Bandsaw Circle Cutting Jig

As I posted yesterday, the next thing I needed to do for my rocketship project was to build a circle cutting jig for the bandsaw and router. I figure they'd take about the same time to build, but the bandsaw will cut quicker than the router, so I decided to start with that one and see if the router is required or now.

In the Google 3D Warehouse, you can find a sketchup model of this jig.

Very easy to build.

First, find some 3/4" plywood and cut it a few inches larger than the width of your bandsaw table. In my case, 17". It'll be easier on you if the piece is squared up, so do that before going on.


You'll need to attach a couple of supports to the plywood that you will use to clamp the table in place. See the locations in the picture or the sketchup model. Make sure they are parallel to the edges of the plywood. I found it easiest to use a pin nailer to hold the pieces in place before I flipped the table over and counter sunk some screws in to hold them permanently. I didn't bother gluing them in place, the screws will be enough to hold them.


Next, clamp the table in place on your bandsaw, and either cut some 2xs to use as legs or use an adjustable height stand to provide support at the far end of the table. You are almost done.




Draw a line perpendicular to the center of the blade, parallel to the edge of the table. This will mark the center of your circle.

Now start cutting - almost. Measure out from the blade half the diameter of your circle and drill a hole on the line matching the size of a finish nail you've got lying around the shop. Drill a similar hole in your circle blank. Drill the hole half the diameter of the circle from the edge of the blank - you'll put the nail in the blank so that it is sticking out of the blank, then put that into the hole in the jig table. Your wood blank should just rest against the bandsaw blade. Turn the bandsaw on and spin your blank around and you've got your circle.