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After being inspired by Tim McKnight to build a radius dish sander and Shane Neifer to build a radius dish router attachment to make the radius dishes here is my version.

The first pic is a overall view of the dish sander with the router attachment.
Front
View

The second picture shows the templates that mount to the side of the dish sander. I created 15', 18', 25', & 28' templates. The templates can be removed by 3 screws and are mounted to both sides of the dish sander cabinet.
Radius Template

It was amazing how quick I was able to route a few radius dishes. After I finished the routing I used a ROS to give a nice finish sanding.

It is great having this project done. With the radius dishes I should be able to start building something besides fixtures!   

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Brad
Avon, OH

Nicely done Brad ! I built a router sled to do my radius dishes with but it's a far cry from the rotating table that you built for yours. I'm jealous !!!

I had to index the stock the width of the router bit each time much like a milling machine tool path.. It took about 45 min. for each one.

I then doubled the thickness with another piece of 3/4" MDF to keep them from warping and then coated them with about 3 coats of white primer,sanding between coats. They sealed up well and I like the white surface. I can use double sided tape to adhere my sanding discs and they come right off without pulling any wood fiber.

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Peter

That looks really nice Brad.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

WOW! How clever!

Thanks Brad, that'll be one of my next projects!

Oh and if you ever feel like showing pics of your other jigs, i'd volunteer to watch!

an innovative way to use the cart to make the horse, so to speak.

my only worry looking at it is that the router carriage looks so light that it would flex causing variation in the radius created, but appearances can deceive.

[QUOTE=crazymanmichael]
my only worry looking at it is that the router carriage looks so light that it would flex causing variation in the radius created, but appearances can deceive.[/QUOTE]

I had a similar concern after I put everything together. For routing the dishes it seems to work well because I had one hand close to the router and the other hand on one end close to the template. I also found that slowing the dish down to about 30 RPM and taking light passes minimized loading on the system. If this were my only need I would leave it as is.

However, I originally envisioned using this system to also route fingerboard radiuses. Of course the dish system isn't required. I would just be using the set concave radius guides, the dish cabinet (to mount the guides), and the router sled system. If I pursue this I will probably re-design the router sled to have stiffer cross braces.

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Brad
Avon, OH

I browsed your photos and really liked the excellent way you mounted the binding router. Best I've seen, does it work?

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey] I browsed your photos and really liked the excellent way you mounted the binding router. Best I've seen, does it work?[/QUOTE]

I am still developing the binding jig. Basically it is a "IDT Automation Screwdriver Balance Arm". I found it at a industrial surplus warehouse for $15. After one look I knew it would be perfect for bindings. Since my Bosch Colt router had a keyway and tapped hole on side of the base I just had a modify the arm a little and it fit. I will probably give it a shot here in the coming weeks and let you know how it works.

By the way...I have seen a few of these balance arms on Ebay. I have seen them sold under the IDT Automation brand and some as Cleco. I know there are others sold as tool positioners.

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Brad
Avon, OH

Thanks Brad, I'm all ears. Looks funtastic.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Very impressive! Thanks for sharing.

Looks Great Brad!

I had the same concern as Michael about the centre of your router support flexing, causing distortion in your dish. But it sounds like you have thought it through and it seems to work well. I just ran a piece of angle iron over the dish to support the router sled which ran down the middle to the angle iron. That is a very stiff method.

Anyway, I am still thinking about the gobar deck and will probably start looking at options later this week.

Shane

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Canada