Replies

1. 
   AndyE | Jan 04, 2006 08:00pm | #1

   I would trace the mirror on some brown craft paper and use that as the template for the rabbet in the frame. Work off of that as your reference line. You can draw out the pieces for the frame on the paper and cut it up and use some spray adhesive to attach them to your stock for cutting at the bandsaw. If you want to make multiple frames (perhaps he has a set of mirrors) use card stock or hardboard for the template pieces.

   Andy

   "It seemed like a good idea at the time"

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Jan 13, 2006 08:25pm | #2

   Here's a tip for drawing parallel curvilinear lines such as you describe your mirror has. Use the mirror as a template and make yourself a large "washer" out of masonite or other rigid material, with the dimension from the outer edge of the "washer" to the edge of the hole in the middle equal to the spacing you want between your parallel lines. Place the mirror on a piece of paper (or other pattern material). Then put a pencil in the washer hole, apply pressure towards the mirror, and roll the "washer" along the mirror's edge while drawing with the pencil on a pattern below.  (Hope that's clear enough.) That'll give you the outside edge of your frame. Use a similar arrangement to get the inside edge, though you'll have to cut a reverse pattern matching the edge of the mirror (or the line you just made) and make a new "washer" to get the inside edge.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   acorn60 | Jan 15, 2006 07:35pm | #3

   Mike thanks for taking the time to reply, i did just that with a disk to get the outside line it's the inside line my mind is having problems with. i am cutting a 1/2" rabbit for the morrow to sit in and the frame is 2" wide. think of getting inside line by using dividers set at 2" and rub one leg along outside edge while pencil side scribes inside line. I am going to study your idea some more maybe it will come to me thanks again.

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Jan 16, 2006 11:54pm | #4

   If it was me, for the inside line, I'd either: 1) If the mirror isn't too big, I'd place the mirror on the pattern paper and form a curving ruler around it, tape it down, and use the ring trick to do the inside line, rolling it along the ruler. (By "curving ruler" I mean a device that is sold for draftsmen that is flexible and holds it's shape once it's bent -- I don't know the correct term for it, but they are pretty useful for fairing curves.) Or, 2) use the mirror to trace and then cut a pattern out of something like masonite and  then put that on the pattern and use the ring trick.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   acorn60 | Jan 17, 2006 09:46pm | #5

   the ruler idea is great, always looking for a new toys to buy. worked on it some yesterday making a mock up one out of plywood. still playing with fashioning the top arch where the scallop design gets cut out of. using biscuits for mock up will use splines and mortise/tenon for bottom rail. figuring the top "arch" layout and cut angle is perplexing me now. thinking why did I volunteer to do this? oh well it's all good training in the craft. thanks again for your input.