New subject: The ellipse. Wood: Poplar. Preparatory.

A.   Make working drawing.

B.   The teacher may make a pasteboard pattern a little larger than the required model, which will do to mark for rough cutting,

but the students should lay out the ellipse to exactly the right dimensions. This model should be cut from a board which is good on both sides, as both sides will be used.

Exercises.

1. Lay out the ellipse by trammel method, as follows: lay out or cut notches from C (or the corner of a piece of card or thin wood) the distance C-l, which is equal to one half of the minor axis of the ellipse, and the distance C-2, which is equal to one half of the major axis. Place 1 on the major axis, and 2 on the minor axis, and C will indicate a point upon the circumference of the ellipse. Each time the positions of 1 and 2 are changed upon the axes, C locates another point on the circumference. These points should be close enough together to allow a freehand line to be drawn through them, which will be the desired form of the ellipse.

2.   A. Saw to about 1/8" larger than desired.

B.   Finish to exact size and shape with spokeshave and wood file.

Make the edges square before they are rounded; otherwise they will be apt to have irregularities.

C.   Round the edges.

3.   Plane and sandpaper both sides and edges.

4.   Inspect for defects.

5.   Shellac finish if desired, but it is unnecessary.