Making inside cuts in wood are a bit more challenging than a cut that allows you to start from an outside edge. Not every saw can make such a cut. Add to that the need for curves inherent in cutting an oval and the challenge increases.
As with most challenges in woodworking, cutting an oval in wood is simply a matter of having the right tool for the job. One of the best tools for making this particular cut is a jigsaw with a thin blade.
Things You Will Need
- Tape measure
- Oval tracing template
- Wood clamp
- Drill
- Jigsaw
- Blade with medium course teeth
- Round rasp
- 80-grit sandpaper
Setting Up
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Measure your wood and mark the center of the area you want to cut your oval in. Lay an oval tracing template over the area and center it on the mark. Trace the outside edge of the oval template onto the wood.
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Clamp the wood to your work table with the entire area of the oval hanging off of the edge of the table with clear space underneath.
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Select a thin blade for your jigsaw with medium coarse teeth. Fit the blade to your jigsaw. Squeeze the spring clip to open the blade channel and slip it into place, releasing the clip to lock it in or loosen the set screw with an Allen key and insert the blade. Tighten the set screw.
