Replies

1. 
   Joe | Sep 03, 2009 06:01pm | #1

   You'd want to keep the center line of the rays going through the "center point" of the ellipse. This is the point where the long and short axis' meet.

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1. 
   ktkamm | Sep 03, 2009 06:24pm | #3

   Hi Joe. Please forgive my ignorance on this subject! What I have been doing is cutting out rays that start at 1/2 inch and taper to roughly 2 inches wide at the end. I assume from what you suggest I would continue to do this, however, make a line down the center of the ray and line that up with a corresponding line that originates form the center of the lower half circle of the ellipse/fan structure. Correct? Thanks, Kieran

1. 
   Joe | Sep 03, 2009 06:31pm | #5

   Kieran,Sorry I posted and didn't see your post ;-). Yes that's just about the easiest way of doing it and it would look pretty good when your done.

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2. 
   Joe | Sep 03, 2009 06:35pm | #6

   I would suggest that you remove the center semi circle and mark off equal spaces on the outside ellipse and then draw a line from the tic marks to the center. This would define the shape of each piece you'd need to cut. Put the disc back and have at it ;-)http://www.josephfusco.orghttp://www.constructionforumsonline.com

   Edited 9/7/2009 5:13 pm ET by Joe

1. 
   ktkamm | Sep 03, 2009 06:39pm | #7

   Thanks Bill and Joe. Back out to the drawing board/driveway (or as it is known in Maine, the dooryard, you know, the yard next to your door!)  Kieran

1. 
   Joe | Sep 03, 2009 06:55pm | #8

   It would look some thing like this.

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2. 
   ktkamm | Sep 03, 2009 07:02pm | #9

   That is eaxacltly how it is looking now! Would it make sense that I will have to plane down the undersurface of the clapbboards by circle to keep the thickness from building up?

   PS : I think it may have been an article by you on ellipses that gave me the courage to start this part of the project.  Kieran

3. 
   rez | Sep 03, 2009 07:09pm | #10

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4. 
   Joe | Sep 03, 2009 07:49pm | #11

   Kieran,You might have to do a bit of fairing to get everything to lay well. You could also cut a rebate(rabbit) on the back of the clap as well.I've written some stuff on ellipses and if it helped you that's great. I guess that's the sole purpose of writing anyway ;-)

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5. 
   ktkamm | Sep 03, 2009 08:00pm | #12

   Thanks again Joe.

6. 
   Joe | Sep 03, 2009 09:01pm | #13

   Anytime ;-)

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7. 
   ktkamm | Sep 07, 2009 10:24pm | #14

   Joe,Finally got it done! Thanks again for the encouragement and guidance.Kieran

   
8. 
   Joe | Sep 08, 2009 12:12am | #15

   Kieran,The finished fan looks great. Glad I was able to help you out. I hope who ever you did the work for appreciates the effort you put in to it.

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9. 
   ktkamm | Sep 08, 2009 12:39am | #16

   I did it for my own house. My wife does appreciate it! I keep telling her how much money I am saving us. Lets me take more trips over to Lie-Nielsen.

    

   Kieran

    

   Kieran

10. 
    Joe | Sep 08, 2009 01:04am | #17

    Kieran,I've make a few trips there myself ;-)

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11. 
    McDesign | Sep 08, 2009 01:31am | #18

    Hey - looks super!  Always wanted to build one like that.

    Forrest

12. 
    Sphere | Sep 08, 2009 01:45am | #19

    That came out great!

    Show us a pic when ya get it back above the door with the columns.

    Good job.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

    "If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt

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13. 
    ktkamm | Sep 08, 2009 05:06pm | #20

    Thanks to all for the kind words. Will get a photo when it is all done.

    Kieran

14. 
    reinvent | Sep 08, 2009 06:46pm | #21

    Looks great. I would recommend you back prime and prime all the ends of the claps before you install the fan.

15. 
    Jeff_Clarke | Sep 10, 2009 05:38pm | #22

    Looks nice!

    If anyone ever does one of these really 'exposed to weather' (as opposed to under a porch roof) it helps to make the center (top) fan 'blade' flat, not beveled, and then reverse the fan 'blades' on the opposite side so they shed water.

    This also helps to keep the fan symmetrical-looking by avoiding a build-up of dirt on one side only.

     

    Jeff

    Edited 9/10/2009 10:40 am ET by Jeff_Clarke

16. 
    ktkamm | Sep 10, 2009 07:42pm | #23

    This one will be exposed. I think I did construct it in the fashion you descibed. Correct?  Kieran

    
17. 
    Jeff_Clarke | Sep 10, 2009 08:56pm | #24

    Perfect!   Didn't see that in the previous photo.

    Jeff

18. 
    mikeroop | Sep 11, 2009 12:21am | #25

    that thing does look great!

    but you did go back and change the layout from the first set of pics? no?

19. 
    ktkamm | Sep 11, 2009 12:31am | #26

    Yes. I screwed up the initial layout. After guidance from Joe Fusco (who has great plans for a jig to use with a router to cut the ellipse), I ripped out the initial pieces of clapboard, drew the corresponding tick marks on the inner and out circles and went for it. 56+ pieces later and a lot of handplaning, it was done. I compare it to what I think giving birth would be like. Hard as heck to do, got a beautiful end result and would probably do it again after the memory of the process has faded. Kieran 

20. 
    RedfordHenry | Sep 11, 2009 04:18am | #27

    Looks great.  How are you going to flash it?

21. 
    ktkamm | Sep 11, 2009 04:26am | #28

    The piece you see in the backround (leaning against the house)goes on top once I have screwed the fan in place. I was thinking about using lead flashing over the top. I am open to any and all suggestions. thanks.

22. 
    john_carroll | Sep 11, 2009 08:44pm | #29

    I'd use this:

    http://www.ebuild.com/articles/525637.hwx

2. 
   ToolFreakBlue | Sep 03, 2009 06:23pm | #2

   Looks to me like the exposed edges should point to the center of the semi circle   (perpendicular to the tangent of that arc)

   The way it is layed out right now they point to a "point" off the map. 

   TFB (Bill)

   
3. 
   Joe | Sep 03, 2009 06:26pm | #4

   Ktkamm,

   Just to clarify, this is the shortest and simplest answer to a fairly involved process. This is akin to laying out an elliptical stair which was discussed here many moons ago. You still might find it if you do a search. If I look around I might still have some of the drawings I did if you are interested.

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