Both could use a pivot arm to make the cut...assuming you circle is the discard part. IF you need a circle cutout with no hole in the center, then yes you would need a circle template for the router to cut from. Gotta say rotary tools are super light and can make a very clean hole with a fresh bit. Sometimes taking the tool to the workpiece makes all the difference in the world, but there are great applications for circle cutters on a drill press too.
BuckeyeDennis wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 8:35 pmI’d be in favor of using a router with guide bushings or a pattern bit, myself. But that begs the question: Where do you get the pattern or template for a big hole? I guess the obvious answer is a router circle-cutting jig. I actually have one for a trim router, now that I think about it. But these days, I’d probably just cut out that whole panel on my CNC router.
As a wise man once said: “It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.”
Wouldn't using a router be an upscale version of using the rotary tool that I mentioned? Both could use a pivot arm to make the cut...assuming you circle is the discard part. IF you need a circle cutout with no hole in the center, then yes you would need a circle template for the router to cut from. Gotta say rotary tools are super light and can make a very clean hole with a fresh bit. Sometimes taking the tool to the workpiece makes all the difference in the world, but there are great applications for circle cutters on a drill press too.
I have the original RotoZip tool. I find it quite handy as a small angle grinder, but can’t even remember the last time I used it in “router” mode. I have a vague recollection of a rotary bit with a smooth pilot, intended to be used for cutting drywall around gang boxes and such. But no recollection of any circle-cutting capability, nor of any way to attach a jig. Does your DeWalt have some sort of circle-cutting feature?
Rotozip has a circle cutting attachment, but it isn't exactly a precision tool. It works great for drywall or for cutting penetrations in cabinet backs for plumbing. If I need accuracy closer than 1/16", I will use a router.
BuckeyeDennis wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 9:51 pm
I have the original RotoZip tool. I find it quite handy as a small angle grinder, but can’t even remember the last time I used it in “router” mode. I have a vague recollection of a rotary bit with a smooth pilot, intended to be used for cutting drywall around gang boxes and such. But no recollection of any circle-cutting capability, nor of any way to attach a jig. Does your DeWalt have some sort of circle-cutting feature?
Dennis,
Maybe the DeWalt is better than the RotoZip for this then? Yes, it came with an attachment for making circles. It is a handle pivot arm attachment. I made several 10" holes in drywall for when I installed surround sound speakers in my house. Worked fantastic. With this large handle, the cut felt very stable and controlled to me.
rotarycirclecutter.jpg (63.8 KiB) Viewed 26034 times
Well, as JPG would say, I’ve learned my thing for the day!
I could have used one of those a while back, to cut a circular hole in a T&G wall. Not knowing that they existed, and not wanting to attempt using a router circle jig on a vertical surface, I used my General Tools circle cutter to make an MDF template, double-side taped the template to the wall, and then made the cut with a trim router. Which worked well, but it would definitely been faster with a rotary tool and circle guide.
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Yeah, I was just trying to give an alternate suggestion for how to accomplish it. I hadn't really thought about how different versions of the tool on the market may/may not be as useful for circle cutting. I have used it free hand as well for cutting out j-box openings in drywall. IF you have a good drill press setup and a good circle cutter like you showed earlier it should work well. I am just a little overly cautious having something that large spinning on a drill press in front of me, which is why I mentioned another solution for circle cutting.
RF Guy