We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. However, this does not impact our recommendations.
In our soon-to-be-mailed August issue, furniture maker Freddy Roman discusses the use of elliptical shapes. Freddy uses them frequently in the Federal-style furniture he makes. In the article, he shows three easy ways to generate the shapes using simple geometry. Not only do these techniques allow you draw the shapes, but they can be applied in the shop to actually cut the shapes. How? Once you know how to find the radius points, you can use a trammel beam with a cutter for handwork or swing a router attached to a circle cutting jig.
Describing the layout steps makes the process seem far more difficult than it actually is. In the video I lay out a false ellipse using the most complicated of the three methods (it’s also the most versatile) and describe how it’s done in about three minutes. Check it out.
If you liked this, you may also be interested in the “Drafting & Design for Woodworkers Collection,” which includes a hardcover book and two CDs.
