Replies

1. 
   YesMaam27577 | Dec 16, 2002 11:17am | #1

   Regardless if your wife's creation is a perfect oval or not, your frame should match it's shape. If not, it will probably look odd. So don't worry about the math or the geometry.

   Lay her creation on a piece of paster board, and trace around it. Then -- freehand if necessary -- put a parallel curve inside that line, and one outside it.  The first line is where your router will plow out the rabbet for the item to sit in. The second line is the inside edge of the frame, ang the third line is the outside edge.

   From this pattern, you should probably make a wood pattern from plywood or MDF. Then from that, you can make the frame.

2. 
   fredsmart48 | Dec 16, 2002 11:42am | #2

   http://www.josephfusco.com/DW3_Sites/Ellipse.htm

   that is for the ellipse.

1. 
   frenchafry | Dec 16, 2002 11:02pm | #5

   this was exactly what I wanted. Definitely appreciate the effort from you.

3. 
   krumy1 | Dec 16, 2002 12:27pm | #3

   Believe it or not, the easiest way I know of is with a framing square.  I have the technique illustrated on my website. The address is http://www2.fwi.com/~krumy/

   if you want to check it out.

   Steve K

1. 
   frenchafry | Dec 16, 2002 11:12pm | #6

   Thanks so much for the info, plus the pictures made everything simple to follow. You might also want to look at FREDSMARTS answer. A different way with the same end results just to add to your portfolio of stuff.

4. 
   booch | Dec 16, 2002 08:53pm | #4

   It isn't mathematical, but you can aproximate your way there with 2 nails and a string. Drive 2 nails about 1 foot apart on a sheet of plywood. Cut a piece of string 3 foot long and tie the ends together. Lay the loop over the two nails and then take a pencil and draw an elipse by keeping even tension on the string as you draw around the nails.

   There is an equation for it, but I can't remember so I usually just fly by the seat of my pants. The length of the string and the nail spacing changes the elipse dimensions. The further apart the nails are, the more oblong the elipse.

   I'm sure there is a golden elipse to match the golden rectangle. (H = 1.5 x W)

   Let your eye be the guide.

1. 
   frenchafry | Dec 16, 2002 11:14pm | #7

   Thanks Booch. Check out the info from FREDSMART and KRUMY.