[BOB 2]

Making an accurate template for an oval hand mirror

I'm going to try to make a reasonable facsimile of an oval hand mirror.
I purchased a mirror and would like to inset it into the body of the mirror base and end up with a decent profile.

It's making the template that has me guessing right now.


Any tips you folks could give me?


Bob

 

[bobj3]

Hi Bob

This would be a good job for the inlay kit the outside profile should be a easy one

see below

http://www.routerworkshop.com/inlays112.html
http://www.routerworkshop.com/revinlay.html

=========

I'm going to try to make a reasonable facsimile of an oval hand mirror.
I purchased a mirror and would like to inset it into the body of the mirror base and end up with a decent profile.

It's making the template that has me guessing right now.


Any tips you folks could give me?


Bob

 

[AxlMyk]

http://www.uwgb.edu/DutchS/MATHALGO/Ellipses.HTM

Just Google for "draw an ellipse"

 

[BOB 2]

Thanks Fellas, I'll give both a try .
The problem stems from having to rout out the inside of the mirror body and still leave a unifrom reveal around the mirror.
I can handle rounding over the outside of the oval but forsee difficulty getting a clean edge next to the mirror itself.
It's easy with a round one as you just turn it on a lathe.

Bob

 

[template tom]

I'm going to try to make a reasonable facsimile of an oval hand mirror.
I purchased a mirror and would like to inset it into the body of the mirror base and end up with a decent profile.

It's making the template that has me guessing right now.


Any tips you folks could give me?


Bob

Bob
You have the mirror what is the major and minor axis and What template guides do you have. Get back to me and I may have the solution to your problem.
Tom

 

[BOB 2]

Bob
You have the mirror what is the major and minor axis and What template guides do you have. Get back to me and I may have the solution to your problem.
Tom

Hi Tom:

The major axis is 6" and the minor is 4".
I have a pretty full set of guides and can get a extra one if you suggest something I don't have.

Cheers
Bob

 

[bobj3]

Hi Bob

Just one more way to get the job done with a scroll saw
scroll down the web page and you will see it..

http://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html

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[template tom]

Hi Tom:

The major axis is 6" and the minor is 4".
I have a pretty full set of guides and can get a extra one if you suggest something I don't have.

Cheers
Bob

Hi Bob

I have drawn the project and have worked out the various points that need to be covered.

(a) The size of the template cut-out to produce the rebate for the mirror.
(b) The size of the templates recommended
(c) The cutters required

I would suggest the method I would use and that is to make two identical templates and sandwich the material between them. The material should be held secure in the 'Jig Holder' I have been talking about for some time. One of the templates can also be used as the Jig to hold the material. How you are going to hold it secure will be up to you. Keeping it larger than required would do as that is what I would do.
The size of the elliptical cut out should be 6.59" major axis and 4.54" minor axis. (This could be made slightly larger both ways again this will depend on what cutters you are using)

With a fine beading cutter I would rout into the face of the material this would eventually be the beading on the inside of the frame.

I would then flip over the complete set-up and then with a straight cutter rout the rebate for the mirror stopping at the beading put in from the other side. All of the operations will depend on what template guides you are to use. The drawing shows 1.18" using the beading cutter and .84" using the cutter for the rebate which shows .24" though it could be slightly larger.

I started drawing this using imperial measurements but I quickly changed to metric the simply got the program to convert to imperial. Now I am convinced why the template guide method is not popular in the USA.

At this atage Bob i have not gone into the method I would use to rout the external shape of the frame and putting on a moulding I will wait to see if you wish to proceed with what I have put up now. I have made such frames and I have included pics of the results. Maybe others will come up with a better method. At least what I have suggested does work as I have produced the goods before and I would not attempt to suggest a method if I had never had success with it.

I await you comments

Tom

 

[dovetail_65]

Tom just a thought. He purchased an oval mirror. But what if it is not a true oval. The mid points he gave are what they are, but it is possible his mirrors actual curve is different(mathematically incorrect).

Just a thought.

I think he better do a trace and make sure his oval mirror is mathematically correct because your calculations will be correct.

I actually ran into this not to long ago and the oval given to me was cocked or crooked, but you could not tell with the eyes at least I could not. Until I cut the perfect oval in ply did I realize it. What was given me was 1/4" off in the 1st and 3rd quadrants from the 2nd and 4th quadrants, if that makes sense to you.

Tom you are a great guy doing this leg work for him!

 

[template tom]

Tom just a thought. He purchased an oval mirror. But what if it is not a true oval. The mid points he gave are what they are, but it is possible his mirrors actual curve is different(mathematically incorrect).

Just a thought.

I think he better do a trace and make sure his oval mirror is mathematically correct because your calculations will be correct.

I actually ran into this not to long ago and the oval given to me was cocked or crooked, but you could not tell with the eyes at least I could not. Until I cut the perfect oval in ply did I realize it. What was given me was 1/4" off in the 1st and 3rd quadrants from the 2nd and 4th quadrants, if that makes sense to you.

Tom you are a great guy doing this leg work for him!

You are quite correct Nik it has also happened to me also on one occassion this is where it is an advantage if they submit drawings or pics when submitting a posting. We will have to wait and see. The dimensions are what was transferred from my metric drawing to imperial measurement. This is something I am glad I do not have to work in or I would not be able to produce what I do with the router.
Thanks for your comments I am not sure what I have submitted will be of any assistance to Bob.

Tom

 

[dovetail_65]

Well it certainly should be. Even if something on his oval mirror is off the logic and procedure is sound.

 

[dovetail_65]

You know I tried to buy a Metric bit set and a metric template guide set from trend but they will not mail it to the USA. I have purchased many things from trend, but this they will not send to me.

So it is not just the consumers here that do not want it, but the people that make the stuff do not want to open up the market here and will not even try. It will not take hold if it is not readily available.

Now I have to find a friend to ship something over to me.

I would like a template guide set in metric and a general bit set in metric, straight cutters mostly.

I can get some Festool stuff(I have their routers), but it is just to darn expensive for their accessories!

Trend will send me the fractional stuff though. I did find a some trend template guides in metric, but not a whole lot and no metric bits to go with makes no sense to me at all. Plus they are the Trend(Euro)style n I really wanted a brass set not plastic.

 

[template tom]

Bob
here is one of my elliptical frames I was looking for

 

[dovetail_65]

Okay I am going to try to go metric(I'll give it a try) I found a place that will send me the Freud metric cutters.

What are the most common cutters you use with the template guides in metric?

And where do I find metric spiral bits?

I would love to buy the template guides, some straight bits and spiral bits, in metric, all from the same place, but thats looking tough right now. Anyone know a place?

Nick

 

[BOB 2]

You are quite correct Nik it has also happened to me also on one occassion this is where it is an advantage if they submit drawings or pics when submitting a posting. We will have to wait and see. The dimensions are what was transferred from my metric drawing to imperial measurement. This is something I am glad I do not have to work in or I would not be able to produce what I do with the router.
Thanks for your comments I am not sure what I have submitted will be of any assistance to Bob.

Tom

Hi Tom and Nik:
I am a low learner but a dedicated apprentice. <g>
Tomorrow I shall try out the method that you have provided for me Tom and Nik I will take of a template from the mirror to validate the ellipse prior to cutting any material.
I'll get my camera out and keep you posted with my results.


Thanks
Bob

 

[AxlMyk]

I would love to buy the template guides, some straight bits and spiral bits, in metric, all from the same place, but thats looking tough right now. Anyone know a place?

Nick

I answered an ad on Craigslist from a fellow an hour north of me in Saginaw. He had purchased a bunch of bit sets to sell on flea-bay. On a trip up north I stopped by. He had some sets on the front porch for me to look at, and leave the cash there if I wanted any. They were all metric.

Sooo, I guess they can be found. Just have to look for them.

 

[bobj3]

Hi Bob

I got hung up on the hand mirror thing ,so I said ok lets make one just for kicks,
I could not sleep last night so off to the shop to play a little bit
I use the Inlay way and the scroll saw to make this one, I didn't have a Oval mirror but I had one out of a old plastic hand mirror so I used it..

I tried to put a nice round over on the inside of the edge but that didn't work so well little bit of rip out...the stock was 3/8" thick to start off with...it has round over on all the edges so it's easy to hold

=====

 

[Mike]

Very nicely done BJ! Nick, we have friends in Canada, eh? BrianS located some metric bits that were a reasonable price. Not a problem to ship them from Detroit to you. You can PM either of us for details. I am glad to see more members interested in Tom's methods.

 

[template tom]

Going Metric

Okay I am going to try to go metric(I'll give it a try) I found a place that will send me the Freud metric cutters.

What are the most common cutters you use with the template guides in metric?

And where do I find metric spiral bits?

I would love to buy the template guides, some straight bits and spiral bits, in metric, all from the same place, but thats looking tough right now. Anyone know a place?

Nick

It is not a matter of finding dedicated metric cutters. I would like to draw your attention the the availability of metric cutters available in Australia. I have been purchasing from my cutters from outlets that stock a great variety of cutters and as I went to my cabinet to take out the catalogue and opened it up at any page one would think that it was designed for the USA market. The first dimension listed as an example in the straight cutter section was 15/64" equating to 6mm next was 1/4" ---6.35mm
9/32" ---7.1mm, 5/16"--7.9mm and the list goes on and on 13/16" 20.6mm 1"--25.4mm

The point I am making . All these years I have not really been working with dedicated metric cutters but with Imperial with metric conversions. I find it difficult to find a great number of dedicated metric cutters produced by this company and they are the best cutters in Australia. they also produce a cheaper brand for the hobbyist. They have been adding a few dedicated metric cutters over a number of years but I am looking at their latest catalogue.

So go no further in your quest to find dedicated metric cutters simply purchase a set of good callipers and do your own conversion. Why did I not mention this in the beginning that I was using imperial cutters all these years. I suppose I did not give it great thought until now when I see people looking for dedicated cutters. Stop now as there is no need to hunt the world over if we who are considered a metric using country do not have them.

My apology for not making this point in the beginning so what I am saying if you do want to get more from your router with the use of template guides and there is no need to purchase e 40mm (did I say that after all these years) yes, the answer is purchase that set of callipers and join me with my full range of Imperial Cutters.

Hopefully this will make some difference to the use of the guides. The cutters are available at www.aptools.com.au I will check out the link and submit it later. I just had to submit my true confession "I have been using the Imperial cutters all the time".

This will cause a stir I am sure but now I have got it of my mind
Tom

 

[dovetail_65]

Why not just go as simple as possible, 10mm template guide with 6 mm bit and so on.

I think if you make a starter list that works with your info many will find it simpler to get on board.

Is the list Harrysin laid out seem good? I mean when I follow someone else's train of thought I like to have the exact cutters and guides they have.

So what do your projects on the cd/dvd use?

Offering up the dvd with all the guides and bits needed for the dvd in one package makes it awfully simple for guys to order. Or at least a list of the guides and bits needed to follow the dvd or project exactly the way you did it.

Forget the conversions, I do enough math with the fractions, why not eliminate as many possibilities for error as possible?

I think one that wants to go metric needs to start thinking metric and not translating everything to imperial in their head. Just my opinion.

At least it is what I am going to try to do.

I started a separate thread on this going metric, maybe we should jump over there. Or move this post and the last few over there. i have a double post one here and the same one that starts the new thread.

Can someone mover it over?