Ellipse - Pin & String Method

1. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Y An ellipse is an oval shape with no regular radius X X It is set up along 2 axis The “X” axis is always the longest one. Y The “Y” axis is always the shortest one.

2. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Y Step 1. Mark out the “X” axis. Step 2. Find the centre of the X axis. X X Step 3. Mark in the “Y” axis. Y

3. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Y Step 4. Set the compass to ½ the “X” axis X X Step 5. Move the compass to the Y point and mark of the distance along the X axis Y

4. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 6. Place small nails or pins at points F1, F2 and C Y C Step 7. Tie a piece of string, (builders line is best) to the nail at F1. X X F2 F1 Y

5. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 8. Take the string around C and to F2 and tie off making sure it is stretched reasonably tight. Y C X X Too tight and it will pull the nails out F2 F1 Too loose and the ellipse will be the too big Y

6. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Y X X Y

7. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Y Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left or right. In this example we have gone left. X X Y

8. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Y Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right X X Y

9. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Y Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right X X Y

10. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Y Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right X X Y

11. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Y Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right X X Y

12. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

13. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

14. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

15. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

16. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

17. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

18. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

19. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

20. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

21. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

22. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

23. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

24. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

25. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

26. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Step 9. Insert pencil in place of nail at point C Step 10. Describe the arc by keeping the string tight with the pencil and moving it to the left and right

27. Ellipse - Pin & String Method Now you have created the perfect ellipse. You can use a band saw or jig saw to cut the shape clean up the edges with a spoke shave, compass plane or disc sander and make a router template.