A better way to draw an ellipse/oval - NO math! NO string! 

If anyone is after the principle behind this, look up Archimedes' Trammel

Thank you James. I am a hobbyist woodworker for basically all my life (62 years old now), and I've seen rehash after rehash of the same old things over and over, but this is the first time I've ever seen this. Sure, it's an adaption of basic geometry but it's using tools that every woodworker has and it's using very basic instruments that every woodworker has to achieve exact results. If I could click the "thumbs up" icon a thousand times for this, I would. I learned something new that I'm sure I will use someday. Thank you.

WoW, how did you come up with this? This is absolutely brilliant Thank you for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Interestingly, a few days ago Woodwork Web posted the video of a jig, which basically does the exact same thing :D It is refreshing to see different approaches to the same problem and also to the implementation of the same solution!

I'm waiting for stumpy version of the Spirograph

James, I leaned something again. Now, when will I use it? Dunno, but today wasn't wasted since I learned something!

No strings attached!

Thanks! This technique worked flawlessly! A couple of tips.....a 19/64" bit will provide a perfect, tight fit for a standard #2 Ticonderga pencil. Bic pencils are a bit thinner, but you can just wrap some tape around it before inserting. Instead of drilling holes and having to deal with hammering and filing nails......do this instead. Get two tiny drill bits (I used 1/16" and they worked perfectly) and drill the two holes. Now just use the bits themselves as the trammel points with the flat side of the bits facing down. There should be plenty of friction to hold them in place.

ok thats one of the better ways i have seen

I just did the string method, it worked a charm! Thanks!

Us fishing line and pre stretch it, and you will be spot on works every time my grand dad showed me this some time in the 50s .

Drew one this morning using this method and it worked perfectly, just like on your video. Another addition to my bag of tricks. As a 70 year old woodworker (since I was 11 years old), I learn something new almost daily. Thank you for a great tip.

Now I want to know the matches of why is this true elliptical 😂 Thanks for sharing

Stumpy, have you been spying on me? My customer asked me just this morning if I could make some oval plaques. Thanks for the tip. I would probably have just went with the ol' string and 2 nails method, but I like this way better.

Very cool. Dead simple, make-shift version of the trammel of Archimedes.

How do you position stick on square? Do you place pencil on 6 and nine mark or what. I don't understand

that is a really cool way of doing it and so simple too. Thanks for sharing

"NO math", proceeds to divide 18 and 12 by two :P

I learned to draw an ellipse a different way; first cut a caw kerf in a sheet of material then use 3 trammel points setting one to height of the ellipse and one to the width of the ellipse. Exactly as using the framing square to guide the nail in the example you shower the trammel point runs in the saw kerf. I have used this method to lay out large ellipse such as an elliptical edge of a stage that was built in a casino. Several good ways to skin a cat as they say!

No waffle, no music. Thanks for that.

your pencil wasnt perpendicular to your work!

Wish I could talk to you about my rocking chair rocker

Hahaha! I LOVE your name! 😂❤❤❤

A glue question... I'm thinking about using some angle iron as clamping cauls as they don't really warp and are strong but does wood glue like titebond or gorilla glue stick to metal? I have wax paper to use if necessary.

You said it doesn't work on large ellipses, do they not come out right ? I've got to make 1 5 ft x 8 inches and curious if I could with this method

Pythagoras gives it a thumbs up!

What ever happened to Mustache Mike.

Well I can definitely say I learned something today. 😜

nice, again love all your videos

Brad point drill set seven piece quality line part no 01200007k01

*Where is the new video? It's been 4 weeks.*

Your a redwings fan.

Excellent technique, though I would suggest accounting for the radius of the nails (to go for center point of them) to get a more precise measurement. Keeping in mind, even if you nail them directly on the marked spot, there still going to be offset that radius from the framing square.

bye bye string!

Never seen... Until now

NICE. Ive never seen that done before. Its like magic. Thanks for sharing Mr Nubs.

Great tip, Thanks!

You rule, you just saved me so much pain and stress, for that you get a like a sub and a comment and I’ll go watch a few more of your videos and like them too.

Who'd a thunk. Lol

Neat, never saw this method. And also thanks to commenters for noting its origin. I think, though, if I ever get an order for an elliptical table I will make (or buy) a jig that uses the router to cut it directly rather than go through a layout step. Another opportunity to charge the customer for a new tool!

Just subbed you guys, Great stuff.

Just used this method, and it worked very well. Thanks Stumpy!

What a great tip, thanks!

Sorted! Now I can build the quarter-ellipse-shaped bedroom cabinet that is next on my To Do list. Thanks so much.

New to woodworking but I would just like to say appreciate The informative videos and quick tips. They are a great help. Thanks

I ordered the Tage Frid books when I saw your video 7 months ago. Amazon emailed me many times about delays but I was happy to wait as long as it took. WOW was the wait worth it! Arrived yesterday 😃 Bloody marvelous recommendation. Thanks 👍🏻

Very cleaver Stumpy! You always provide great tips and tricks!

Very clever, thank you.

Is there a way to do this without major carpentry? I need to draw a perfect oval on a regular sheet of paper. I don’t have a stick of wood or a drill.

Brilliant!¡ I didn't know that, thanks. Hi from France...

Sorcery!!

small block of wood with a hole that a pencil fits into tightly in one corner then cut a small gap were the pencil tip is so the string can go right on the point and not be interfered with by the block. This keeps your pencil/pen straight and you can get it perfect every time.

MIND BLOWN!!! Good job and thank you James!

Have you tried this with the nails heads down and a framing square halfway from the center of the nail head?

I make about 1 elipse shaped table a year, i go back to this video every time 👍

How come I cant upload pics in the comments?

I like it

Good tip!

Does the diameter of the nails affect the accuracy of the ellipse?

NO math! No string! No green screen! = a suggestion for your channel's motto.

I really enjoy and get a lot of good info from your Quick Tips series. Thank you. Keep up the good work.

Awesome

Nice!

Best idea I've ever heard !! Thanks Stumpy!

This is great! Thank you James. I really like this method. ^5

Thank you, it's so far the best and easiest way I have seen.

I really appreciate these quick tips. I watch every one.

I would use this in a classroom to demonstrate math in action.

I have never seen this method. Thanks for posting.

Marvellous- thank you 👌🏼😁

That was Totally Awesome, Best Idea Ever !

Another good tip ! Thanks for sharing !

James nice easy technique, simple math is my style

Google "router ellipse jig" and you'll get results for commercial and store bought jigs using this principle. Most of them depend on two slots crossing in the center that the "nails" run in so you can trace or cut the ellipse in one continuous move without resetting the square. Personally I prefer to draw the ellipse with the computer and cut it with the CNC. ;-) Nice tip for a quick hand drawn one though.

Brilliant, thanks for sharing!!

okStumpy, I listened to you about the Frisch drill bits and got them today and put them through their paces no was not as thrilled as you seem to be. I used both cordless and drill press and saw some ragged holes on the top that needed sanding a lot to take away raggedness. I don't know if I got a bad blister pack of the seven piece set or if there are different quality levels. By comparison I used a set of desalt and they were equal. Oh , I used birch plywood, cherry lumber and oak hardwood to test.

Thanks James, simply genius!

Never seen this method before, thanks!

I've known about this since I was a kid, but this is the first practical implementation. This definitely gets added to a special folder

That is so awesomely simple thanks James.

wow great tip, keep them comlng

Ingenius to say the very least.

Excellent, thank you

That's really fantastic

I just have to say that I always love the abundant natural (or natural-looking) light in your videos!

Very nice James.

mindblowing ...

Excellent job

Very cool!

thank you

Brilliant

No math to be done by the carpenter but the math is already in the method.

Hey, does that method have a name?

You can also insert two nails and use this litte rope, but don't fix it to the nails. only lay down it around the nails and use the pencil to draw an oval. In one move!

It looks like you could keep the square in one quarter of the ellipse and draw diagonally opposite quarters. That way you only have to set the square twice instead of four times.

Hi, quick question- do you have any suggestions as to how to make a re-usable reliable jig to use with a router for cutting shallow mortises for strike plates on wooden rebated door jambs? Cheers Dan