I'm working on my second project, which is a wall-mounted organizer for a physiotherapist. It includes some hooks and shelves at the top and vertical slots below. I've been tasked with cutting a 7x4 inch oval hole in the separators, but I'm unsure how to accurately draw and cut the oval shape in 1/2 inch bamboo plywood. I don't have a bandsaw, but I do have a tracksaw, drill press, router, and sliding miter saw. Any tips on how to achieve this?
3 Answers
I found a great video that shows how to do this! It’s super helpful for visual learners like us. Can't wait to get started myself. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/MEmPEF4G5qM
Haha, same here! Definitely my go-to for woodworking tutorials.
To draw your oval, you need two pegs pinned into some scrap wood, and a piece of string looped around them with a pen to trace the shape. After cutting it out, you can refine it with a rasp or sandpaper to get it perfect. This becomes your router template. Just do a little math to get the string length right for your oval!
The easiest way to draw a perfect oval is to use a couple of pins and a loop of string—just make sure you space them right. Since you need multiple ovals, consider making a router template to keep everything consistent. It'll save you time and ensure your cuts are precise!
If you want to get technical, to find the focal points for your ellipse, identify your semi-major and semi-minor axes. Then you can use the formula c = sqrt(a² - b²) to get the distance from the center to each focus. In your case, that’s about 3.57 inches! So, your pins should be that distance from the center.
I love that! My dad made something similar when he was training; it’s called a 'bullshit grinder,' haha.