FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe
Tips & Techniques

Easy Ellipses … Mostly

A simple way to make ovals for doors, doorways, furniture, entrance porticos, ceilings, and more.

Issue 276 - July 2018

Here is a method for creating a simple ellipse that I learned many years ago from an old-codger furniture maker. I’m told it does not create a true ellipse, but I’m okay with that. I have used it for everything from doors and doorways to furniture, entrance porticos, and ceilings. I like it because it’s readily adjustable to whatever conditions and circumstances I find myself in.

First, I place nails into the stock to be cut at the desired rise and width of the arc. Then I cut a template from any thin, sturdy material. At the upper midpoint of the template, I make a small pencil notch and draw a line to one of the lower corners. After cutting the corner off of the template, I ride it along the two nails with a pencil in the notch. This makes one side of the ellipse. I just flip the template to do the other side.

— David Kingsley, Newtown, Conn.

Sign up for the Fine Homebuilding Tip of the Day and get daily tips and special offers delivered to your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

View Comments

  1. Suburbanguy | Nov 06, 2019 04:30pm | #1

    Just a variation on this simpler technique using two wooden battens.

  2. S_curvy | Nov 07, 2019 10:36pm | #2

    IIRC, another variation is to use a string around the pins/nails. Memory (weak) says to size the string around the 3 pins, then slip it off the minor axis pin, and make the ellipse trace with the pencil inside the now floppy string that’s still anchored by the 2 major axis pins.

    The nice thing about this variation is that one can keep on going around the end to describe the other half of the ellipse, or to describe only both sides of the minor axis (skinny ellipse).

    1. Suburbanguy | Nov 08, 2019 08:26am | #3

      S_curvy,
      Just to add, the method you described produces a perfect ellipse, unlike the other two.

  3. BobboMax | Nov 13, 2019 12:39am | #4

    I believe the first 2 methods produce a circular arc, a curve of constant radius. It will only be tangent at the sides of (the doorway) if the battens are at 90 degrees, like a framing square. (Try it with a framing square and a rectangle on sheet of plywood- snap 2 lines, parallel to the edges, about 24" apart, a line across them parallel to the end, nails where the lines cross, move the framing square around the nails with the pencil at the heel.)

    An ellipse has constantly changing radius and the only simple way to draw one is the string method described by S _curvy.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

More Tips & Techniques

View All
  • Cleaner Tile Demo
  • Handy Hose Holder
  • Pipe-Stand Bucket for Plumbing Jobs
  • Avoid Rotten Posts
View All

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Reusable Flood Bags for Fast Bulk-Water Control

These bags from Quick Dam arrive compact and swell to form a protective barrier on contact with water.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Related Stories

  • Why I Love Carpentry
  • Filling Nail Holes in Stained Trim
  • Scribe Perfect Curves with Copper Tubing
  • Foolproof Inset Cabinet Doors

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All
  • How to Repair Shrinking Crown Molding
  • Installing Exterior PVC Window and Door Trim
  • Exterior PVC Trim: Wire and Pipe Penetrations
  • Installing Exterior PVC Trim Corner Boards
View All

Finish Carpentry

View All Finish Carpentry Articles
  • Foolproof Insert Cabinet Doors
    Foolproof Inset Cabinet Doors
  • casing miters
    Getting Casing Miters Tight
  • stud finder
    Can't-Fail Stud Finder
  • adhesive glue
    Not Just Glue—Three Unique Adhesives
View All Finish Carpentry Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • 2021 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • Outdoor Projects
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
    • How to Get Sturdy Walls Without OSB
    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job
  • Issue 308 - July 2022
    • Pretty Good House Book Excerpt: Copper Farmhouse
    • 10 Dos and Don'ts for Electric In-Floor Heat
    • A Sturdy Rail for Outdoor Stairs
  • Issue 307 - June 2022
    • How to Raise a Post-Frame Home
    • Trimming Deck Stairs
    • Evolving an Energy-Efficient Envelope
  • Issue 306 - April/May 2022
    • Framing Stairs to an Out-of-Level Landing
    • Building a Zero-Energy Home for Less
    • Good-Looking and Long-Lasting Traditional Gutters
  • Issue 305 - Feb/March 2022
    • The Steady Surge in Residential Solar
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: William B. Rose
    • How Good Is Your Air Barrier?

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in