Never again have to use "trial and error" to draw an octagon! This easy method, using a ruler (or a framing square if you have one!) and a compass, is fast and accurate! All you need is the width of the octagon and the rest comes together flawlessly. You'll look like a genius!
If you know the side to side dimension (width) of the octagon you want, you can draw it quickly and accurately using only a pen, ruler, and compass. If you have a framing square, that makes it even faster and easier.
You'll begin by drawing a square that is the same width and height as the width of the octagon you need. From there, you'll use a compass to mark off points. Watch DirtFarmer Jay as he shows you how.
You can scale the size up and down for other octagons you need, using a large-sized compass (available at an art store or Harbor Freight) and a yardstick.
If you need to make an octagon-shaped length of stock (such as a small column or turning blank to mount on your lathe), check out this "no-math" method for your table saw: https://youtu.be/XtNolBrs8R8
In yet another episode, we also show you the .414 ratio to calculate the side lengths of the octagon. For you "Octagon Geeks", we also provide you a link to a great online calculator for all the parts of an octagon. That way, if you have a couple dimensions of the part of your octagon, you can calculate the other parts. Cool!
Check that out at (COMING SOON!)
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Hey, Dirt Farmer Jay from DirtFarmerJay.com. Do you have an upcoming project where you need to draw
a perfect octagon, but don't want all the hassle of trial and error? I've got a great technique
for you. Okay, let me show you a great way. It's really easy to draw a beautiful octagon.
Of course, you're going to need some paper to draw it on, and I like to tape down the paper.
The next thing you're going to need is a ruler or a square. If you have a square,
that speeds things up. But if you don't have one, you can do it with a ruler as well.
You're going to need a compass and a straight edge of some kind. So we've got these right here. Of
course, you need something to write with as well. So the only thing you need to know as far as
dimensions is how wide you want the octagon. We're going to choose something a little weird
to show you this works with whatever size you choose. So we're going to do seven and three
eighths, side to side. So the first thing you need is a reference line. You're just going to
draw one side of your octagon or just one line. It's really not the octagon. And we're going to
create a square out of this. So I'm going to actually use the framing square to speed this
up a bit. But if you don't have one, then you can use the edge of a book. You can use some kind of
other square object to get this done. But I'm simply going to get the right angle drawn right
here by using the leg of the square. And I could have started that way right off by drawing here
and then over here. Now, I also know it's going to be over seven inches long. There's one side.
And now I'm just going to measure. I'll just measure seven. And I think we said three sixteenths. So
there's my seven three sixteenths. All right. Now go ahead and connect the sides here.
And what I now have is a square with the outside dimensions are the seven and three sixteenths.
Now, what I need to do is find the center point of my square. And that's really easy to do simply
by going diagonals. Once I have that center point, now my compass comes into play. So all I need to
do is find the distance with the compass from the corner to the center point of my square. And at
that point, I go around to all four corners. I'm simply going to swing an arc here, swing an arc
here, go to the next. Now what I have is all my points that are going to create the octagon. And
at that point, all I need to do is take my straight edge and connect these points right here. And
there you have your octagon. You would just trim off the other pieces. This is really handy if,
let's say, you're a stained glass artist and you're building an octagon panel or you've got a
sign that you need to make that's a certain size, whatever it is. You choose a side. Let the compass
measure it out for you. If you enjoyed this tip and it's helpful to you, give us a like. And better
yet, won't you subscribe? And until the next time, this is Dirt Farmer Jay from DirtFarmerJay.com.
