AWITW 287: Enough, already
- Jun 15, 2025
- 2 min read
For all 10MW Plus members*
Hey everyone. As some of you may know I’ve had a product - an MFT jig - on the back burner for the best part of 3 years, and all because of a simplistic idea that I wouldn’t let go - one that I feel still has merit, ironically, but I’ve beaten my head against that wall for long enough and it’s time to draw a line under that and move on.
If doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of madness, then I’ve been there for a while, but it feels like I’m going around in circles with the experiment, and the sad truth is that few people seem to care deeply about what it is I’m trying to achieve - the perfect dog-hole from a straight router bit.
Of course - and purely in the interests of completing the circle - I’ve ordered a few more bits to try out, and I’ll report back as soon as I’m able. But for now I have a router that works really well with pretty much any 20mm bit, the MFT jigs and the custom benchdogs are in hand and as soon as I have them I’ll let you know!
Thanks everyone! Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I’ll see you in the midweek for a quick one! Best, P
Direct link - https://youtu.be/k9PS-ZEwW2o
Went through a really similar trial albeit on a much smaller scale a few years ago. I ended up landing on a 25/32 imperial spiral up cut bit which actually cut 19.95mm consistently with the runout on my router which I thought was the end of the road. However I then used a reamer which opened it to a true 20.01 mm hole and worked perfectly. Food for thought maybe. Or maybe you’ve reached a point where a line in the sand and move on is better for you.
The OF2200 run out is indeed surprising. Is the collet dirty or rusty on one side?
Peter, was that OF 2200 new? If used I do wonder if it's just the case that the bearings are worn, causing the run out, and this run out problem could occur with any well used router to some degree.
Hi Peter,
"the perfect dog-hole from a straight router bit"
Haven't you demonstrated quite clearly that the issue is the variability of routers - not the bit. Or am I missing something?
I can see that you are going to have an issue if you want to make a jig that relies on consistency of (run out and plunge) between routers for you to be able to sell the jig as a product without caveats.
Looking at the Parf Guide that I bought a few years ago (which I am about to break our for a new top for my Wolfcraft MFT-ish bench) - I suspect that is why Peter Parfitt made the design choices that he did (Forstner bit…
Looking at the scorching. Would a spiral up cut bit reduce that? It should clear the debris better, or a slower speed to let the vac clear the rubbish?
I have only used the PARF guide so cannot comment on the run out on routers.
However, the three years have not been wasted - it has kept me entertained …