Hey folks
New to posting, long time lurker. I’ve gotten more serious about shaping, and I made the switch to Futures but don’t have all the crap yet you ‘seemingly’ need to install. I will get it for the next time, but I want to get this board done this week and have little to no time.
Any ideas on making my own jigplate and guide for my router? If there are no plans out there I can just whip something real quick but don’t want to be extra shoddy about it. Cutting corners kills me.
Thanks.
Of course I double posted this question. Sorry for the kookness
Since it would be the the 2 step one you need. It would be a huge pain in the ass. Just find someone local, pay them a few bucks to route them for you.
I’ve seen a few guys freehand boxes but you gotta be pretty on your router game.
CJohnnyMac - offering my 2 cents here. I agree with Acqua Glassing - either buy the jig or have a local shaper rout for you.
I built my own jig as well to try & save some money & while it does work, it takes a long time to build & because it is a two step process, it takes longer to use. I’ve found a local guy here who will rout them for $5 / box and will have him do all my future boards, so you should be able to as well.
If you decide to make your own, heres what i did. First, what type of router do you have? I’m using a 1-1/2 hp porter cable with a router guide bushing on the base & a 1/2" dia straight plunge bit. the guide bushing won’t fit into the base of a trim router (like they use in the futures installation kit) so that’s your first problem. I made my jig from two pieces of 1/2" plywood & they need to be big enough to hold the entire router base or it wil be “tippy”. This causes problems on blanks shaped with alot of concave or spiral “v” and thats your second problem. The two pieces of plywood are stacked on top of each other & attached to each other with “t-nuts” & knobs. One piece has the smaller deeper box rout, and the other has the shallower wide flange pattern. I sometimes use double sided tape to hold the jig to the board, but it can pull some foam chunks up with it when your done. Mostly I just wrap tape around it and the board over the first piece and then screw the second piece down to it. DO NOT TRY & HOLD JIG WITH ONE HAND & the router with your other. That would be dangerous & stupid. A full size router has too much power & torque & if it “kicks” you could lose a body part on your free hand real quick.
Using it is obviously a 2-step process. (1) Adjust router depth & make first cut, (2) Remove one jig plate; Readjust router depth again & make final cut. You have to do this at each box you rout so it takes a long time.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
I am the supernoob of all supernoobs and built my first board in December last year. after much discussion on swaylocks and some very good tips, I free-handed my future boxes. If you go slow and take your time that will work just fine.
two things to consider though:
practice on scrap foam once or twice.
if you do thruster or 5-fin, take it easy on the center one! the stringer can be a bitch.
Thanks guys, I started to make my own jig. I think I got a good handle on it. I’ll post pics of how it went, and will def buy the futures kit next board. I just have no time.
No time? Aqua Glass gave good advice IMO - The time spent by a first timer to jury rig a two stage install will likely be long and frustrating and will show in the final result. It’s tricky enough the first few times using the OEM install kit.
OTOH I’ll be the first to applaud your good results and happy to be proven wrong. Let’s see it
Unless you are in some remote area. In the 3 days this thread has been running you could have had a legit jig delivered and been well on your way to doing it right.