Oval Table Base — Stave Calculator

Two-Group Simplification

On a true oval, every joint between staves has a slightly different angle. A stave at the tip needs a steep bevel; a stave along the flat side needs a shallow one. In full-accuracy mode the calculator gives each stave its own unique left and right bevel — meaning your table saw blade angle changes for nearly every piece.

Two-Group simplifies this to just two saw settings. Staves are sorted into two groups:

• Group A (End staves) — the curved arc sections at each end
• Group B (Side staves) — the straighter sections along the sides

Each group gets one averaged bevel angle for both edges. Set the blade once for Group A, cut all those staves, then set it once for Group B.

The trade-off

The averaged angle is close but not exact for every joint. Small gaps close under glue and clamp pressure, and the final shape looks correct to the eye — but it is an approximation.

Think of it like this: full accuracy is a custom suit — every seam cut to the exact angle. Two-Group is a well-fitted off-the-rack suit — close enough that most people won't notice, and much faster to make.