router jig question

[k-hat]

I've been perusing all the arrow shafting router jigs and still have a couple of questions:

For 11/32 shafts:

what is the best bit?
are you routing them to 3/8 and then finish sanding down to 11/32, or are you just using 3/8" shafts?  (the smallest guide block i saw was 3/8)

i have a 21000 rpm router and table, and am planning to make the infeed and guide blocks from 1/2" aluminum that i have on hand.

thanks!

[Buckeye Guy]

Typically 3/8 then compress to 11/32 you will want steel block for that part !
Guy

[k-hat]

ok, so if i buy a 11/32 bit and drill the hole in an aluminum block, i run the shaft through this with the drill after using the router jig?  Will the compression affect stainability, etc?  If so, i suppose i could jig it, stain it, then compress it?

[carpentertimw]

i think aluminum would wear away too fast, you want steel. i dont know if 1/8" would work but thats easy to drill also.

[k-hat]

Sorry, missed the steel part on buckeye's post, not tryna be that hardheaded

I'll have to see if i have some, though i'm sure i can get some from depot.

thanks for the help guys, lookn forward to gettin this going. 

[Buckeye Guy]

It will stain differently (lighter in color) but will still stain !
Test a piece first then sand it a little with fine sandpaper and try again !

[k-hat]

Ok, thanks guy.  I hope to get it set up this weekend.  I'll let ya know how it goes when i get it going!

[soy]

Well brass work in place of steel?

[carpentertimw]

i think brass would be too soft also, a piece of steel is only a few dollars and not that hard to drill, but if you use 1/8" it leaves spiral markings. i'm going to get a thicker piece to try and that should cure that.

[mdWill85]

I use a thinner steel plate. You can keep from having the spiral problem if you feed your shaft in slower.

[nclonghunter]

Any pictures of this process?