Make Elliptical Shapes Using Simple Geometry

Popular Woodworking Magazine: 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.