We’ve been featuring CNC-related content recently, and there’s more to come. But, we’ll also be featuring handheld and benchtop-style tools too.
3D printing and benchtop CNC machines have dropped in price in recent years, and while I personally planned to buy or build one for a very long time before actually doing so, mass media coverage of these machines really struck a nerve with me.
“Now you can build anything at home.”
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Well, wasn’t the same true before? Without a CNC machine, you can build a lot of the same things, it just takes more tools, more time, more effort, different techniques, and varying degrees of skill or experience.
CNC machines are still tools, and ones you have to learn and become more skillful in using. But they won’t replace traditional tools. Many hobbyists and pros use CNCs alongside all of their other tools.
We’re planning on more CNC-related content, but not in place of other types of tool coverage and content.
I have come across so many shallow tutorials over the years. “Download this file, load it into your 3D printer, and voila there’s your part.” Sure, that’s one way of approaching projects, but the lack of detail always bugged me.
I have a backlog of so many projects, some of which my now-operational CNC machines will help me tackle with greater ease, but most still require traditional tools and elbow grease.
If you’re not interested in CNC-related topics, don’t worry, it’ll only be a side focus. Send us some feedback! If you have a request for reviews, coverage, how-to’s, or projects featuring other types of tools, let us know.
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I have an idea for an upcoming series that I think might be fun, involving different designs and tool approaches to meet the same project need or want.
Tentatively, the goal might be to create a “pencil pot,” with the most basic design requiring the use of basic tools and 2x4s as the material to work with, and the most complex could require the use of a CNC router for cuts and operations much too difficult to attempt by hand. Thoughts?
I’m not looking to steer anyone away from CNC machines, but I know a lot of people sit on their hands while they wait a long time to budget the money, space, or time such equipment usually requires.
More than that, I think it’ll be interesting and fun.
For one project, the design might change to better take advantage of certain tools. For another, maybe different tools would be used to craft the same design but in different ways.
How would you cut the above shape out of a 1″ x 4″ piece of wood?
I would start by tracing everything onto the wood first, or print my design to paper or film that is fixed to the workpiece.
I’m thinking that the outer shape could be cut using a jig saw, perhaps with a router and DIY template to smooth out the edges. Or, maybe a disc or drum sander can be used for the edges. Barring that, some elbow grease and a sanding block or sponge pad might work.
Or, you could use a scroll saw or jig saw if you have one.
The results wouldn’t be perfect, but probably good enough without spending an unreasonable amount of time chasing after ultra-high precision.
The hole at the center is easy, I’d use the closest Forstner-style drill bit and a stop collar. Ideally, I’d use a drill press for the cleanest hole.
Now, what about the inner pockets on the flower petals?
The other edge of the petals might be easily drilled out using a Forstner drill bit, same as the central hole. But what about the inner sections? The easiest method might be to drill a series of holes to remove the waste, and then a sharp wood chisel to shape the side walls.
A router or router plane might be used to smooth out any imperfections at the bottom of the hole. Doing all of the above on a thin piece of template material (1/4″ MDF?) might allow for even better final results.
With a CNC router or milling machine, you have less manual work to do, but you still have to know what to do and why.
Let’s say you go through all that work and then change your mind. You now want a flower shape with 10 petals, and the size changes from 4″ diameter to 6″. And, now you need four of them. Or maybe you just want to change the shape ever so slightly. That’s one of the beauties of CNC machines, but it’s still best to learn how to walk before we run.
What do you think about my idea for a “simple vs. CNC” series, or something of similar inspiration?
The main goal wouldn’t be to demonstrate that one doesn’t need a CNC machine, but I do like this “you don’t need a stinkin’ CNC machine” mentality, as it counters the “you NEED to buy a CNC machine” attitude that has become quite popular in recent years. My feelings are somewhere in the middle, but now that my CNC router is up and running, I think it’ll be interesting to explore the line between “need” and “want.” If you can think of a better idea, I’m all ears.
I should also mention that I would also use such a series as an excuse to explore techniques and projects I haven’t had the time for recently. There’s room for more, in case some of you have requests or suggestions.
Today’s tool of the day: my new Tekton 6-in-1 Phillips screwdriver. I recently ordered their 6-in-1 Torx driver, and figured I’d get the Phillips driver as well for review purposes. In addition to nut driver sockets, it has Phillips bit tips in #0, #1, #2, and #3 sizes. It was an impulse-buy, but I think it’ll get a lot of use.
Austin Hardy
If you are looking for a freeware vector design program, https://inkscape.org/ is worth checking out. Especially, that you can export a file as a DXF. Many CNC control programs will use this file type. Good luck with your machine works, and read up on up and down cutting with different material types.
Stuart
I’ve used Inkscape before and it’s quite good, especially considering that it’s free. These days I use Illustrator for vector art because I have a business subscription to Adobe software. Fashion 360 is also free for hobbyists, but it’s more complex than Inkscape if one just needs 2D vector art.
Robert St. Cyr
A big issue with hand tools is learning to sharpen them properly, and then there’s practise and skill. When I apprenticed in 73-76 with a shop full of old European craftsmen many did amazing things very quickly with hand tools. The shop hand all the machines available back then but for many things it was faster for these guys to just do it by hand than walk to the power tool start it up, do the operation and walk back to their bench.
fred
When “gingerbread” decorative woodwork was all the rage – foot powered scroll saws were popular. Using a scroll saw might well be the traditional tool for cutting the pattern you show – with drill-press and forstner bits to first define some arcs and remove waste. Cutting such thin filigree on a scroll saw – does require patience and a a saw that is not “jumpy.
In our metal / pipe fabrication business – we had a subcontractor that we used that had water-jet, laser and plasma cutting machinery. If we had given them your pattern, I’m sure that that they could have produced a metal template. The template might then be used with a trim router and pattern bit to cut the plywood.
I guess a CNC router might be easier.
Stuart
Sorry, I meant pocket cuts instead of through-cuts for the inner petals, which greatly increases the complexity. The pockets could perhaps be considered curved stop-cuts, for lack of a clearer way of putting it. There’s too much to control for such tasks to be easily achieved using traditional tools.
The Thundercats emblem I made for my first project could be approximated with a rotary tool or flex-shaft tool, but requiring a lot of skill. Or I would have had to work two sheets of material, one for a cut-out and the other for a backing. Maybe I could have used a fret saw with spiral blade for the shape.
I have seen some using CNCs for rosettes and custom carpentry or cabinetry applications, and for such small business users they’re indispensable.
I won’t have such uses for my small benchtop model, and it’ll take more use and projects before I know it’s limits intuitively.
fred
There are folks who sell templates and router bits to create multi-compartment bowls or serving trays:
https://www.infinitytools.com/tray-making-templates-10387
Of course – with these you are limited to designs that are already created – versus creating your own patterns.
Stuart
There’s a difference in size as well. If you want to make a 4” shape vs serving platter size, you’re out of luck.
Toolfreak
The stuff before CNC and machines in general was made by hand. The art, architecture and myriad of objects made well before the industrial revolution certainly shows if you can think it, you can make it. To a point.
That said, I’ve fabricated a lot of stuff the hard way and it’s often so tedious it doesn’t feel worth it when the end result is not perfect. It can be an excellent learning experience to make things yourself from raw materials or other objects, but depending on what it is, it can be a big disappointment when what you had pictured in your mind isn’t what you actually wind up with.
It still might make for interesting content, especially to expore the capability of working by hand vs using power tools vs what the CNC can do. Perhaps an interesting angle is what can you do that the CNC can’t do?
I also didn’t realize the Tekton 4-in-1 was an all-Philips driver with 4 sizes. That’s pretty awesome. I might pick one up if they ever have those sample bundle offerings again or the price is right on Amazon.
Mike (the other one)
If you order from Tekton’s website, you can customize the tip sets. You can get a combo Phillips/standard that you typically see, or you can get all Phillips, all Torx, all Square Recess, or various combinations. You can get extra bits and barrels as replacements, etc.
I don’t need these, but they are on my want list.
Toolfreak
Seems like just selling all the possible bits and all the bits + black/red handles would make for great set offerings.
Julius Rosen
For a pencil pot as you say I would never even bother I just use coffee cups. CNC machines are great for what they are and 3D printing machines I’ve opened up the world for many people to be creative. But what’s amazing is that you can get pretty decent CNC and 3D machines for under $500 today. you have to have a brain that can think in terms of using software and that is the true skill set needed but still even a school-age kid can do these things
Stuart
Perhaps, but framing editorial content and tutorials around ubiquitous objects or purposes is a lot easier than having to go into thorough detail about esoteric doodads that only fit specific personal needs.
William Adams
The way my mother would have done this would have been to lay a piece of carbon paper down on the wood, lay down the design on that and then to trace around it with a ball point, then used an X-acto knife to cut it out.
If it had to be cut as a profile she would have inveigled my dad to cut it out with a jigsaw after the tracing (which would have entailed a bit of sanding and she would have done the initial tracing quite wide of the actual design).
William Adams
Would you like to collaborate on doing a parametric version of this design using either OpenSCAD or Maker.js? (or if you know of some other suitable too which isn’t Autodesk Fusion 360 let me know and I’ll look into it).
madCADdad
http://www.onshape.com
Stuart
I could give it a try. This one was derived from clipart I found online, but I was able to recreate it easily.
Eddie
This piece would have been MUCH better if you had actually made the flower in this article. Perhaps even a comparison between a CNC and hand made version.
Stuart
This is the precursor to that, partly to measure interest.
Plaingrain
Was there more comments to this topic? Does the comment section max out after a certain number of comments?
Stuart
No?
John804
I would enjoy a series of articles like this quite a bit. A CNC machine is on my “someday tools” list, and I enjoy seeing what can be done with them.
John804
I forgot to add that I’d also like to learn some different ways of doing things with tools I might already have or can acquire more readily than a CNC machine.
Travis S.
I have long wanted to try this with a pantograph style engraver and 3d printer… the printing ( of the template for the pantopraph) can be done easily in PLA, and Deckel/Gorton Pantograph engravers (light milling machines really) can often be had for a song. Would make a fun retro/modern workflow, and still make very nice parts.
Adam Gainer
1″ x 4″ on a 1/4″ MDF? I’d laser it.
Stuart
You could laser-cut the template, but then you still have to use the template and other tools to craft the 4″ x 4″ x 1″ thick object.
Plaingrain
I was wondering about using CNC machines to duplicate photos. I assume you need a very precise CNC to create accurate photo details?
Plaingrain
I guess I need to look at a photo laser engraver. I was surprised at the photo detail. Just scrolling through some of the laser gallery photos.
Stuart
You got it. You can use a CNC cutter, but they don’t do well with drilling, and the size of tooling will be the limiting factor. Consider newsprint or comic books, you can do a lot with dots.
Joey
Hey Tool Guy! I’ve been thinking about buying a CNC machine and vinyl printer and cutter but I can’t afford it right now. I have product I invented that is patent pending and I want to try to make some myself. I would need to cut out twelve 5” circles on a 4×2 piece of plywood, like a Cornhole board but two boards would be twenty four 5” holes. If I can do it without a CNC machine in a reasonable time then I would only have to purchase a printer and vinyl cutter. What do you suggest my brother? Hope to hear from you.
Thank you
Joey
Stuart
Hard to say, but hobby vinyl cutters are fairly inexpensive. You could check with sign-making shops, and print shops *might* have a vinyl cutter.
If you’re going to iterate, you’ll either need a machine or a close relationship with someone who can provide such services.
CNC machines, even inexpensive ones, aren’t well suited to short-term use. Vinyl cutters – perhaps, at least for the consumer models.
OR, you can send your design file to be laser-cut and then use that as a template for use with a router. There are also plenty of circle-cutting jigs you can get.
I’m not very happy with any of these answers, but it’s the best I can do with limited information about your requirements and budget.
Joey
Thank you for response and your advice I greatly appreciate it.
Joey
Stacey Jones
If you’re reviewing CNC stuff, this one would be interesting: https://www.bantamtools.com/cnc-milling-machine I’m to cheap to buy one unless prices come down, but others might not be so thrifty.
Stuart
I’ve been looking into it, but it seems much more aimed at institutional users than individuals.
TonyT
I took a quick glance. If it can really mill aluminum with ease, the price is decent, but agree that it’s a bit much for most individuals.
Stacey Jones
This would be a cool review too, but it’s not CNC: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doer-stellen/doer-the-most-compact-tool-shed-youve-ever-seen/description
Kent
I’ve been involved in education in shops for a decade, and *hate* how digital tools are advertised to people. “It’s so easy” is the gospel, and it’s a lie.
I constantly get people telling me how easy it should be to use 3d printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, etc. “Just put in the material and out comes a part”. The companies that sell this gear *always* leave out the CAD and toolpath part. They have brainwashed so many people into thinking that you can draw a picture of a chair, desk, or other 3D object in 2D and “just push a button”.
On the upside, I was given an X Carve because the person who bought it didn’t listen to me before throwing down his cash. It was much harder than he anticipated, and after collecting dust for a year, he said “get it out of my garage and you can have it”.
Kaynine
I agree I also bought a cnc machine not knowing a thing about it and I currently hate spending time with it. It is much more difficult to use than they let on. Mine misses steps and messes up my designs so now I need to spend money to have them fix it and I have hardly used it.
Stuart
Which brand/kind did you buy?
C.D.
I’d love to see a series that blends cnc with traditional woodworking. Something like Marc Spagnuolo’s “hybrid woodworking” style but incorporating more cnc where it is helpful and skipping the setup, cad work, allignment, etc.. where a table saw, band saw, hand plane or chisel will serve. “By hand, by eye, by computer” …
James C
One of the projects on my “it would be fun but I’ll probably never realistically do it” list is to build a pantorouter setup. Kind of like a manual CNC. It might work for that example project of yours.
Dave
CNC content wouldn’t interest me in the least. But neither do knives, and I know that content interests many. Somedays I read your page with interest and somedays I scroll right on by, which is how it has to be when you’re trying to appeal to a broad interest base. The CNC days would be “I’ll skip it today” days for me. I’m a hammer and nail, welder and torch, socket and end wrench type of guy.
Nathan
I think ease of use – vs use of time is lost in the discussion. it should perhaps more read you – you lazy sot, can not build anything at home.
your flower example – I’d use a jig and or scroll and sand it. and to make more it would be templated. etc etc this takes time. More importantly it takes time to learn a technique – then time to actually make one the way you want it. And help you if you want replicates.
But people are lazy. I don’t own a 3d printer yet and might not get one I know people that have them. One thing I hear alot is. Well I downloaded this design for _______ and modded it a bit and printed them last night. So while it’s printing I can go back to watching Archer or _________________________
Thus it took little effort to make parts for a ducted PC fan setup. That I would have carved from a piece of plastic and sanded over probably 3-4 hours. while listening to AC/DC/
This is the appeal I see more than anything. ONce a design of something is on the Internets and it’s close enough – jimmy can copy it, mod it a touch – and “make” it while doing something else. Like how the dishwasher and clothes washer liberated women from the drudgery of housework.
Nathan
I say all that to say I get the appeal of items I think I want the cnc router more so than a 3d printer but I think the hype is a touch much