General Tools 5B Standard Circle Cutter, Adjustable 1-Inch to 6-Inches,Black

PRODUCT REVIEW:I used this to cut plastic rings (7 1/2" outside diameter, 6" inside diameter) out of 3/4" thick, heavy kitchen cutting boards to be used as surrounds for marine speakers. This required two cuts which sounds easy but I wish I had this advice in retrospect. Before I begin with the advice, let me say this circle cutter is EXCELLENT! It's HEAVY DUTY, SHARP, but does make an ungodly whirlwind of shavings from whatever your cutting so lay a big plastic tarp down before you start your first cut and be sure to limit your drill press to no more than 500 RPM. Now the cutting advice.IMPORTANT CUTTING TIPS:First, consider the width of the blade. When you're cutting OUTSIDE a circle-shaped line be sure to ADD the blade width to the width of this cutter. When you're cutting INSIDE a circle-shaped line, be sure to SUBTRACT the width of the blade from the circle you want to cut. If you forget this or do this backwards then your circle will be 1/4" larger (or smaller) than you intended.Second, select your cutting method and consider carefully whether your cutting RINGS or CIRCLES. You'll be able to cut a perfect RING with this tool but if you're cutting CIRCLES you'll have to choose between having small holes in the middle of your work product or a slight lip on the outside edge of your circle.WHY DO I NEED TO CHOOSE - I JUST WANT TO CUT A SIMPLE CIRCLE?!The reason you cannot have a perfect circle cut is because it's impossible to secure both the INSIDE and the OUTSIDE of a circle at the same time using this type of tool and a drill press. If you just secure a work piece from outside the circle and try to cut all the way through you will find your circle breaks from the work product when you are just about through to the other side and the circle will SPIN WITH THE DRILL blade. You'll also have a GIANT LIP on the outer edge of your work product and you'll be scratching your head trying to figure out what went wrong.So select from one of these methods (I prefer method B for circles and you MUST use method B when cutting rings):CIRCLES:Method A: Secure your work product from OUTSIDE the circle and simply cut 1/2 way through one side, flip it, then cut 1/2 way through the other side.PROS: Easiest method to use, will not leave holes in your finished circleCONS: This will result in a small but distinct "seam" in the middle of your work product. Your outer edge will also be slightly rounded. It's simply impossible to perfectly match your cuts after you flip your work piece so your seam size will vary.Method B:Drill 3 screws through the center of your work product (spaced in a small triangle pattern) and into a piece of wood about 1/2 inch thick (secure your work piece from OUTSIDE the circle too). Begin slowly cutting the outer ring and cut ALL THE WAY THOUGH the work product until you're into the underlying wood.PROS: You'll have a nice, clean, flat outer edge on your circleCONS: You'll have 3 small screw holes in the center of your circle that you'll need to fill.WARNING: Don't forget to back what your cutting with a 1/2" piece of wood and make sure your 3 screws go all the way THROUGH the work product into the wood behind it securely.RINGS:Cutting Rings is the same as circles, but you *MUST* use method B. Also be sure to cut the OUTER ring first and then progress to the smaller INNER ring or you'll have to scrap it and start with a new piece.PROS: Perfect rings, both inner and outer edgesCONS: <None>Hope those tips are helpful to someone...

I am NOT a carpenter! I can not cut a straight line much less a circle by hand.So when my mother asked me to make something to elevate the cats water and food bowls off the floor but she didn't want them to be able to knock the bowls off on to the floor, I decided a small shelf with holes for the bowls to sit in was probably the best solution.Knowing that I am not a carpenter and there is no way I could ever cut a hole that would be anywhere close to round, I decided to look for a hole saw. Well as my luck goes, there was no hole saw the correct size that I could find. Once the hit a certain size they start being made in half inch increments. Then I started looking for adjustable hole saws. The only thing I could find at local brick and mortar stores was made for cutting drywall to install recessed lighting. Perhaps that may have worked since I only needed to cut a couple holes but I did not want to chance it.Then I came across this.I happened to have a good drill press so I bought this and set my drill press to it's lowest speed setting, 250 rpm. I took my time and let the tool do the work, basically just resting my hand on the press handle, and it took longer than I expected but it cut a perfectly round hole with no burning or breaking.For the price of this tool, I don't think you can possibly go wrong if you need to cut circles in something 6 inches in diameter or less. I only used it the one time so I can't say how long it will last before it gets dull but it looks to me that you can sharpen it when it does. Of Course I guess that also will depend on what you are cutting circles in as far as how long it last.

Update (November 10, 2011):It has been 9 months since I purchased this item and it just now started smoking and burning (I've cut about 20 large holes in walnut, maple and pine) - so I'm sure the problem is that the blade is getting dull. Not a problem with the product, just a problem with the user not keeping it sharp. I stick to my original review, for the price, this is a good product.Original review:I needed to cut several circular holes in a weather station project - read all the reviews and decided, for the price, that I would give this Circle Cutter a try. Here is the good and the not so good:Pro:1. Right Price.2. Quick Delivery.3. Well made (sturdy), should last for years and years (may have to sharpen).4. Holes were perfectly circular, smooth and easily cut through 3/4" walnut veneered plywood - no chipping at all.5. Easy to adjust.Con:1. No instructions to speak of - didn't even mention what speed to run my drill press. Had I not noticed, in the Amazon description, that max speed was 500 RPM, I might have let it run a bit faster. As it was, I did notice the limitation and set up my drill press to run at 450 RPM - cut smoothly with no burning.2. The scale is inaccurate - you will have to use a ruler/tape measure to adjust the size (diameter) you want to cut.All in all, for the price, this is a great product and I'm pleased with my purchase. I would have given it 5 stars but for the inaccurate scale - this is something that should have been right.Note: I read the other reviews and noted at least one that mentioned burning - I'll bet this was because he didn't note the 500 RPM limitation. I had zero burning.

This cutter by design requires extreme caution but works very well. It is easy to adjust,holds it's adjustment during use,and makes very clean cuts. I am very happy with this purchase.

Este cortador de círculos funciona bien, sin embargo recomiendo a quien lo compre usarlo con cuidado porque es de corte relativamente agresivo y en algún momento puede salir volando con mucha fuerza el círculo de madera cortado, especialmente si se quita la broca central para evitar tener un hoyo en el centro del círculo. Al final opté por cortar la mitad de la profundidad del círculo, luego volteé la tabla y terminé ce cortar el círculo desde el otro lado. Decidí siempre usar la broca central (preferí resanar ese agujero central que exponerme a recibir un golpe del círculo que no es nada difícil que salga volando con mucha fuerza). Recomendación: a) apretar bien todos los tornillos allen del dispositivo. b) Volverlos a apretar para estar seguro; c) empezar a cortar muy poco a poco (tan lento como se pueda) y levantando el taladro con frecuencia para que no se queme la madera; d) al llegar a la mitad, voltear la tabla y repetir el proceso. Ojalá sirvan estas recomendaciones...

Only good for a pedestal drill, although to be fair it states as such in the description.

Worked well .

Very helpful tool