[Woodcarver] Geometry question for the group

[Ivan Whillock Studio]

Here's one way:  Draw a circle.  You now have 360 degrees.  Divide 13 into
360, giving you 27.69 degrees.  With your protractor, put marks on the
circle 27.69 degrees apart.  Each one of those marks will be a point of the
13 pointed star.  Using a straight edge, draw the star by connecting the
appropriate dots.  There are variations of this, all based on dividing a
circle into equal segments by dividing the number of desired points into
360.

(For a five pointed star, make the dots 72 degrees apart.)
Ivan Whillock Studio
122 NE 1st Avenue
Faribault, MN 55021
Visit my website at
 http://www.whillock.com
Visit my Picturetrail album at
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Victor Hamburger" <VHamburg at bellatlantic.net>
To: "Woodcarver" <Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 10:03 PM
Subject: [Woodcarver] Geometry question for the group


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>
> I did well in geometry in High School, but that was more than a while ago
now.
> I am interested in learning to draw a 13 point star geometrically.  I know
I can
> lay one out with a CAD program, but the Cathedral at Chartres, built
700-800 yrs
> ago, has a labryinth laid out on the floor.  To correctly design the
labyrinth,
> you need to know how to lay out a 13 point star.  In those days, some
builder
> knew how to lay out a 13 point star to do this........
>
> I have googled around and not found anything on 13 point stars and
geometry, at
> least not that I can see on the links!  Any googling on labyrinths gets me
lots
> of info except how to lay out the star for this one.
>
> BTW, a labyrinth is a path, laid out in a geometric figure such as a
circle
> (Chartres) or other figure.  It has an entrance and end point in the
middle and
> to get in and out again you follow the singular path.  A maze on the other
hand
> has a path but with multiple turns that are wrong turns and dead ends.
The
> point of the labyrinth is to enter and walk the path, allowing your mind
to be
> free to pray, chant, or otherwise let go of your usual thoughts and let
your
> inner thoughts take over. You can learn more by googling on labyrinths and
Grace
> Cathedral in San Francisco.  They have an extensive set of links and
details
> there to more info on labyrinths.
>
> What has this got to do with carving? Well, beside the rosette
possibilities for
> chip carving a 13 point star, there are finger labyrinths you can carve so
you
> don't need a 45' circle in your house or garden......only an 18" sq board.
I
> may never carve one, but it is worth the mental challenge to pursue it.
>
> Thanks,  Vic H
>
>
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