This circle guide uses a length of standard steel keyway stock, available from machine shops, as a replacement for the saw’s upper right-hand blade-guide insert. Adjust the blade’s thrust bearing and tracking to be sure the teeth aren’t damaged. Notch a small wooden block to fit on the keyway stock for an adjustable center point. Drill a slightly undersize hole in the center block’s top, and tap threads in the hole with a thumbscrew that acts as a locking setscrew. Cut a spur on the bottom edge of a metal plate to act as a center pivot point and screw the plate to the block’s front face.

To bandsaw a circle, set the center point at the desired radius by measuring over from the blade. Then, with the edge of the workpiece bumped up against the blade, lower the upper bladeguide assembly until its center point sets into the workpiece firmly. Now turn on the saw and slowly rotate the workpiece into the blade.

Dean Martin, Loveland, Colo.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, October 1990 No. 84

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