Woodworking 101 - A Simple Introduction to Marking Curves

A serial entrepreneur who has launched 11 business enterprises, Mark H. Dunaway studied accounting at Brigham University, Provo, Utah. Currently, he is a managing partner at BDK Consulting Group. When not busy, Mark H. Dunaway pursues interests such as woodworking.

Many woodworking projects involve cutting curves, a process that can prove time consuming. However, with the right guide, woodwork with curved features can easily be accomplished. Aside from the usual straight lines or right angles in a woodworking project, curves can open up many new styles.

Instead of creating a curve directly on the workpiece, use a piece of plywood or cardboard to make a template of the curve. When the final shape is achieved, cut out the template and transfer the curve by tracing it to the workpiece. For projects that require multiple curves, use the plywood or high-density fiberboard to draw half of the shape. This piece can be the template for other curves for the project.

For ellipse shapes on tabletops or trays, make use of a square to draw intersecting perpendicular lines on your pattern material. Put two pins on the long axis. They should be spaced equally on either side of the center. Loop a tied string around both of the pins while placing a pencil in the loop. Use the loop to guide the pencil as you move clockwise or counterclockwise to make an ellipse. To make size and proportion variations, adjust the pins and the loop.