How to cut an ellipse

In this video, I show you how to cut an ellipse. I am in the process of making a serving tray from maple and black walnut, and I decided cut it into an elliptical shape.
I use three pins and a piece of string so that I can draw the ellipse, and then I cut it out on a band saw and then finish up the edges with a belt sander and some light hand sanding.
Here are some of the things I used for this project:
System Three T-88 epoxy: amzn.to/33Y4XPR
Ridgid random orbit sander: amzn.to/2Upi0s4
2 1/8" Forstner bit: amzn.to/2NXlair
Freud 1/4" round over bit: amzn.to/2KLtFsG
Howard cutting board oil: amzn.to/2IAnElX
3M sandpaper: amzn.to/2O18zuV
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[@daveellis9339]

Who knew?! I needed an elipse for a sign I am making and this did the trick. Thank you!!!

[@DontStopBrent]

Just made my second off your instructions. I made one last year and all five of my children fought over it. My oldest daughter Lexi, 23, ask if I would make her one this year. Who knew dad had woodworking skills? I owe you one, brother.

[@joequillun7790]

I'm always impressed by craftsman who can maintain approx. an 1/8th of an inch to the cutline, on the bandsaw. Nice job, and thanks for posting. :)

[@sharit7970]

Coolest thing ever! Thanks for sharing!

[@mikedisimile2478]

Great job explaining everything thank you

[@maunarose]

Beautiful work.

[@JoeOsChannel]

I like the two cutouts using the 2 and 1/8th forstener bit. Might try that next week on a couple of my cheese boards I''m putting together to sell at a local show.

[@navarroedwards8031]

Yes I would love to make it.

[@pinkcactuscraft2927]

Solid Tutorial. Thank you for your time.

[@ArmyVet76]

Very inventive and simple idea. Thanks for sharing👊🏼

[@barryroberts6470]

Brilliant Mike just Brilliant, love the wood you used for the tray, and wow doesn't that grain pop. Plus an added bonus of a Geometry lesson as well. Well Done my Friend. Barry (ENG)

[@Woodumakeit]

Thanks, Barry. It's your comments that keep me going!

[@barryroberts6470]

Thanks Mike, oh and I also like your Brilliant Instructables T-Shirt, how did you get that? Barry.

[@Woodumakeit]

Yeah, I like that shirt too. I was very fortunate to win the grand prize from Instructables a month or two ago with the entry of my toy lawnmower. The prize was a Canon T5 camera which will come in useful. I "might" wear the same shirt in my next video too. :-))

[@safetkaric820]

Svaka čast majstore

[@FishersShop]

Love that mineral stained heartwood! Makes that a one-of-a-kind! Nice work!

[@Woodumakeit]

Thanks! Yes, it is definitely one of a kind.

[@sapphodesigns2377]

Great project looks gorgeous

[@Woodumakeit]

Thank you!

[@luciancaliman1617]

Sehr schöne Arbeit. Und die Lösung wie man Ellipsen zeichnet ist genial einfach!

[@Woodumakeit]

Danke!

[@pamhoven]

I certainly learned something new while watching your video. I will be making one, soon I hope. Great video!

[@mourieserghaya3076]

wow this way has blow mi mind. what's make me feel like proud and grateful if you was my teacher to learn this beautiful craft . this craft is always about brilliancy .innovating and show some proficiency

[@jackarendt9226]

Nicely done, however, I have a 62" wide Headboard thay T want to cut a gentile curve along the top. With this method the string has so much stretch that my line is a half-inch wide zone of pencil lines. Maybe I should use thin wire or something else. Any thoughts?

[@johnconklin9039]

Great project and beautiful wood.

[@Woodumakeit]

Thank you, John.

[@GinMartiniMusic]

Loved all your tools! thank you for sharing!

[@Thom4123]

Definitely very nicely done. Thank You for sharing

[@Woodumakeit]

Thank you, Thom!

[@BurtonsAttic]

Nice, you made a large version of a 70's skateboard!

[@Heartwing37]

Yes! I will make it soon!

[@cleokey]

I like it, I'll try making one, but perhaps resemble a surfboard with stringers going down the center.

[@davecsaszarable]

The geometry that went into my head before I saw how easy this solution was.

[@Woodumakeit]

Yeah, it's an amazingly simple way to do something that you'd imagine to be fairly difficult.

[@ragnkja]

dave_császár Every point on the perimeter of an ellipse has the same total distance to the two foci, so the length of the string is that distance sum plus the distance between the foci. For the least eccentric ellipse of all - a circle - those are zero distance apart, so you only need one pin instead of two.

[@charlesold3451]

Yes. I've made several.

[@jriggan]

I would totally make that💫

[@bryangatewood6749]

I've really been enjoying your videos. Great job

[@Woodumakeit]

Thanks, Bryan!

[@mater197]

I honestly can't wait to attempt this build, & try to make it look/work like a surfboard - cutting board of black walnut wood and black cherry wood.

[@greg6107]

Just Beautiful !!

[@moustafaajam4670]

thank you , i need this method its so easy, and yes i will use it , thank you so much for sharing

[@Woodumakeit]

Thanks for watching. I'm glad you found it useful!

[@telosfd]

Beauty job. So i will make it when i found pallets Lol. In Greece wood li walnut it's very expensive, the other solution is to made it with olive tree wood the best wood grain ever.

[@Woodumakeit]

Olive wood is beautiful and you are fortunate to be able to access it readily. It's more difficult to find in America, but I would love to work with it one day.

[@percydelacruzhinostroza8267]

EXCELENTE TIP Y MUY BUEN TRABAJO...

[@MarkMiller-zm2th]

What was that black magic with the string????? Great build, lovely looking project.

[@scenecontinued]

Great idea

[@PBS-nm1uu]

thanks for the info

[@SreenisArt]

Yes.. Its brilliant Thinking... Very useful for me.. Thank you

[@DontStopBrent]

Hey thx for a great idea!

[@dadb0d_dave628]

Great trick! Thank you!

[@angieagostino7837]

Wood you make it for me? LOL. I've had a hard time finding an oval dining room table. I may need someone to make me a table top. I've found some legs I like that I could attach. Do you do that type of thing?

[@DontStopBrent]

Ok. I didn’t hear what finish oil you put on it. Can you tell me exactly what you did? I’m attempting to replicate your project today.

[@Woodumakeit]

Hi Brent, I used regular mineral oil for the finish. I put a link in the description for the product that I used. (amzn.to/2IAnElX) You can also purchase this at the big box stores if you need it today. Good luck with everything!

[@DontStopBrent]

@Wood U Make It Thanks very much. Trying to finish today. Some sanding to do but it looks good. My first project. Much thx to you, sir. Merry Christmas!

[@RUGY56]

Molto bello! Bravo.

[@billducharme4987]

What type of epoxy are you using?

[@Woodumakeit]

I used System Three T-88 epoxy.

[@cdecoro]

Very nice! What finish are you using at the end?

[@Woodumakeit]

Thanks! It's just mineral oil that I applied.

[@josephhale8460]

Just curious how much you would sell something like this for in your area?

[@Woodumakeit]

I sold this one a few weeks after making the video for $95.

[@josephhale8460]

I think I will try to make this. I doubt that I will be able to sell it for that amount. So I guess to answer your last question on the video....I Wood Make It! Once I complete it (after it warms up some...) I will post a pic. Thank you for the wonderful idea and instructions!

[@Badindian3573]

Nice!!

[@ericmoorehead9701]

Will you share the overall dimensions of the finished board?

[@Woodumakeit]

Sure thing. This one turned out to be 31" x 12 x 5/8" (roughly 785 mm x 300 mm x 15 mm). Thanks for watching!

[@lizzy010596]

What product did you use to finish it?

[@Woodumakeit]

It's regular food-safe mineral oil that I use. Here's a link for the one that I use: amzn.to/2jvPELK

[@lizzy010596]

Thank you for your answer :)

[@BrianThorstad]

Thank you, my question too.

[@gilpit581]

What finish did you use. You didn't tell us...

[@Woodumakeit]

Sorry about that. It was just regular mineral oil that I used.

[@gregreid5120]

What epoxy did you use? Great video.

[@Woodumakeit]

I used the System Three T-88 Epoxy. You can find it here: amzn.to/2IB508U They also make a version that cures in 5 minutes, but I just used the regular one that I let set overnight, and then I'm able to sand it the following day.

[@hemantadumirai2087]

good technic sir

[@mihaisamaila7646]

nice skateboard ;)

[@BrianThorstad]

YES I WOULD MAKE IT! Step I...buy bandsaw.

[@kevinkopald2449]

Hey Mike, Thank you for another great project. I was excited to see the string trick, as I just made an arc bow for my inlay cutting board I'm making from your other project video. The walnut maple combo is my favorite together. What kind of epoxy do you use? It looked so much easier to use than what I have. Thank you!

[@Woodumakeit]

Hi Kevin. Thanks for your feedback. The epoxy that I typically use is System Three T-88. Here's a link to it on Amazon: amzn.to/2zECMbo. They also have a Quick Cure 5 minute epoxy, but I can usually wait overnight and avoid paying the higher price for the 5 minute epoxy. Good luck with everything!

[@ragnkja]

The points at each end are not the ends of the major axis, but the foci of the ellipse. With such an eccentric ellipse, I can see how you might get confused, but consider a less eccentric ellipse, or even the least eccentric ellipse of all - a circle.

[@RyDaSiDu]

Wow!

[@MacTech007]

yes!

[@sumosprojects]

I would make it Mike, so sir would you kindly have a look at my cutting Board build on Sumo's Projects with Australian hardwoods & see if it makes the high standards of builds you make, great viewing your content every time 👍

[@Woodumakeit]

Nice job on the cutting board, and great explanation of the various hardwoods that grow natively in Australia. Your friend is going to be very happy with that board.

[@mickelion6198]

Noce work

[@clivejohnson9515]

why didn't you make a jig??? its much easier!

[@vadymvolodko7252]

I was using woodprix instructions to make it and I did it already :)

[@To-ce58]

Охуенно, бро!

[@joepalooka2145]

Totally amateur, do it the right way and not like this.