Replies

1. 
   RickGreg | Jan 09, 2003 12:46am | #1

   Here's the line art.

   
2. 
   JohnSprung | Jan 09, 2003 03:13am | #2

   > Are there any rules for getting this right?

   Do you mean how to draw the elliptical arch once you know the width and height, or how to choose the width and height in proportion to the rest of the structure?  The second is rather subjective, but the first I can answer:

   Draw the major (long horizontal) axis of the ellipse, and the top half of the minor (short vertical) axis. Put a small nail at the top end of the minor axis, tie a string to it, and then measure out half the length of the major axis on this string.  Use a pencil at that point on the string to draw two small arcs of a circle so that they intersect the major axis.  These intersections are the foci of the ellipse.  Put small nails into the foci, and tie one end of the string to one of them.  Stretch the string over the nail at the top of the minor axis, and tie it tight to the other focus nail.  (A Magnus hitch is good for that.)  Pull the nail at the top of the minor axis.  Hold a pencil point against the string and stretch it to one end of the major axis.  Run the pencil around with the string tight to the other end of the major axis, and the elliptical arch is drawn. 

   -- J.S.

1. 
   RickGreg | Jan 09, 2003 04:13am | #3

   Perfect. Thanks John.

2. 
   RickGreg | Jan 09, 2003 04:53pm | #4

   John... One more question if you don't mind.

   Determining the length of the major axis should be fairly straightforward. Do you have any thoughts on proportioning the minor (vertical) axis for the proper look? I guess I could find a few examples and measure myself... but if there is a rule of thumb out there... Such as "minor axis should be 1/6-1/8 the length of major axis"

   Many thanks.

   -Rick

1. 
   rjw | Jan 09, 2003 05:01pm | #5

   I think you should draw a bunch of samples and look at them.

   You might try fitting it into a golden rectangle - that is often a pleasing proportion.

   In this case, it looks like you're doing a single width garage door.

   Draw a square the width of the door.  Take a compass and spread it to the diagonal of opposite corners.  Using the lower corner as the pivot point, rotate the compass until it intersects the vertical line rising from the pivor point.  That sets the height of whole door, i.e, the top of the arch.

   Work from there as to what looks good_______________________

   "I may have said the same thing before... But my explanation, I am sure, will always be different."  Oscar Wilde

1. 
   kennedy136 | Jan 10, 2003 03:10am | #7

   bob,

          Dogone Bob, we finally agree on something.  LOL Later

                                              Mark

1. 
   rjw | Jan 10, 2003 06:09am | #8

   Dogone Bob, we finally agree on something.

   Jeez, you coulda warned me or something, it's been much safer if I'd been sitting down!  {G}

   _______________________

   "I may have said the same thing before... But my explanation, I am sure, will always be different."  Oscar Wilde

   Edited 1/9/2003 10:10:45 PM ET by Bob Walker

2. 
   kennedy136 | Jan 10, 2003 06:18am | #9

   Bob,

           Hope you didn't break your arm or anything.  didn't mean to give you a heart attack. LOL

                                           Mark

2. 
   JohnSprung | Jan 09, 2003 10:59pm | #6

   Bob has it right.  It's a matter of taste, so draw some arches and go with the one that you like best.  If you have any doubts, get a big old cardboard box and some duct tape, and cut out a full scale mock-up to look at. 

   For the arches thru the bearing walls to both sides of my upstairs landing, I've gone with an opening that's 4'-7 1/2" wide, and the points of tangency on each side are 16" down from the high point of the arch and 6'-9 1/2" above the finished floor.   That gives me 8'-1 1/2" from the deck to the top of the arch.  The ceilings are 9'-1".

   -- J.S.

3. 
   Lateapex911 | Jan 10, 2003 11:18am | #10

   Great to see that you're chasing the ellipse!  So many people hack out a tortured oval or worse!  I run down to the art store, but an ellipse template, then drawa bunch of different ones on a few sheets of paper.  The do a good sized sketch of the door or opening, and measure the length of your archway.  Now, head to any copier with enlargement capability, and enlarge your elipses to the proper lenght. Make some copies of your elevation as well.

   From here it's just cut and paste!  Figure out a few favorites, then stick them to the wall, and let them sit for a few days, checking them occasionally.  I find that this is a easy low tech way of designing, and giving it some time to settle always helps too!

   Good luck!

   Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Jan 11, 2003 01:03am | #11

   here's the graphic of the string method that john described......compliments of Architectural Graphic StandardsMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

   
1. 
   RickGreg | Jan 11, 2003 01:18am | #12

   Thanks Mike (and John and Bob too).

   I got the picture now!