Making an oval mirror frame?

[warrenp]

Does anybody have a reference to info about how to make an oval mirror frame? I think pictures may be needed for me to get it.

Thanks...Warren

[leehljp]

My very first wood making project after getting married was to make an oval frame.

I experimented by placing two nails at different distances on a sheet of plywood and different lengths of string tied together at the ends. Place the loop of string on the two nails and use a pencil to draw the oval by keeping the pencil tight against the string and moving in a circular motion. The two nails will make it go in an arc, making an oval.

That is the cheap and simple way to draw an oval. Here is the expensive way and (if you don't have the experience) more precise:

http://www.woodhaven.com/SearchResul...?KeyWords=Oval

Woodhaven makes some good (and expensive) oval jigs.

[Knottscott]

I made an oval mirror for my wife fairly early on. Hank gave you some good ideas about drawing the oval. Once you've got that technique planned, you can build the frame by making a hexagonal (or octagonal) frame, varying the length and width to accomodate your oval, then sketch it onto the frame. I cheated and actually traced an existing oval table. Use wide enough boards to account the for waste. I started with 6/4" x 6" oak. I don't have an angle calculator to refer you to but you should be able to find one on the web pretty easily.