I am trying to duplicate an elliptical picture frame which has a uniform cross section that slopes so that the inside of the frame is thinner than the outside. Any suggestions as to methodology to accomplish the taper? I have available a 10″ Craftsman tablesaw with a rabbet bit shaper, a bandsaw and a router which uses 1/4″ shaft bits.
Roge
Replies
What is a "rabbet bit shaper"? How big is the overall frame and how wide is the sloping surface? Is the sloped face flat? Hardwood or softwood? Painted or natural finish? Is the frame going to be cut out of a single board or will it be built from segments or laminated?
John W.
A rabbett bit shaper for the table saw consists of three rectangular bits that are attached to a wheel (120 degrees apart), sort of like a dado. The wheel is put on the arbor of the saw and when you pass the work over the rotating wheel you get a rectangular cut out or rabbett.
The frame has an inside major axis of about 5-3/8 in. and a minor axis of about 4-1/8 in. with the outside major axis of 7-3/8 in. and a minor axis of about 6-1/8 in.
The taper is on the inside and is about 20 degrees up toward the outside edge of the frame. It is about 1/2 in. wide.
I thought I would make the ellipse from four pieces of wood joined at the appropriate angles to get the necessary dimensions for the axes. I was considering making it from two pieces of 1 x 4 walnut laminated to get approximately 2 in. thickness for each of the four sections. In thinking about the problem of the taper it occurred to me that if I could cut the taper on a 1 x 4 in the quarter elliptical shape then I could laminate the other board so I could do additional shaping (not tapered). The final step would be to join the 4 quarters. I also need to rabbett the back of the frame for the picture but that can be done with the router.
A sketch would be helpful but I don't know how to send you one.
Roge
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