This is so cool to me. Thank you! so I have a few questions.... 1. I'm not a math guy - until I have to - but I think you reached this ration from the joist dimensions? 6-1/4 minor axis & 10.5 for the major axis? I have to curve knee braces on a band saw and I think that this elipse formula is better than the typical radius of a circle. How can I determine the ration if I wish to arch the knee braces in an elipse? Thank you!
I suggest just doing some experimentation to arrive at a pleasing ratio that suits you and your project. You should be able to start out with a guess that's close by simply doing a full-scale layout drawing of your knee brace on a piece of plywood or cardboard. You can iterate quickly by adjusting the position of the nails on the ellipse stick until you come up with the ideal major/minor axis combination. Good thing about this is that no real math or fancy formulas are required, just a bit of trial and error.
Well, . . . I'm not usually one to invoke the cooperation of the universe . . . but . . . This afternoon, a client asked me to make a pergola for a new gate that we're going to install . . . the architect asked for "shaped" supports and stretchers . . . then, I came home and watched a bunch of different uTube videos . . . lo, and behold! you had this perfect video for the project. I was just going to use a compass to make a 1/4 round cut with a square edge . . . I think your approach will be much appreciated by the client and the architect . . . thanks!!
Hi Richard, A friend helped me find some very old neglected comments hiding out on Next Level Carpentry... so a belated 'thank you' for your comment... hope you're still watching videos here? Best, Matt
30+ years playing and making living as a carpenter myself. I can say it is a pure joy to sit at your feet. You have a new subscriber. Please don't let the negative Nellie's discourage you. You are doing it right!
Mr Gillespie, Thanks for the sub! EVERY new subscriber is like a little shot of motivation to keep on... At 40+ years in the trades I'm still learning something new every day too so it's great to pass it on. Carpentry is a great profession, isn't it? I meet people with income many times greater than mine who don't seem nearly as fulfilled so I'm grateful to be on this journey. I don't mind negative feedback, it helps keep perspective and improve, but I'm always amazed about the way some of it is presented... I'll keep your thoughtful comment in mind going forward.
I cannot thank you enough! As soon as I watched you , I was thinking, why didnt I think of that? It may seem simple to you but for us who do not do this sort of thing very often, Your video is Priceless! And, I can use it in other applications...well done ! Thank You again...
Thank you for producing such interesting videos, you have great presentation skills as well as a wealth of knowledge, to get such a combination is rare, thank you again !
Wow, you're certainly welcome... comments and compliments such as your make the effort worthwhile! Anything you do to 'spread the word' to friends and acquaintances is greatly appreciated... activity on this Next Level Carpentry is key to the motivation to produce and upload new content.
You are the definition of a true master! I just found your channel and I’ve watched almost all you videos in the past week. It’s nice to see someone take such pride in their craftsmanship!
You're welcome Twisted Bones... I'm not going to deny I harbor a measure of 'woodworking idiot' myself 😲😎 That might account for some of the approach you find helpful... Best, Matt
Impressive! Great techniques... Even though I'm a professional carpenter, I felt like I was a student at a woodworking school and you were the teacher that was teaching me feom scratch. You are a fountain of knowledge, thanks for such an awesome video.
A now retired mechanical design engineer who likes to spend time in the wood workshop to keep a hand in so to speak. Busy designing an enclosure for the back stoep area. Picked up on a few construction and installation hints from your video. Kudos NLC.
Glad to hear it Mike... are you a SketchUp user by any chance? I find it invaluable for this but, as an engineer, you probably use Solid Works or something...
Man I was absolutely amazed at your skill. As someone who is pretty Hands-On and like to take pride in my work I acknowledge we need more people like you in this world to teach more of the people their skills. I actually feel like a pretty talented carpenter however after watching you I realize I have a lot lot lot more to learn. Thank you for taking the time to share
Hey, thanks Damen... thanks for the compliment. No surprise to you there's not a day goes by I don't learn something new or a better way to do something better than last time. You're quite welcome! Best, Matt
The way you work is inspiring. The ellipse stick is undoubtedly the way this construction has been done since the Egyptians carved their temples. It must feel magical to resonate with the masters throughout history.
It does give me a great deal of admiration and respect for those who actually figured out how to do this sort of thing while developing the mathematics principals it's all based on. It's easy to take for granted just how smart ancient masters were! Best, Matt
Very interesting video ,very appreciated . Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us !!! Solon an Athenian statesman and lawmaker used to say I teach live and learn . Thank you!!!!
I have walk many a video on a number of subjects in which they say how to make this or that then processed to rifle through it. Thank for taking the time on each step. Your videos I will be sharing.
Thanks for all your comments, Robert, and for sharing Next Level Carpentry videos to others who might like them... that sort of thing helps me build this channel with more videos... a win-win arrangement for sure! Best, Matt
I'm not a professional, but a fairly handy guy, and I learned several tips from just this one video. I also liked the split screen trick you used to explain what your were doing from narrator point of view. My grandpa was a master Carpenter and just like this video; I used to love watching him work on projects. Great job! Subscribed.
Rich, Sounds like your Grandpa was a meaningful person in your life so if anything you watch me do reminds me of him I'll consider it an honor. My grandfathers weren't an influence in my life but I have rich memories from an inspirational, motivational and entertaining cast of characters who mentored me over the years. Thanks for sharing and subscribing... I hope this channel will help you take 'fairly handy' to the Next Level :-)
Another fantastic video tutorial. Thanks so much Matt. After many, many years of doing things the "old school" way, one change I've made to my workflow is to CNC-cut templates. The results are even more precise and reproducible.
Thanks for your comment(s) on this and other Next Level Carpentry videos... you're a RU-vid Content producers favorite viewer being so 'engaged' with so many channel videos. FYI I replied to your CNC question here on the 'How to Draw Arcs' video in case you're interested in the reply. It's just a matter of time before I have a shop to CNC templating or parts like you are... the technology is becoming SO available that its becoming increasingly difficult to deny its practicality... but old school me will probably only go kicking and whining 😁 Best, Mat
Brilliant!! Loved the pro tips and the detailed explanations that helped a layperson like myself begin to really understand. I also appreciated your opening or intro so I could see step by step what you were working toward. The explanation of the ellipsis was amazing and creating your pattern from a marking out ellipsis-stick - blew my mind. Thank you so much ❤️🇨🇦❤️
That "elip-stick" is awesome! Makes good sense when you see it done... but if it weren't for you making this video I never would have known. Thanks for sharing the wisdom. 🧠
I really appreciate your comment Lito... you're most welcome. BTW I browsed a couple Fleetwood Mac vids on your channel page... great stuff there! Best, Matt
This was an awesome video and teaching lesson. I will be building a pergola for my Grandson’s wedding and opened your response for the blow gun and saw this listed below the reply’s. Thank you! I’ll be practicing!
Thanks Michael, It's good to know my 'style of making videos' is appreciated because it's quite a struggle for this 'ol carpenter to learn and apply what's required to get even a marginal video produced and 'published' but your appreciation is encouragement to keep at it. Best regards, Matt
Excellent, thank you. I'm working on a Pergola with an older gentleman in the village, his design, my labour, and it was over coming the jigsaw blade deflection I couldn't get round. Keep it up!
I built a 5' wide ellipse top opening in a wall between my living room and dining room when I remodeled my home in 2009. I used to old non-stretch string and 3 nail trick. I really like the "ellipse stick" you show here. I'm looking forward to trying it out somewhere! Thanks!
Geardriven, having tried the string and nail method and getting it to work will help you appreciated this alternate method more. The nice thing about the string method is that it gives you 1/2 an ellipse where this only produces 1/4 but I think the consistency and accuracy of a stick vs string is well worth the simple extra steps required to mirror the 1/4 ellipse to get the half needed for an arch like you did. It's just plain cool fun to build elliptical stuff, isn't it?! Best, Matt
I did the ellipse in my home because I could and it fits the style and age of the home well. When I worked with a homebuilder in the early '80s we used a full-length hand saw to mark the curves for the corner blocks for the soffit/rake intersection. We'd bend the saw to the desired curvature and mark it on the redwood 1x12 and use that as the pattern for the other pieces. Back in the days of real wood siding and trim! I don't care for vinyl and aluminum clad houses!
Ahhh... if we only had another $ for every soffit/rake 'porkchop' piece we cut, fit and installed we'd be soaking up sun in the Bahamas instead of what we're doing now, right? When's the last time you saw someone fit soffit plywood joints with a block plane to make them fit so tight no caulk was required... them wuz the days! Best, Matt
Your video editing skills are great! It’s nice to have information and video with the high speed at the end. I watch a lot of RU-vid and I have seen anyone else do that. Much better than just voice over. You have a very technical and creative mind. I’m glad you found RU-vid to share that with us.
Thank you for the compliment and detailed comment, Lee, means a lot to me! What you call a 'technical and creative mind' doesn't always seem that way from the inside looking out when frustration and disappointment from trying to produce worthwhile videos for Next Level Carpentry leave me wondering if it's worth it. Comments from viewers like you help me to reqroup and press on. Hope you'll consider subscribing here because I believe the best is yet to come! Best, Matt
That was really interesting to watch , I have a big interest in design and the way things are worked out, I’ve just never been very neat at executing them. That was incredible
I love it! thanks for sharing the ellipse stick! : ) the only way I considered drawing an ellipse was with 2 anchor points and the pencil riding on a string : ) I'll use this method when building our pergola! Greetings from Poland!
As a landscaper over here in England often making Pergola's etc I really enjoyed this video! And learned from it too-something we never really stop doing! Thanks!
Andy, Glad to share the knowledge... a lifetime of learning makes for a rich experience! Glad you weren't put off by the way THIS yank pronounces 'per-GO-luh' :-)
Thanks for teaching me all the things I should have known earlier in life when I could have enjoyed it but for now, I'm just learning for the fun of it. Your a great teacher and master joke teller!
Thanks so much for such an encouraging comment Mark... thanks for watching and taking a minute to share your thoughts. Learning for the fun of it is the best reason there is! Best, Matt
I am glad I stuck this video out. I was struggling at first to focus but ones he used the ellipse stick I was blown away! Thanks for this video. very awesome.
Thanks, Jay! I'll accept your 'natural born teacher' compliment although if I was also a natural at video production I'd get a lot more teaching done :-) With comments like yours and a growing list of subscribers I'm encouraged to get some more videos published 'cuz I really like to teach, share and learn carpentry!
Terrific video. Clear, concise, and entirely easy to understand. I'm building my own home and will use this method to cut the rafter tails. Thank you for taking the time to share your skills!
James, I think you'll find this method quite satisfactory. I encourage you to give it a practice run since a few of the steps have the potential to spoil a finished piece. And PLEASE be careful if you use a 'top bearing' flush trim bit like I do in the video... they can be a little scary. Scary but manageable with a focused workflow Best, Matt
Glad to hear it, Suzanne! I'll have to add 'Mad Wizard' to the long list of things I've been called... which is nice because SOME of those things I'd rather forget 😂 Best, Matt
Man I missed Norm Abram for years...MATT, YOUR THE NEW NORM ABRAM!!! Or at least the new carpentry wizard ;) Thanks again for the vids, been sharing them.
Thanks for that, Brye... if I could only get 'ol Norm's film and video production team on board! I envy the man for having to focus only on the work at hand and not all that's involved in producing even rudimentary videos... maybe someday? Best, Matt. Thanks for sharing NLC videos too... every little bit helps!
John, Glad to hear it... and good to know 'no nonsense' is appreciated because it's the most I can manage with my limited video production/online publishing skillset. Thanks, Best regards, Matt
Irony just got a project for Pagoda and they need these ends for beauty. Enjoyed your video it's the first can't wait to see what else you good sir! Thank you for sharing
Steven, Let me know how you do applying this process on your project. It goes without saying that the actual profile can be adjusted/altered to fit project parameters and client preferences so it's quite versatile. If you're interested you might check out this series: www.protradecraft.com/sketchup-beginners-how-build-pergola where I show how I use SketchUp for pre-planning and design on this sort of thing. It would serve you well on your Pagoda project if you don't already have a digital process that you use. PS I'm not implying that I think you're a beginner by sending the link, it's just the way it's titled :-) Best, Matt
Awesome work. I'm just surprised that you didn't clamp the piece down prior to routing it. Safety first, safety always. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and craftsmanship.
I have a negative comment: Why didn't I discover your superb videos sooner. I could kick my self :-) . Again, thoroughly enjoyed, extremely informative, and greatly valued - I have attained more life long skills. Your time and hardwork in making these videos is greatly appreciated. I can go from a good carpenter to a shining one. I am still laughing at your changing your planer in your trellis video from a 'thickness' setting to a 'widthness' setting. Your caught me out haha
Paul, Nothing like a negative comment (like yours) to start the day... I didn't intend to make Next Level Carpentry a 'stealth channel' but unfortunately for both of us it has flown under the radar and been invisible to viewers like you until recently. I'm glad your stealth vision radar has located the channel and that you're finding the content worthwhile. Glad to know you're on board... I believe the best is yet to come! I'll be uploading Part 2 of the Trellis build this week and hope you're able to check it out! Best, Matt
I can only agree with many other comments - a very pleasant style of presentation, clear instructions and excellent 'pro tips'. Now, if only I could spend a couple of months in your workshop I'm pretty sure I'd learn a great deal. Subscribed and Notifications set.
We should talk, John... there's plenty of days I could use an extra hand in the shop and on the job 😁😎 Thanks for subscribing and allowing notification... I really appreciate it... at this point I'm not able to upload videos on a consistent basis but I do try to make each one worthwhile for viewers like you who spend their limited time watching them. Best, Matt
Next Level Carpentry Nice thought Matt, but I'm now living in the south of France, so a bit far to go in reality. Still, I'll be watching your videos, keep it up.
No fair, John! You get to soak up the peaceful sun and nosh on delicious cheeses and bread while I toil away in the shop... a sad reality for sure! 😒 Thanks for your comments and for staying tuned... Best, Matt
hudi42, Glad you are enjoying what you see on Next Level Carpentry... I hope you won't be disappointed by other videos on my channel because it would be a stretch to say they're ALL 'no-nonsense' :-) Prime example: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AVV2woCugU0.html If you're still 'enjoying' after seeing that video you just may stick around for more :-)
Thanks for mentioning that Matthew... I always hope tossing in pro tips inspires and motivates viewers because, without a professional video team or good looks it's about all I have to offer! 😏😁😎 Best, Matt
Haha... thanks! The ability to draw freehand lines like that becomes second nature over time and I forget what it must look like when not seen on a regular basis😎
This is great. Along with your post notching video, you provided what I need for my next project: a trellis for double rows of raspberry bushes in raised beds.
Doug (great last name BTW) A friend helped me find some very old neglected comments hiding out on Next Level Carpentry... so a belated 'thank you' for your comment... hope you're still watching videos here? Best, Matt
Fantastic instructions!!!!! Got a fantastic result (I think so anyway) 2 mistakes i made though - lesson learnt (hopefully) Follow the experts' advise to the T 1. Got complacent on the last cut and didn’t tack it down fully & relied on my clamps - now i have a bit of a gouge lol 2. should have secured the end bit to the guide rail - I’ve lost that 15 degree bit - think I’ll get away by just cutting it out on the mitre saw
Thank you so much for making such a great and informative video. Please continue to make awesome videos. Disregard the hatters. Whenever you are in the public eye you will always have someone who will try to bring you down to their shallow level. It's because of their own insecurity and there is nothing you can do about it. I learned a lot from you and I look forward to your next video.
Joseph, You're mucho welcome! Hope you'll browse Next Level Carpentry for other videos... let me know if you find other favorites here? This one shows one of my favorite 'breaktime' tricks: ru-vid.com?o=U&video_id=xZaGCUeSQAM I would not be surprised in the least to learn you have a PHD in encouragement therapy... thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful kind words!
Hi Michel, A friend helped me find some very old neglected comments hiding out on Next Level Carpentry... so a belated 'thank you' for your comment... hope you're still watching videos here? Best, Matt
Darren, Glad you like the video... but using AutoCad and that sweet printer is no fair which is to say "man, I wish I had that setup"! :-) It's fun to adapt the tools and equipment available to the project at hand, isn't it?
@@NextLevelCarpentry Hey i'm fine with fractions they're not exactly difficult! :-) seriously have you dabbled in Metric? It's so much easier and dare i say precise!?
Cool stick with nails layout. Years ago a Carpenter taught me to layout window eyebrows with two sticks and two nails to get same arc on differing widths of windows. I saw the same craftsman law out a winding landing on a staircase with a nail , string, and a pencil. The stair I have to really work on if I ever get the chance, but I have used the eyebrow layout which if half of a elliptical circle.
You're welcome, Scot! I'm sure you've grasped that this method works great with pretty much any profile/contour you come up against whether or not it's a pergola so I hope you find it useful on projects you're doing... Best, Matt
"If the blade flexes." it will... Ever since my middle school woodshop class, I've been loath to use a handheld jigsaw. I don't even own one. But after watching this video I think I'll go ahead and buy (a good) one.
It's definitely a light bulb moment when you realize the result of jigsaw Blade Flex Behavior and once you are aware of it and compensate for it a jigsaw becomes a much more useful and reliable tool. Hope you can justify and or afford a professional grade jigsaw though because the little Black & Decker glorified egg beaters they sell in big box stores have other sources of inconsistency and aggravation beyond the blade Flex issue. Thanks for watching and commenting Daniel! Best, Matt
M., Hope you DO learn a lot here! The magnetic hammer is indispensable in my shop and you would probably find it the same for you. Good news is that there's a link for a hammer like mine in the description section of this video. If you end up buying one through this Amazon Affiliate link: Magnetic tack hammer: amzn.to/2q5mHET it costs you the same but a small percentage helps fund Next Level Carpentry to keep the content here free and is greatly appreciated! Regards, Matt
i have all winter to watch this over and over l got 6x6 in ground guess i will have to finish, , i give it a try live in canada lots nice cedar case i ball it up, watched video earlier on pencil sharpening hope that helps thanks
Excellent lulutileguy... let me know if you have any questions for things not covered in the videos and good luck with your projects and planning. I'm jealous for your access to 'lots nice cedar'... it can be hard to come by around here. Best, Matt
This is a humorous comment not intended to be harmful; Ok this guy is very detailed oriented and would imagine this is how he sees things,I just cut a decorative curve on a mailbox stand that I just built for the curve I used an old record album simple easy peasey not all that math ,I wonder how complicated he can make sharpening a pencil on the job,I imagine someone’s head would explode having him show you compound rafter cuts.
You're probably right Jack: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FM8uRAdZ8S0.html CAUTION: wear protective head gear before watching this video to contain damage when your head explodes! 😉🤣🤣😎 BTW nothing wrong with using an old record album or 5-gallon bucket for a pattern as long as you don't need an elliptical curve for your design and a simple circle segment will do... Best, Matt
I just finished an arbor using pergola joists and wanted to see how ours differed. Thanks for the calc for creating an ellipse, I always just eyeballed it.
