"N-Compass
Trammel bars are great for enabling a router to cut circles but will not usually give very small radii. Not so the N-Compass. Designed for routing or cutting large or small circles in all sorts of materials, the simplicity of this routing accessory belies its usefulness. Whether you want to cut circular components or simply apply decorative routing effects, the gadget is easy to set up and use.
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It consists of a powder-coated steel baseplate with twin 8mm rods fitted to an aluminium shoe. They can be adjusted to fit router rod spacings from 75mm to 83mm, covering all but the most obscure small (1/4in/8mm) router bases on the market. The plate has two countersunk holes which a brass pivoting pin fits into. When fitted to one end the jig means you can rout perfect circles as small as 25mm diameter. Moved to the other end these can be as big as 200mm. Larger circles can be cut by fitting either longer rods, or fitting yet another piece of innovation, the Mod-Rod. These are an adaptation of the normal 8mm rods which screw together like drain rods, creating circles as big as you like.
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To use the N-Compass, you simply slide it into your router's fence rod holes and tighten the sliding rod at the correct centres. A small hole needs to be drilled as a location for the pivot pin. Circle diameters are determined by sliding the router along the rods and locking it, using the standard thumbscrews on the router itself. Fine adjustments are made with a micro-adjuster screw built into one of the rods. It's then a matter of switching on, plunging the bit and rotating. Simple. The N-Compass rotates smoothly and easily, making perfect circles every time.
A few non-bearing guided profile bits enables you to make decorative bosses for architraves and skirtings, circular picture frames, or simply cut circles with a straight bit for wheels. Grooves for stringing or edge banding are also possible. I tried it with a V groove bit and turned out some rather nifty interpretations of crop circles on a piece of MDF! The N-Compass's only failing is the need to drill a pilot hole, but any circle device needs a pivot point. This could be filled with contrasting timber, or you could simply make the cut from the other side.
GW verdict +: Rout circles of infinite size, -: Needs hole for pivot point
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