Make Perfect Rounded Corners With Minimal Tools

This short instructable will show you how to make perfect rounded corners with only minimal tools.

This method is really a variation on the 'bisecting an angle' technique you may have learned way back in your geometry classes.

Step 1: Tools and Materials

You will need a compass and a cutting tool appropriate for your material.

I'm using a piece of scrap mdf to demonstrate the technique, but it should work with any material.

Step 2: Set the Compass

Set the compass to the desired spacing. The distance between the ends of the compass will be the radius of the corner. If you don't have any particular radius in mind, just make it look good.

Step 3: Point to Point

Place the sharp point on your compass on the corner you want to round off. The closer you can get to the point of the corner the better.

Step 4: First Mark

Rotate the compass to make your first mark at the edge of the workpiece.

Step 5: Second Mark

Repeat the previous step to make your second mark at the other edge of the workpiece.

Step 6: Reposition the Compass

Now, lift the pointy end of your compass and place the it on the point where the edge and your mark intersect.

Step 7: X Marks the Spot

Rotate the compass to make a mark near the center of the workpiece. Move the compass and repeat for your second mark.

You should now have an X on your workpiece.

For you geometry nerds out there, we've just bisected the angle. If we draw a line between the center of the X and our corner we've just exactly split the corner in half.